Cox's Bazar

Cox's Bazar is Bangladesh's premier coastal tourism district, known internationally for its long sea beach, islands, forested hills, and borderland setting. It covers 2,491.85 km² and had a population of 2,823,268 in the 2022 census. Cox's Bazar town is the district headquarters and a major tourism gateway.

Cox's Bazar grew from a coastal frontier and colonial outpost into Bangladesh's best-known beach district. Its history ties together Arakan, Bengal, maritime routes, and later tourism infrastructure and border administration.

Location: Southeastern coast of Bangladesh on the Bay of Bengal. Major features include long sandy beaches, hills, estuaries, islands, and forest belts near Teknaf and Ukhia.

District established: modern district status continuing under present structure

Headquarters: Cox's Bazar

Subdivisions: 8 upazilas

Current upazilas in this database are linked separately through the upazilas table.

Population (2022): 2,823,268. Literacy rate (7+) was 71.58%, around 43.62% lived in urban areas, and Muslims formed the large majority with smaller Hindu and ethnic minority communities.

Cox's Bazar has expanding district-level higher education, tourism-related training, fisheries and coastal study potential, and strong ties to Chattogram's universities and medical institutions.

Economy and culture: tourism, fisheries, salt, transport, hospitality, and cross-border dynamics shape the district. Cox's Bazar beach, St. Martin's, Himchari, and Teknaf are central to its identity.