Pakistan Population in Crores
Pakistan’s abadi in the unit Pakistanis actually use — crores, not just millions. Census data, 2026 estimates, province breakdowns and growth explained.
Last updated: 11 October 2026
The Essentials
Pakistan’s Abadi at a Glance
The headline numbers, in crores and millions.
In Your Unit
Pakistan’s Population in Crores
One crore = 10 million. Here’s Pakistan’s abadi the way Pakistanis count it.
| Year / Source | In Crores | In Millions |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 estimate (WPR) | ~25.93 crore | 259.3 million |
| 2023 digital census | 24.15 crore | 241.49 million |
| 2017 census | 20.77 crore | 207.68 million |
| 1998 census | 13.24 crore | 132.35 million |
So “Pakistan ki abadi kitni hai?” — taqreeban 26 crore in 2026. Exact crore figures →
Province-wise
Province-wise Population (2023 Census)
Where Pakistan’s 24.15 crore people live.
| Province / Territory | Population | In Crores | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab | 127.69 million | 12.77 cr | 2.53% |
| Sindh | 55.70 million | 5.57 cr | 2.57% |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 40.86 million | 4.09 cr | 2.38% |
| Balochistan | 14.89 million | 1.49 cr | 3.20% |
| Islamabad (ICT) | 2.36 million | 23.6 lakh | 2.81% |
Punjab alone holds more people than most countries — over half of Pakistan. Balochistan grows fastest (3.20%) from the smallest base. Full province analysis →
2.55% Per Year
Population Growth Rate
Pakistan grows faster than any major South Asian nation.
2.55% Annual Growth
The 2023 census measured 2.55% yearly growth (2017–2023) — the highest in South Asia. At this rate, the population doubles roughly every 27 years.
~11,300 Net Added Daily
About 18,989 births minus 4,556 deaths daily (net of emigration) — a new small town every single day.
Growth vs Resources
PM Shehbaz Sharif noted the population rose by 3.5 crore in 6 years — far outpacing economic growth. Controlling growth is official policy; family planning remains the lever.
Median Age 21.8
A Young Nation
Pakistan is one of the world’s youngest countries — a dividend or a time bomb.
Median Age 21.8
Against a global average of 31 — half of Pakistan is under 22. The youth bulge defines everything from classrooms to job markets.
50.6% Male, 49.4% Female
131.3 million males, 128 million females (2026 estimates) — a slight male skew typical of South Asia.
Life Expectancy 68.1
65.7 years for males, 70.6 for females — below the world average of 73.8, but rising.
61% Rural
Urban vs Rural
Pakistan remains a rural-majority nation — but urbanising fast.
The 2023 census: 61.18% rural (14.76 crore), 38.82% urban (9.37 crore). Sindh is the most urbanised province (53% urban); KP the least (~85% rural). Karachi (~2.1 crore) and Lahore (~1.4 crore) anchor the urban boom — Pakistan’s cities absorb millions each decade. By 2030, nearly half the country is expected to live in urban areas, reshaping everything from transport to voting patterns.
336 per km²
Population Density
How crowded is Pakistan, really?
Pakistan’s density is ~336 people per km² — the world’s 38th densest. But the average hides extremes: Punjab’s canal colonies are among South Asia’s densest farmlands, while Balochistan (44% of the land, 6% of the people) is near-empty desert and mountains. Density breakdown →
Mardam Shumari 2023
The 2023 Digital Census
Pakistan’s first digital census — how the 24.15 crore figure was counted.
Conducted 1 March–May 2023 by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics using GIS geo-tagging and a self-enumeration portal (6.6 million households registered themselves), the 7th Population and Housing Census was approved by the Council of Common Interests on 5 August 2023. Including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, the total reached 24.75 crore.
Global Rank 5
Pakistan in World Context
One in every 31 humans is Pakistani.
| Rank | Country | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | ~145 crore |
| 2 | China | ~141 crore |
| 3 | United States | ~34.7 crore |
| 4 | Indonesia | ~28.5 crore |
| 5 | Pakistan | ~25.9 crore |
| 6 | Nigeria | ~23.2 crore |
| 7 | Brazil | ~21.2 crore |
Pakistan represents 3.24% of humanity and 5.18% of Asia’s population — with a growth rate far above its neighbours, its global share keeps rising.
Biggest Cities
Population by City
Pakistan’s urban giants — where the crores concentrate.
| City | Population (2026 est.) | In Crores |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi | 21.24 million | 2.12 cr |
| Lahore | 14.06 million | 1.41 cr |
| Faisalabad | 3.96 million | 39.6 lakh |
| Rawalpindi | 3.90 million | 39 lakh |
| Gujranwala | 2.79 million | 27.9 lakh |
| Multan | 2.41 million | 24.1 lakh |
| Hyderabad | 2.02 million | 20.2 lakh |
| Peshawar | 1.87 million | 18.7 lakh |
| Quetta | 1.82 million | 18.2 lakh |
| Islamabad | 1.16 million | 11.6 lakh |
Karachi alone holds more people than 130+ countries. The top two cities — Karachi and Lahore — contain over 3.5 crore people, nearly 14% of Pakistan.
Who Pakistanis Are
Ethnicity and Religion
The composition behind the 26-crore total.
Ethnic Groups
Punjabi 44.7%, Pashtun 15.4%, Sindhi 14.1%, Saraiki 8.4%, Muhajir/Urdu-speaking 7.6%, Balochi 3.6%, others — a federation of nations within a nation, each with its language and culture.
Religion
96.5% Muslim (majority Sunni, significant Shia minority), with Christian, Hindu, Sikh and other communities forming the remainder — concentrated in Punjab and Sindh.
History
Population Milestones
From 3 crore at independence to 26 crore today.
~3 Crore
At independence, Pakistan (both wings) held roughly 70 million; West Pakistan about 30 million.
13.24 Crore
The 5th census — Pakistan becomes one of the world’s 10 most populous nations.
20.77 Crore
The 6th census confirms Pakistan as the 5th most populous country on earth.
24.15 Crore
First digital census — 2.55% growth, the highest in South Asia.
~25.9 Crore
Today’s estimate — approaching 26 crore, still growing at ~11,300 net per day.
30 Crore?
At current growth, Pakistan crosses 300 million in the mid-2030s.
The Future
Population Projections
Where the numbers point next.
At 2.55% growth, Pakistan crosses 30 crore around the mid-2030s and could approach 35+ crore by 2050 — cementing its place among the world’s most populous nations. The UNFPA calls this a potential strategic asset: a young workforce for a developing economy — but only if education, jobs and family planning keep pace. The alternative is strain on water, food, housing and classrooms. Pakistan’s population story is ultimately a policy story.
Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What Pakistanis ask most about the abadi — answered.
Pakistan ki abadi kitni hai? (2026)
Taqreeban 26 crore (259 million) — the 2026 estimate. The last census (2023) counted 24.15 crore.
How many people live in Pakistan?
About 259 million in 2026 — 5th most populous country in the world, 3.24% of humanity.
What is the male-female ratio in Pakistan?
About 50.6% male, 49.4% female — roughly 131 million men and 128 million women.
What was Pakistan’s population in 2020?
About 22.7 crore (227 million) — between the 2017 census (20.77 cr) and the 2023 census (24.15 cr).
How many births per day in Pakistan?
Around 18,989 births and 4,556 deaths daily — net growth of ~11,300 people per day after emigration.
Is Pakistan overpopulated?
Pakistan’s 2.55% growth rate — the highest in South Asia — strains water, food, jobs and classrooms. The government officially treats rapid growth as a challenge; the UNFPA sees the youth bulge as a potential asset if matched with education and employment.
What is Pakistan’s literacy rate?
Around 60% (PBS) — with a wide gender gap (male ~68%, female ~52%). Rising enrolment is slowly closing it, but 26 crore people need far more classrooms.
When was the last census (mardam shumari)?
The 7th Population and Housing Census in March–May 2023 — Pakistan’s first digital census, approved August 2023.
Pakistan’s People, By the Numbers
12 detailed guides — crores, growth, provinces, density, age and the census.
Feature Pakistan’s Pakistan Guides present PBS census data and UN/WPR estimates in plain language — with figures in both crores and millions.