Pakistan Population City Wise: Every Major City’s Count
How many people live in each of Pakistan’s cities? The 2023 census gives the definitive city-wise breakdown. Here it is — the major cities, their exact counts, growth since 2017, and each city’s share of the nation.
Quick answer: Pakistan’s city-wise population (2023 census): Karachi 18,868,021 · Lahore 13,004,135 · Faisalabad 3,691,999 · Rawalpindi 3,357,612 · Gujranwala 2,511,118 · Multan 2,215,381 · Hyderabad 1,921,275 · Peshawar 1,905,975 · Quetta 1,565,546 · Islamabad 1,108,872 · Sargodha 975,886 · Sialkot 911,817 · Bahawalpur 903,795.
City-wise population table
| City | 2023 census | 2017 census | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karachi | 18,868,021 | 14,916,456 | +26.5% |
| Lahore | 13,004,135 | 11,126,285 | +16.9% |
| Faisalabad | 3,691,999 | 3,204,726 | +15.2% |
| Rawalpindi | 3,357,612 | 2,098,231 | +60.0% |
| Gujranwala | 2,511,118 | 2,027,001 | +23.9% |
| Multan | 2,215,381 | 1,871,843 | +18.4% |
| Hyderabad | 1,921,275 | 1,734,309 | +10.8% |
| Peshawar | 1,905,975 | 1,970,042 | −3.3%* |
| Quetta | 1,565,546 | 1,001,205 | +56.4% |
| Islamabad | 1,108,872 | 1,009,832 | +9.8% |
| Sargodha | 975,886 | 658,208 | +48.3% |
| Sialkot | 911,817 | 656,730 | +38.8% |
| Bahawalpur | 903,795 | 762,111 | +18.6% |
*Peshawar’s city-proper dip reflects boundary definitions; the wider urban area continued growing. Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 7th Population and Housing Census 2023.
Each city’s share of Pakistan
Pakistan’s total: 241,492,917 (2023). Karachi alone holds 7.8% of the country; Lahore 5.4%. Together the top two hold 13.2% — more than 1 in 8 Pakistanis. The top 10 hold roughly 20%. For context, the entire urban population is 93.75 million (38.8%).
Growth since 2017
The standouts: Rawalpindi +60%, Quetta +56%, Sargodha +48% — the twin-city sprawl, Balochistan’s urbanisation and Punjab’s secondary cities all accelerating. Karachi added the most people in absolute terms: +3.95 million. See the cities-by-population ranking and largest city by area for the full picture.
FAQs
What is the population of Karachi?
18,868,021 (2023 census) — 7.8% of Pakistan’s population.
What is the population of Lahore?
13,004,135 (2023 census) — Pakistan’s second-largest city.
Which Pakistani city grew fastest?
Rawalpindi (+60% since 2017) among major cities, followed by Quetta (+56%).
