Pakistan has an estimated population of over 169 million inhabitants in 2007. During 1951-98, Pakistan's urban population expanded sevenfold. And by the next decade the population is expected to exceed 176 million. Non-governmental and international sources report that Pakistan's current population is estimated to be 165,803,560 (July 2006 est). In the past, the country's population had a relatively high growth rate that has, however, been moderated by declining fertility and birth rates. Dramatic social changes have led to rapid urbanization and the emergence of megacities. During 1990-2003, Pakistan sustained its historical lead as the most urbanized nation in South Asia, with city dwellers making up 34% of its population.
Pakistan has a multicultural and multi ethnical society and hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world as well as a young population.
Pakistan's next national census will take place in 2008.
Population data of Pakistan
Geographic distribution
The majority of southern Pakistan's population lives along the Indus River. In the northern half, most of the population lives about an arc formed by the cities of Faisalabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Peshawar.
Population and growth
- Population: 164,741,942 (July 2007 est.)
- Growth rate: 1.828% (2007 est.)
- Birth rate: 27.74 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
- Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
- Net migration rate: -1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Structure
Age structure
- 0-14 years: 40%(male 33,293,428; female 31,434,314)
- 15-64 years: 56.9% (male 48,214,298; female 46,062,933)
- 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 3,256,065; female 3,542,522) (2006 est.)
Gender ratios
- Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
- total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Human Development
Mortality and life expectancy
- Infant mortality rate: 68.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth:
- total population: 63.39 years
- male: 62.4 years
- female: 64.44 years (2006 est.)
Fertility
- Total fertility rate: 4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
- Fertility decline rate: 1.8 children per woman per decade (2nd fastest in world)
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write.- total population: 48.7% (2004 est.)
- male: 61.7%
- female: 35.2%
Nationality and ethnicity of Pakistan
Ethnic groups of Pakistan
Pakistan's ethnic diversity is obvious and yet accurate numbers have been elusive. Most believe that the large majority of Pakistanis belong to the Indo-Iranian ancestral group. There are a substantial number of Iranic peoples and smaller numbers of Brahui. These are many ethnic groups: Pakistan's census and rough estimates vary, but the consensus is that the Punjabis are by far the largest group, and that Pukhtuns (also known as Pashtuns) and Sindhis are the next two largest groups The Punjabi population is estimated to comprise 44.15% of the national total. The Pukhtuns are the second-largest group at roughly 15.42%, followed by Sindhis at 14.1%. Seraikis, a group seen as transitional between Punjabis and Sindhis, make up 10.53% of the population. The remaining groups that comprise large percentages include the Muhajirs at 7.57% and the Balochis at 3.57%. The other main ethnic groups include the Brahui, Kashmiri, Hindko Pukhtuns, and the various peoples of the Northern Areas, who all together total roughly 4.66% of the total population. The Punjabi, Pukhtun, Muhajir, Baloch and Brahui populations are primarily Persian descent or Aryan, while the Sindhis and Seraikis are seen as more Indo descent.In addition, over five million Afghan refugees came to Pakistan during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and it is estimated that over three million remain, with a large proportion settling permanently in Pakistan. If added to the census, Afghan refugees would boost the percentage of the Pukhtuns and "others" categories. Also, there are considerably colonies of other refugees/migrants settled in Pakistan particularly in Karachi, Lahore as well as in the twin capital Islamabad/Rawalpindi, these include a sizeable Iranian/Persian population, Tajiks from both Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Religions of Pakistan
Census data indicates that over 96% of the population are Muslims. The Muslims have different schools which are called Madhahib (singular: Madhhab) i.e, schools of jurisprudence (also 'Maktab-e-Fikr' (School of Thought) in Urdu). Nearly 60% of Pakistani Muslims are Sunni Muslims and roughly 30% are Shi'a Muslims. Nearly all Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi school with a small Hanbali school represented by Wahabis and Ahle Hadith. The Hanafi school includes the Barelvis and Deobandis schools. Although the majority of Pakistani Shia Muslims belong to Ithna 'ashariyah school, there are significant minorities: Nizari Khoja Ismailis (Aga Khanis) and the smaller Mustaali Dawoodi Bohra school. By one estimate, in Pakistan, Muslims are divided into following schools: the Barelvis 50%, Deobandis 12%, Jafari (Ithna Ashari) Shia 27%, Ahle Hadith 4%, ismaili 3%, Bohras 0.25%, and other smaller sects. The Ahle-e-Hadith are part of Hanbali school. Nearly 65% of the total seminaries (Madrasah) are run by Barelvis, 25 per cent by the Deobandis, six percent by the various Shia organizations and three percent by Ahle Hadith . Zikris are considered to be a heretical sect by mainstream Muslims and are concentrated in Makran, Balochistan.The difference among Sunni schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi, and Hanbali) are small in practice, and they may pray together in any Sunni Masjid (Mosque). In Pakistan, adherents of the Barelvi and Deobandi schools also pray together in same Masjids.
There are small non-Muslim religious groups: Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Qadianis, Parsis, Bahais and others 3%.
Languages of Pakistan
According to the census, Pakistanis identified the following languages as their mother tongues:- Punjabi 44%
- Pashto 15%
- Sindhi 14%
- Siraiki 11%
- Urdu 8%
- Balochi 4%
- others 4%
The official language of Pakistan is English. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca, although it is spoken as a first language by approximately 8% of the population. ~44% speak Punjabi as a first language, 15% Pashto, and 31% other languages such as (Sindhi, Siraiki, Balochi, Hindko and Brahui.)
