Contents

Country Overview

Pakistan is a populous federal parliamentary republic in South Asia, bordered by Afghanistan, Iran, China and India and fronting the Arabian Sea. Its economy combines agriculture, textiles, services, remittances and manufacturing, while the Indus basin and mountain systems are central to its physical geography. The state has four provinces and distinct arrangements in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This reference separates its enumerated 2023 census count, World Bank 2025 demographic and GDP estimates, 2024 WTO merchandise figures, and IMF fiscal-year projections.

Reference status: Contemporary country profile • Verified: November 6, 2026 • Source years and statistical or jurisdictional limitations are stated.

CapitalIslamabadFederal capital [2]
Population255.22 millionWorld Bank 2025 estimate; 2023 census 241.50m [9] [7]
GDPUS$407.31 billionWorld Bank 2025 current dollars [9]
Prime ministerShehbaz SharifIn office since March 4, 2024 [2]
2024 goods exportsUS$32.44 billionWTO/UN Comtrade, calendar 2024 [11]
World Heritage6 propertiesUNESCO, all cultural [16]

Data and status note: The seventh population and housing census enumerated 241,499,431 people in 2023, versus World Bank’s 255,219,554 estimated residents in 2025. The World Bank’s US$407.31 billion 2025 nominal GDP and 3.7% calendar-year growth are not the same reporting basis as IMF Pakistan fiscal-year estimates. Pakistan’s November 2025 Twenty-Seventh Amendment established a Federal Constitutional Court, changing the judiciary’s organization; pre-2025 descriptions of the Supreme Court’s constitutional jurisdiction may be outdated. The 2024 WTO goods trade figures are distinct from Pakistan fiscal-year customs totals. The status of Kashmir is contested; territorial descriptions identify administrators without deciding sovereignty.

Identity & State Formation

Official name
Islamic Republic of Pakistan. [2]
Common name
Pakistan. [2]
Capital
Islamabad. [2]
UN statistical region
Southern Asia. [1]
ISO country codes
PK / PAK / 586. [1]
Independence
August 14, 1947, following partition of British India. [2]
Republic designation
Islamic Republic established in 1956; present constitutional framework dates from 1973. [3]
Constitution
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, as amended. [3]
Government system
Federal parliamentary republic. [2] [3]
Head of state
President Asif Ali Zardari, sworn in March 10, 2024. [2]
Head of government
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, serving since March 4, 2024. [2] [20]
Federal legislature
Parliament comprises National Assembly and Senate. [3] [6]
Lower chamber
National Assembly, 336 total seats after 2024 constituency changes. [6]
Upper chamber
Senate represents provinces within federal constitutional rules. [3]
2024 national election
February 8, 2024. [6]
National currency
Pakistani rupee (PKR), subdivided into 100 paisa. [13]
Central bank
State Bank of Pakistan. [13]
Official languages
Urdu is the national language; English is also used for official purposes under constitutional and legal provisions. [3] [2]
Regional language diversity
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Saraiki and other languages are widely spoken. [7]
National flag
Dark green with a white crescent and five-pointed star and a white vertical stripe. [2]
Religion in constitutional law
Islam is the state religion; freedom and minority rights have constitutional provisions subject to law. [3]
Administrative provinces
Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. [20]
Federal capital territory
Islamabad Capital Territory. [20]
Northern administered region
Gilgit-Baltistan has distinct territorial institutions. [20]
Kashmir administration
Pakistan administers Azad Jammu and Kashmir; overall Kashmir sovereignty is disputed by India and Pakistan. [20] [22]
UN membership
September 30, 1947. [19]
WTO participation
WTO member since January 1, 1995. [11]
2025 constitutional change
Twenty-Seventh Amendment Act became law November 13, 2025. [4]
New top judicial body
Federal Constitutional Court created in the 2025 constitutional restructuring. [4] [5]
Demographic reference
First national digital census completed in 2023. [7]
Country area caution
Common gross area counts include differently administered/disputed territories; statistical area figures require stated geographic scope. [7] [20]
Indus cultural heritage
Archaeology at Moenjodaro reflects the Indus Valley Civilization. [16]
National history
Pakistan movement and Muhammad Ali Jinnah central to modern state formation. [2]

Geography & Population

Geographic position
Northwestern South Asia, between the Himalayas and the Arabian Sea. [1]
Western neighbor
Afghanistan. [20]
Southwestern neighbor
Iran. [20]
Northeastern neighbor
China, across high mountains. [20]
Eastern neighbor
India, including contested Kashmir boundary arrangements. [20] [22]
Southern coast
Arabian Sea coastline including Karachi and the Makran coast. [15]
Capital plateau
Islamabad lies near the Margalla Hills and Potohar Plateau. [15]
Major river
Indus River runs from high mountains toward the Arabian Sea. [15]
Indus basin
Five-river Punjab and downstream Sindh depend on the river system. [15]
Principal tributaries
Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej flow through the Indus system. [15]
Highest mountain
K2 in the Karakoram, approximately 8,611 metres. [15]
Karakoram
Northern high mountain range with extensive glaciers. [15]
Western Himalaya
Northern Pakistan contains high Himalayan ranges. [15]
Hindu Kush
Extends through northwestern Pakistan and adjoining Afghanistan. [15]
Northern mountain glacier risk
Warming and glacial lake outburst floods threaten communities. [15]
Balochistan Plateau
Arid highland region across the southwest. [15]
Thar Desert
Arid eastern Sindh and adjoining cross-border desert region. [15]
Punjab plains
Major densely settled and irrigated agricultural zone. [15] [7]
Sindh lowlands
Indus delta, floodplains and Karachi coastal zone. [15]
Karachi
Pakistan’s largest commercial metropolis and principal seaport. [10]
Lahore
Major Punjab metropolitan and cultural center. [10]
Peshawar
Important Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital city. [20]
Quetta
Balochistan provincial capital. [20]
Islamabad-Rawalpindi
Major federal administrative and neighboring metropolitan area. [2]
Gwadar
Deep-water port development on the Balochistan coast. [10]
Monsoon season
Summer rain strongly influences northern and eastern regions. [15]
Flood hazard
Intense monsoon rainfall and rivers create widespread seasonal flood exposure. [15]
Drought hazard
Southwestern arid districts frequently experience water shortages. [15]
Heat exposure
Heat waves threaten labor productivity, health and water availability. [15]
2023 census count
241,499,431, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. [7]
2025 population estimate
255,219,554, World Bank international series. [9]
Census 2017
207,684,626 in the 2017 enumeration, according to later national census comparisons. [7]
Census 1951
33,740,167 residents, historical comparison. [7]
2023 Punjab population
127,688,922, census. [7]
2023 Sindh population
55,696,147, census. [7]
2023 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa population
40,856,097, census. [7]
2023 Balochistan population
14,894,402, census. [7]
2023 Islamabad population
2,363,863, census. [7]
Area reference
National Census Report uses 796,096 km² for four provinces and Islamabad; broader figures include territorial areas. [7] [20]
Population-definition caution
The counted 2023 population and projected 2025 population are different measures. [7] [9]

Census and World Bank population reference series

The first two figures are enumeration years; the third is an international annual model estimate. [7] [9]

Series Year Population
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics census2017207,684,626
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics census2023241,499,431
World Bank estimate2025255,219,554

Selected census 2023 administrative counts

These are the five core administrative entries in the national census tables, not an independent enumeration of disputed territories. [7]

Region 2023 enumerated population Classification
Punjab127,688,922Province
Sindh55,696,147Province
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa40,856,097Province
Balochistan14,894,402Province
Islamabad2,363,863Capital territory

Economy & International Trade

Economic composition
Agriculture, services, trade, textiles, construction and manufacturing. [10]
2025 GDP
World Bank nominal GDP approximately US$407.31 billion. [9]
2025 per capita GDP
World Bank approximately US$1,596 in current US dollars. [9]
2025 GDP growth
About 3.7% in the World Bank calendar-year series. [9]
2025 inflation
About 3.5% in World Bank calendar-year consumer-price series. [9]
2025 modeled unemployment
Around 5.4%, ILO-modeled World Bank data. [9]
2025 international remittances
Personal remittances approximately 9.9% of GDP in World Bank series. [9]
2024 goods exports
US$32.439 billion, WTO/UN Comtrade reporting. [11]
2024 goods imports
US$56.484 billion, same series. [11]
2024 merchandise deficit
Approximately US$24.046 billion from rounded export and import totals. [11]
2024 top export market
European Union, 27.6% of reported exports. [11]
2024 second export market
United States, 17.3%. [11]
2024 China import share
Approximately 28.3% of total imported merchandise. [11]
2024 UAE import share
About 10.0%. [11]
2024 Saudi Arabia import share
About 7.9%. [11]
Rice exports
Semi-milled/wholly milled rice was the largest listed HS product, 10.0% of 2024 exports. [11]
Textiles and garments
Apparel, bed linen and terry textiles comprise major export categories. [11]
Cotton production
Domestic cotton links farming to spinning and textile production. [10]
Rice agriculture
Irrigated rice cultivation supports domestic consumption and exports. [10] [11]
Wheat agriculture
Wheat is an important food crop. [10]
Livestock
Dairy, meat and livestock support farm incomes. [10]
Manufacturing hubs
Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad and Sialkot are manufacturing/export centers. [10]
Information technology
IT services and business-process services are expanding export activities. [10]
Remittance sources
Overseas workers in Gulf states and elsewhere support foreign-exchange inflows. [9] [12]
Energy supply
Imported fuels and domestic power costs affect industrial competitiveness. [12]
Power-sector reform
Utility debt, tariffs and financial recovery remain policy priorities. [12]
Agricultural water
Indus irrigation networks are crucial for farming productivity. [15] [10]
Climate risk
Flood and heat exposure have major fiscal and output consequences. [15] [12]
Economic fiscal calendar
Pakistan budget and IMF forecasts use a July–June fiscal year, not necessarily calendar 2025. [14] [12]
FY26 growth estimate
October 2026 IMF staff estimated FY2026 real growth at approximately 3.6%. [12]
FY26 inflation update
September 2026 headline inflation about 10.3% in IMF October statement; not the 2025 annual World Bank figure. [12]
IMF staff-level agreement
Reached October 7, 2026 for fourth EFF and third RSF reviews. [12]
Approval caveat
IMF staff-level agreement was explicitly subject to Executive Board approval. [12]
End-Sept reserves
IMF October 2026 statement put gross reserves around US$21.5 billion. [12]
Monetary authority
State Bank of Pakistan oversees monetary policy and banking regulation. [13]
Public finances
Tax-base broadening, debt service and social spending remain major policy concerns. [12] [14]
Trade comparability
WTO calendar 2024 merchandise totals are not identical to Pakistan fiscal-year trade series. [11] [14]
Economic outlook
IMF staff cited geopolitical tensions, energy prices, financial conditions and trade disruptions as risks. [12]

2025 World Bank socioeconomic indicators

World Bank annual series may be revised and should not be substituted for IMF Pakistan fiscal-year data. [9]

Indicator Reference year Value
Nominal GDP, current dollars2025US$407.31 billion
Real GDP growth20253.7%
GDP per capita2025US$1,596
Consumer price inflation20253.5%
Remittances, % of GDP20259.9%
Life expectancy2024~68 years

WTO goods trade, calendar 2024

Calendar 2024 WTO/UN Comtrade partner and HS category figures, not fiscal-year customs data. [11]

Measure Value Share/qualification
Merchandise exportsUS$32.439 billion100% exports
Merchandise importsUS$56.484 billion100% imports
European Union exportsUS$8.945 billion27.6% of exports
United States exportsUS$5.611 billion17.3% of exports
Semi-milled or wholly milled riceUS$3.258 billion10.0% of exports
Goods imports from ChinaUS$15.993 billion28.3% of imports

People & Society

National language
Urdu is the national language. [3]
English
Used in administration, higher education, law and commerce. [3] [2]
Punjabi
A major mother tongue, especially in Punjab. [7]
Sindhi
Principal regional language in Sindh. [7]
Pashto
Widely spoken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other regions. [7]
Balochi
Spoken in Balochistan and elsewhere. [7]
Saraiki
Widely spoken in southern Punjab. [7]
Other languages
Brahui, Hindko, Balti, Shina, Burushaski and many more enrich regional diversity. [7]
Islam
Majority religion, including Sunni and Shia communities. [7]
Religious minorities
Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadis and others form minority communities with varied legal status. [7] [3]
2023 religion census
Religious shares should use the 2023 census tables and specify population coverage. [7]
Population youthfulness
A large share of residents are children and young adults. [10]
2023 average household size
Approximately 6.26 persons in the national census reference. [7]
Urbanization
Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and other cities are growing. [10]
Education system
Primary and secondary schooling operates through provincial systems and private providers. [10]
Literacy inequality
Educational attainment differs sharply by gender, income and region. [7] [10]
School participation
Out-of-school children remain a significant policy concern. [10]
University sector
Includes Quaid-i-Azam University and many public and private universities. [10]
Health services
Federal and provincial institutions plus private hospitals provide care. [18]
Life expectancy
World Bank 2024 estimate was about 68 years. [9]
Maternal and child health
Nutrition and access to clinics remain critical health development needs. [18] [10]
Drinking water
Access, sanitation and contamination vary by region and settlement. [10]
Income disparities
Rural poverty and uneven urban employment shape household conditions. [10]
Gender inequality
Women's participation, safety and access to education vary by location. [10]
Agricultural livelihoods
Farming households rely on rainfall, irrigation, livestock and seasonal labor. [10]
Textile employment
Garment and textile industries are large formal/informal employment sectors. [11] [10]
Overseas diaspora
Workers and families overseas sustain significant remittance links. [9] [12]
Regional cuisine
Biryani, chapati/roti, kebabs, lentils and regional dishes are widespread. [17]
Music
Qawwali, classical, folk and contemporary traditions are culturally prominent. [17]
Poetry and literature
Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto and Balochi literary traditions are important. [17]
Indus civilization
Moenjodaro preserves evidence of Bronze Age urban society. [16]
Taxila legacy
Archaeological sites reflect Buddhist and Gandharan historical traditions. [16]
Lahore architecture
Mughal and later building traditions feature in the city’s monuments. [16]
Suri Jagek
Traditional astronomical/meteorological practice inscribed by UNESCO in 2018. [17]
Falconry
Multinational intangible cultural heritage inscription associated with Pakistan since 2021. [17]
Nowruz
Multinational listing updated for Pakistan in 2024. [17]
Bhorindo instrument
Traditional folk instrument added to UNESCO urgent-safeguarding list in 2025. [17]
UNESCO intangible total
Four listed intangible heritage elements as of November 2026. [17]
Civil society
Journalists, advocacy groups and communities participate amid political and legal challenges. [5] [10]

Government & Institutions

Political order
Federal parliamentary republic under the amended 1973 Constitution. [3]
President
Asif Ali Zardari, sworn in March 10, 2024. [2]
Prime minister
Shehbaz Sharif, sworn in March 4, 2024. [2]
Federal parliament
National Assembly plus Senate. [3]
National Assembly seat design
266 directly elected general seats plus 60 reserved for women and 10 reserved for non-Muslim minorities. [6]
Total National Assembly seats
336 under the post-census 2024 election design. [6]
2024 general election
February 8, 2024. [6]
Electoral administration
Election Commission of Pakistan. [21]
Coalition politics
Federal executive emerged from 2024 postelection parliamentary arrangements. [6] [2]
Political contestation
The 2024 election involved controversies over party participation and political competition. [6]
Senate membership
Members are elected indirectly according to constitutional provincial and federal allocations. [3]
Four provinces
Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. [20]
Provincial legislatures
Each province has its own elected assembly and executive. [3]
Provincial chief ministers
Provincial government heads are selected through provincial assembly processes. [3]
Federal territory
Islamabad has a separate capital-territory administration. [20]
Gilgit-Baltistan
Pakistan-administered region with distinct governing institutions. [20]
Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Pakistan-administered region under a separate political framework; its status is disputed. [20] [22]
Kashmir caution
Boundary claims are contested; lines of control must not be presented as internationally settled sovereignty. [22]
Constitutional amendment
27th Amendment enacted November 13, 2025. [4]
Federal Constitutional Court
Created under the 27th Amendment and assigned constitutional jurisdiction. [4] [5]
Judicial reform debate
UN experts raised concerns about the speed, consultation and consequences of 2025 judicial reform. [5]
Supreme Court
Remains part of the national judicial system; constitutional functions changed in 2025. [4] [5]
Judicial independence
Institutional reforms and appointment rules remain contested issues. [5]
Federal laws
Passed through parliamentary procedures and presidential assent. [3]
National finance
Federal budget and revenue policy administered through government ministries. [14]
Defense policy
Civil–military relations and security institutions significantly shape state affairs. [20]
State Bank
Central bank charged with monetary policy and financial stability. [13]
Human rights
Constitutional guarantees coexist with disputed implementation and ongoing monitoring. [5]
Religious law
Islam and constitutional provisions influence public-law institutions. [3]
Local administration
Provinces have district and municipal administrative structures. [3]
Intergovernmental finance
Federal-provincial revenue distribution is a central governance issue. [14]
Election reference
Official election results require precise reference to general and reserved seats. [6]
Date caution
Constitutional judicial descriptions from before November 2025 may now be obsolete. [4]

Current institutional reference

2025 constitutional judicial reform is reflected; elected assembly capacity is not a claim of uniform current seat occupancy. [2] [6] [4]

Office or body 2026 status Date or rule
PresidentAsif Ali ZardariSworn in March 10, 2024
Prime ministerShehbaz SharifSworn in March 4, 2024
National Assembly336 seats266 general + 60 women + 10 minority reserved
Federal Constitutional CourtCreated by amendmentNovember 13, 2025
SenateUpper houseIndirect election under constitution

International Profile

UN membership
Joined the United Nations September 30, 1947. [19]
UN statistical group
Southern Asia. [1]
WTO membership
Founding WTO member from 1995. [11]
South Asian neighbors
India, Afghanistan and China are immediate regional strategic partners or rivals. [20]
Iran border
Southwestern border connects Pakistan with Iran. [20]
China links
Economic and strategic cooperation includes transport and infrastructure corridors. [20]
Afghanistan relations
Cross-border migration, trade and security are important policy questions. [20]
India relations
Longstanding rivalry and periodic military crises are linked partly to disputed Kashmir. [22] [20]
Kashmir monitoring
UNMOGIP monitors the ceasefire framework along the Line of Control under its mandate. [22]
Gulf states
Labor, remittances and energy imports connect Pakistan with Gulf economies. [9] [12]
United States
Major merchandise export destination and bilateral diplomatic partner. [11] [20]
European Union
Largest regional destination for 2024 goods exports in the WTO dataset. [11]
China trade
Leading national source of merchandise imports in 2024. [11]
Indian Ocean access
Ports at Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar link to sea trade routes. [20]
International financial institutions
IMF and World Bank support macroeconomic and development programs. [12] [10]
IMF program
Extended Fund Facility and Resilience and Sustainability Facility are active policy frameworks in 2026. [12]
October 2026 IMF status
Staff-level agreement still subject to board consideration when announced October 7. [12]
Climate commitments
Flood resilience and adaptive infrastructure are major international development issues. [15] [12]
World Heritage total
Six UNESCO inscribed properties, all cultural. [16]
Moenjodaro
Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro, inscribed 1980. [16]
Taxila
Archaeological site, inscribed 1980. [16]
Takht-i-Bahi
Buddhist ruins and Sahr-i-Bahlol remains, inscribed 1980. [16]
Lahore monuments
Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, inscribed 1981. [16]
Makli necropolis
Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, inscribed 1981. [16]
Rohtas Fort
Inscribed 1997. [16]
Tentative heritage nominations
UNESCO lists other candidate sites that are not yet World Heritage inscriptions. [16]
Intangible UNESCO inventory
Four listed elements, including bhorindo folk instrument added in 2025. [17]
International heritage distinction
Physical World Heritage properties and intangible cultural elements use separate UNESCO registers. [16] [17]
Trade statistical distinction
WTO goods records are not directly equivalent to IMF balance-of-payments totals or fiscal-year customs reports. [11] [12]
Foreign economic risk
Regional tensions, international energy prices and financial conditions affect policy choices. [12]
Reference cutoff
Leadership, constitutional provisions and statistics are qualified through November 6, 2026. [2] [4] [12]

Six UNESCO World Heritage properties

Complete currently inscribed UNESCO list; intangible elements and tentative sites are separate registers. [16]

Property Category Inscribed
Archaeological Ruins at MoenjodaroCultural1980
TaxilaCultural1980
Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-BahlolCultural1980
Fort and Shalamar Gardens in LahoreCultural1981
Historical Monuments at Makli, ThattaCultural1981
Rohtas FortCultural1997

Sources and Methodology

MGU Quick Facts uses the 2023 Pakistan Bureau of Statistics census separately from the World Bank’s 2025 population estimate. World Bank calendar-year GDP/growth/inflation figures and IMF fiscal-year estimates are not interchangeable; WTO/UN Comtrade totals are 2024 merchandise trade, not all goods and services or Pakistan financial-year records. Governance descriptions incorporate the November 13, 2025 Twenty-Seventh Amendment and Federal Constitutional Court, and differentiate elected, reserved and indirect legislative seats. Kashmir is territorially contested; descriptions of Pakistan-administered regions state administration without prejudging sovereignty.

Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). All stated population counts, prices, elections, and legal statuses have specific reference dates or qualifications. This page should be updated following major new statistical releases or changes of government.

  1. United Nations Statistics Division — M49 grouping — Southern Asia region and ISO codes.
  2. Government of Pakistan — Official portal — current president, prime minister and federal government.
  3. National Assembly of Pakistan — Constitution and legislative record — 1973 Constitution, federal institutions and legislative process.
  4. Senate of Pakistan — Acts of Parliament, 2025 — Twenty-Seventh Amendment Act 2025, November 13 enactment.
  5. UN Special Procedures — Pakistan 27th Amendment correspondence, 2025 — Federal Constitutional Court and concerns about judicial reform.
  6. Inter-Parliamentary Union — 2024 National Assembly election — 2024 election, 266 general seats and 70 reserved seats.
  7. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics — 2023 National Census Report — 2023 enumerated population, provincial breakdown, religion, literacy, language and households.
  8. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics — Digital Census results approved, August 2023 — official census release and province totals.
  9. World Bank — Pakistan country data — 2025 population, GDP, growth, inflation, life expectancy and remittances.
  10. World Bank — Pakistan overview — development, human capital, poverty and economic profile.
  11. WTO Tariff & Trade Data — Pakistan member profile — 2024 merchandise exports/imports, suppliers, destinations and products.
  12. IMF — Pakistan, October 7, 2026 staff-level agreement — FY2026 projections, inflation, reserves and pending Executive Board approval.
  13. State Bank of Pakistan — central bank — Pakistani rupee, central banking and financial series.
  14. Pakistan Ministry of Finance — fiscal data — fiscal-year budgets, debt and economic surveys.
  15. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal — Pakistan — monsoon, floods, heat, water and mountain glacial risk.
  16. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Pakistan — six cultural properties and tentative nominations.
  17. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — Pakistan — four listed intangible heritage elements including 2025 bhorindo.
  18. World Health Organization — Pakistan country data — health and life expectancy context.
  19. United Nations — Member States — UN membership since 1947.
  20. Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — Pakistan brief, 2026 — federal and territorial governance; current leaders.
  21. Election Commission of Pakistan — official site — national electoral administration and election records.
  22. United Nations — India and Pakistan monitoring context (UNMOGIP) — Line of Control and disputed Kashmir context.