How Many People Live in Pakistan?

Pakistan has a population of approximately 259 million people, making it the 5th most populous country on Earth. Pakistan's population has grown nearly 7x since 1950 and continues to add about 4.5 million people per year. At this rate, Pakistan will overtake Indonesia as the 4th most populous country by 2035 and could reach 400 million by 2050.

The 2023 digital census (Pakistan's first tech-enabled count) revealed 241.5 million people, far higher than estimates based on the outdated 2017 census. Fertility remains high at 3.3 children per woman, driven by rural areas where access to family planning is limited and cultural expectations favor large families. In Balochistan, the fertility rate exceeds 4.0. In Islamabad, it has dropped below 2.5.

Pakistan faces a convergence of crises that make its population growth especially dangerous. Water is running out: the Indus River system, which supplies 90% of agriculture, is shrinking due to Himalayan glacier melt and overuse. Karachi (16.8 million) has chronic water shortages. The 2022 floods (one-third of the country underwater) displaced 33 million people and caused $30 billion in damage. Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global emissions but suffers some of the worst climate impacts on Earth.

📊 Key Demographics

🏙️ What Are Pakistans Largest Cities?

Water and infrastructure crisis

Pakistan is one of the most water-stressed countries on Earth. The Indus River system supplies 90% of agriculture but is shrinking due to climate change (Himalayan glacier melt) and overuse. Karachi, a city of 16.8 million, experiences chronic water shortages and power outages lasting 8-12 hours daily. The 2022 floods (one-third of the country underwater) displaced 33 million people and caused $30 billion in damage, a preview of climate impacts on a country that contributes less than 1% of global emissions.

🏔️ Pakistan Has More Glaciers Than Almost Anywhere Outside the Poles

Pakistan has over 7,000 glaciers in the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges, more than anywhere outside the polar regions. These glaciers feed the Indus River, which provides water for 90% of Pakistans agriculture. K2, the worlds second-highest mountain, is in Pakistan. Climate change is melting these glaciers at an accelerating rate, which initially increases river flow but will eventually lead to severe water shortages for the 245 million people who depend on them.