Pakistan Country Overview
Where is Pakistan located? The state of Pakistan is located in South Asia. In 1956 Pakistan proclaimed itself an Islamic Republic. On the time zone map, Pakistan is located in a world time zone called “Pakistan Time”. In this time zone there is a time difference of 5 hours to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Pakistan clocks are 5 hours ahead of universal time (UTC+5). There is no changeover to daylight saving time in summer, so the difference of 5 hours remains the same throughout the year.
Bordering Countries of Pakistan
According to abbreviationfinder, Pakistan is a country located in South Asia and it borders a number of other countries. To the east of Pakistan lies India, a nation renowned for its diverse culture and vibrant cities such as Delhi. To the south of Pakistan lies Iran, a country with an interesting cultural heritage and stunning landscapes. To the west of Pakistan lies Afghanistan, a war-torn nation known for its rugged mountains and ancient ruins. Finally, to the north of Pakistan lies China, a large and powerful nation home to numerous historical sites left over from its imperial past. All these countries have their own unique culture and history that make them great destinations for travelers looking to explore South Asia. India is known for its rich culture such as its distinctive cuisine, while Iran has numerous national parks filled with lush mountains and valleys. Afghanistan is renowned for its ancient ruins such as the Minaret of Jam, while China has many historical sites such as Beijing’s Forbidden City to explore. All these countries have something special to offer visitors looking to explore South Asia.
Population Distribution
As of 2023, the latest population of Pakistan is 233,500,636, based on our calculation of the current data from UN (United Nations).
Total population | 233,500,636 |
Population growth rate | 2.07% |
Birth rate | 21.90 births per 1,000 people |
Life expectancy | |
Overall life expectancy | 66.71 years |
Men life expectancy | 64.84 years |
Women life expectancy | 68.66 years |
Age structure | |
0-14 years | 30.76% |
15-64 years | 64.68% |
65 years and above | 4.56% |
Median age | 23.00 years |
Gender ratio (Male to Female) | 1.06 |
Population density | 293.31 residents per km² |
Urbanization | 34.10% |
Ethnicities | |
42% Punjabi, 17% Pashtuns, 14% Sindhi, 11% Saraiki, 8% Mohajirs, 4% Baluch, 4% others | |
Religions | |
Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi’a 20%), Christian, Hindu, s and other 3% | |
Human Development Index (HDI) | 0.560 |
HDI ranking | 152nd out of 194 |
People in Pakistan
Pakistan’s population is growing rapidly. The country is one of the fastest growing countries in the world. The exact numbers are unknown, the population is currently estimated at around 188 million.
75 out of 100 people live in the Indus lowlands and the Punjab province. Far fewer people live in the high mountains and also in the desert areas. 25 out of 100 people live in a city. Pakistan’s population is diverse and the result of a long history. Again and again, peoples immigrated to the region and mixed with the original population.
And who immigrated to Pakistan?
Indo-Aryans, Persians and, for a short time, the Greeks under Alexander the Great, then many Arab peoples came to the area of today’s Pakistan. Even the Mongol Genghis Khan did not leave the region out on his conquests. The Portuguese and British later also left their mark. Every conquest brought innovations in language and religion and in the end there was a colorful mixture of people.
In Pakistan, for example, there are the Punjabi who live in the Punjab Province, which extends to the Indian border. 66 out of 100 people live in this province. Punjabi speak a language that is also called Punjabi. The Sindhi live in Sindh Province and speak Sindhi. 13 out of 100 Pakistanis belong to this population group.
Backwardness at the expense of women
Although Pakistan shares a long common history with India, the country has developed differently. While India is moving into the modern age and above all is focusing heavily on the education of children, it is completely different in Pakistan. Here 45 out of 100 people cannot read or write.
Girls with no school education
Girls and women in particular often have to forego schooling. Only 30 out of 100 women can read and write at all. Few go to school. But even if a woman should be well educated, after her marriage she has to give up the job and only take care of her family.
How is the medical care of the people?
Medical care, especially in rural areas, is often poor in Pakistan. There is a lack of trained doctors and the money to build hospitals and equip them accordingly. That is why infant mortality is high. Five out of 1,000 children in Pakistan die as infants. Despite these conditions, overall health care has improved, but this improvement does not arrive in the same way everywhere. As a result, people’s life expectancy is increasing and the death rate is falling.
Languages in Pakistan
Eight out of 100 residents speak Urdu, which is also the official language in Pakistan. Nine out of 100 speak Pashtun (Pashto). Their people are the Pashtuns and live in northwestern Pakistan. A very small proportion live in Balochistan, a very sparsely populated desert region of Pakistan.
Religions in Pakistan
The most common religion is Islam, most of the people in Pakistan are Muslims. This religion also shapes the daily life and traditions of the country. Most Pakistanis are Sunnis, few are Shiites. Ten out of 100 people are Hindus. Otherwise some Christians and Parsees, also a religious community, live in Pakistan.