Population and Demographics

Pakistan has an estimated population of over 164 million inhabitants in 2007. Pakistan has the world's sixth largest population, placing it higher than Bangladesh, and lower than Brazil. Because of Pakistan's high growth rate, it is expected to surpass Brazil in population in the year 2020. Population projections for Pakistan are relatively difficult because of the apparent differences in the accuracy of each census and the inconsistencies between various surveys related to the fertility rate, but it is likely that the rate of growth peaked in the 1980s and has since declined significantly. The population was estimated at 164,741,924 on July 1, 2007, with a birth rate of 27.52 per thousand, a death rate of 8 per thousand, and population growth rate of 1.828%. Pakistan also has a high infant mortality rate of 69 per thousand births. Pakistan's next national census will take place in 2008.

Pakistan has a multicultural society and hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world as well as a young population (nearly 37% of the population are aged 14 or under).

The demographics of religion in Pakistan were significantly influenced in 1947 by the movement of Muslims to Pakistan, and Hindus and Sikhs to India. Census data indicates that 97% of the population are Muslims, of whom 77% are Sunni Muslims and 20% are Shi'a Muslims. The remaining 3% comprises Christians, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs, Parsis, Ahmadis, Buddhists, and Animists (mainly the Kalasha of Chitral). Pakistan is the second most populous Muslim-majority country and also has the one of the largest Shi'a populations of any country. As of 2006, an estimated 2.5 million refugees - approximately 81.5% being ethnic Pashtuns - remain in Pakistan as a result of the wars in Afghanistan.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 164,741,924
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 36.9% (male 31,264,576/female 29,507,174)
  • 15-64 years: 58.8% (male 49,592,033/female 47,327,161)
  • 65 years and over: 4.3% (male 3,342,650/female 3,708,330)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 20.9 years
  • Male: 20.7 years
  • Female: 21 years
• Population Growth Rate: 1.828%
• Birth Rate: 27.52 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: -1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 1.048 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.901 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1.045 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 68.84 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 68.94 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 68.73 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 63.75 years
  • Male: 62.73 years
  • Female: 64.83 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 3.71 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: 0.1%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: 74,000
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Punjabi
  • Sindhi
  • Pashtun (Pathan)
  • Baloch
  • Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants)
• Religions:
  • Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%)
  • Other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3%
• Languages:
  • Punjabi 48%
  • Sindhi 12%
  • Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%
  • Pashtu 8%
  • Urdu (official) 8%
  • English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski and others 8%
  • Balochi 3%
  • Hindko 2%
  • Brahui 1%
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 49.9%
  • Male: 63%
  • Female: 36%