Search “what is the population of Lahore, Pakistan” and you will find answers ranging from 13 million to 15 million — sometimes on the same page. They are not all wrong; they are measuring different things. This guide untangles the numbers so you always know which figure you are looking at.
Quick answer: The official population of Lahore, Pakistan is 13,004,135 (2023 census, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics). Estimates for 2026 put it at roughly 14 million. Higher figures you see online (14–15 million) are projections or metro-area estimates, not the official count.
In this guide
The Official Answer: 13,004,135
The single authoritative figure is the 2023 Population and Housing Census — Pakistan’s seventh census and its first conducted digitally. Enumerators counted every household between March and May 2023, the results were approved by the Council of Common Interests on 5 August 2023, and Lahore district came in at 13,004,135 people.
Because Lahore district is entirely urban — it has no rural population — the district figure and the “city population” are the same number. That is the figure Pakistan’s government uses for seats, budgets and planning.
Why You See Conflicting Numbers
| Figure you see | What it actually is | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 13.0 million | 2023 census, Lahore district | Official count |
| 13.1–14 million | UN / Demographia urban-agglomeration estimates | Different boundary |
| ~14 million | 2026 projection at 2.65% growth | Estimate, not counted |
| 22.77 million | Lahore division (4 districts) | Not the city |
The most common mistake — seen even in national newspapers in August 2023 — is quoting the division figure as the city figure, which briefly and wrongly “made” Lahore bigger than Karachi. Our main guide on Lahore’s population settles that comparison with the full census table.
The 2026 Projection: ~14 Million
Between the 2017 and 2023 censuses, Lahore grew at 2.65% a year. Compounding 13,004,135 forward three years:
- End of 2024: ~13.35 million
- End of 2025: ~13.71 million
- Mid-2026: ~14.06 million
Treat this as a well-grounded estimate, not a count — migration swings, boundary changes and the next census will all move it. But it is the figure most demographers would quote for “Lahore’s population today”.
Which Source to Trust
For the official count: the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (pbs.gov.pk) — the 2023 census tables and the National Census Report. For international comparison: the UN World Urbanization Prospects, which uses consistent urban-agglomeration definitions across countries. For everything else: check the date and the boundary. A figure without a year or a definition is not a fact — it is a guess wearing a number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Lahore, Pakistan?
13,004,135 according to the 2023 census — Pakistan’s second-largest city. The current (2026) estimate is roughly 14 million.
Why do different websites give different numbers?
They mix up the district (13.0M), the division (22.77M), urban-agglomeration estimates (13–14M) and forward projections (~14M in 2026). Always check which boundary and which year a figure refers to.
Is the 2023 census figure final?
Yes — it was unanimously approved by the Council of Common Interests in August 2023. It remains the official figure until the next census.
What was Lahore’s population in 2017?
11,119,985 — meaning the city added about 1.88 million people (16.9%) in six years.
Related Guides
- Lahore Population: The Complete 2026 Guide — demographics, history and the Karachi comparison
- Pakistan Geography — provinces, cities and census data
- Pakistan GDP Per Capita: The Complete 2026 Guide
- Karachi GDP Per Capita
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