Population of Pakistan

Pakistan had 241,499,431 people in the 2023 census. In the 2017 census it had 207.7 million. So the population grew by 33.8 million in six years, or 2.55% a year. That is one of the fastest growth rates among big countries.

Key facts

• Pakistan had 241.5 million people at the 2023 census.
• The population has grown seven times since the first census in 1951. Back then it was 33.7 million.
• From 2017 to 2023 the population grew 2.55% a year. At that speed it doubles in about 27 years.
• Pakistan is the fifth most populous country. Only India, China, the United States and Indonesia have more people.
• Punjab has 127.7 million people. That is more than half of the country.
• 38.8% of people live in cities and towns. In 2017 it was 36.4%.

How the census counts people

The census counts everyone living in Pakistan on census day. It includes foreign nationals living in the country. It does not include Pakistanis living abroad. The total does not include Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Gilgit Baltistan. Their counts are published separately.

The 2023 census was the first digital census. Census workers went door to door with tablets instead of paper forms. People could also fill in their own details online before the visit. Field work ran from 1 March to 15 May 2023. The Council of Common Interests approved the results on 5 August 2023.

Why it matters

The population count decides how many National Assembly seats each province gets. It also decides how federal money is shared between provinces under the NFC Award. And it is the base for every rate on this site, like income per person or doctors per thousand people.