Total population of Pakistan — from the first census to today’s 2026 estimate. The official counts, the growth between them, and what “total” includes (and doesn’t).
Quick answer: Total population: ~259.3 million (2026 estimate). Last official count: 241,499,431 (2023 census, four provinces + ICT) — 247.54 million including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
In this guide
Official Counts
2023: 241,499,431 (PBS digital census). 2017: 207,684,626. 1998: 132,352,279. 1981: 84,253,644. Each census resets the baseline; between censuses, the PBS and UN publish estimates.
What’s Included
The headline 241.49 million covers the four provinces + ICT. Adding Gilgit-Baltistan (1.71m) and Azad Kashmir (4.33m) gives 247.54 million. Afghan refugees in refugee villages are counted separately.
The Trend
Pakistan’s population has doubled roughly every 25–30 years since independence: ~30m (1947) → 84m (1981) → 207m (2017) → 241m (2023) → ~259m (2026). The growth rate is slowly falling (3%+ in the 1980s to 2.55% now) but the base is enormous.
Today
The 2026 estimate of 259.3 million makes Pakistan the 5th most populous nation — adding ~11,300 net people daily. Full breakdown in our population pillar guide.
What is the exact population of Pakistan?
The last exact count: 241,499,431 (2023 census). The current best estimate: ~259,300,000 (2026).
Does the census include overseas Pakistanis?
No — the census counts people resident in Pakistan. The ~9 million-strong diaspora is tracked separately.
Related Population Guides
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