ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has released the official report of the 7th Population and Housing Census-2023, marking the country’s first digital census.
The results reveal that Pakistan has recorded the highest population growth rate in the region and globally. The total population has surged to over 241 million (241,499,431), with a growth rate of 2.55% since 2017, when the population was 207,684,626.
The average household size in Pakistan is now 6.30. If the current growth rate continues, there are concerns that the population could double by 2050.
The census also provides a detailed breakdown of foreign residents in Pakistan. The total number of Afghan residents stands at 1,923,453, with 939,878 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 310,832 in Punjab, 145,875 in Sindh, 474,812 in Balochistan, and 52,056 in Islamabad. Additionally, there are 3,568 Chinese, 26,009 Bengali, and 172,158 other foreign nationals residing in Pakistan.
Religious demographics show 8.7 million residents belonging to Hindu, Christian, Ahmadiyya, and other religions.
A concerning statistic from the report highlights that 25.37 million children aged between 5 and 16 years old are out of school.
On a positive note, the literacy rate has improved since 2017, now standing at 61%. The literacy rate is 68% for males and 53% for females.
This comprehensive digital census provides crucial insights into Pakistan’s demographic trends, emphasizing the need for policies to address rapid population growth and educational challenges.