Life Expectancy in Pakistan: Trends, Current Figure and Regional Comparison
How long does the average Pakistani live — and how has that changed? Pakistan’s life expectancy has nearly doubled since 1950, yet still trails the region. This guide gives the current figure, the 75-year trend, and what it would take to close the gap.
Quick answer: Life expectancy at birth in Pakistan is about 68.1 years (World Bank, 2024) — up from under 40 in 1950. That trails India (~72), Bangladesh (~75) and Sri Lanka (~78). The gap is driven mainly by child and maternal mortality: Pakistanis who survive childhood live nearly as long as their neighbours.
The Current Figure
Life expectancy at birth in Pakistan: 68.1 years (World Bank, 2024). Women outlive men by a few years, as everywhere. The figure stalled briefly during the Covid-19 pandemic — as in most countries — and has since resumed its slow climb.
The 75-Year Trend
- 1950: under 40 years — infectious disease and infant mortality dominated.
- 1980: ~57 years — vaccination and basic healthcare bite.
- 2000: ~63 years.
- 2024: 68.1 years — nearly double the 1950 figure.
Regional Comparison (World Bank, 2024)
- Sri Lanka: ~78 years
- Bangladesh: ~75 years
- India: ~72 years
- Pakistan: ~68 years
Why the Gap Exists
The arithmetic of life expectancy is dominated by deaths at young ages. Pakistan’s under-five and maternal mortality remain the region’s highest, and each child death drags the average down far more than an adult death. Adults who survive to middle age in Pakistan live roughly as long as their Indian or Bangladeshi counterparts — the frontier is surviving childhood and childbirth. Closing it means skilled birth attendance, immunisation, nutrition and clean water at scale. See our death rate in Pakistan pillar and mortality rate explainer for the full statistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the life expectancy in Pakistan in 2026?
About 68.1 years at birth (World Bank, 2024 — the latest published figure).
Is life expectancy in Pakistan increasing?
Yes — it has risen almost every decade since 1950, from under 40 years to about 68, with only a brief Covid-era pause.
Why is Pakistan’s life expectancy lower than Bangladesh’s?
Mainly higher child and maternal mortality. Bangladesh’s community-health and family-planning programmes cut those deaths faster from the 1980s onward.
Do Pakistani women live longer than men?
Yes — by a few years, following the global pattern.
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