The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of modern-day Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The partition in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India created lasting tension between the two countries. They have fought two wars and a limited conflict — in 1947-48, 1965, and 1999 respectively — over the Kashmir territory, a dispute that continues to this day. A third war in 1971 — in which India assisted an indigenous movement reacting to Bengali marginalization in Pakistani politics — resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh.
In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. Pakistan has been engaged in a decades-long armed conflict with militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant networks that target government institutions and civilians.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Geographic coordinates
30 00 N, 70 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area
total : 796,095 sq km
land: 770,875 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km
comparison ranking: total 37
Area – comparative
slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 7,257 km
border countries (4): Afghanistan 2,670 km; China 438 km; India 3,190 km; Iran 959 km
Coastline
1,046 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate
mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Terrain
divided into three major geographic areas: the northern highlands, the Indus River plain in the center and east, and the Balochistan Plateau in the south and west
Elevation
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 900 m
Natural resources
arable land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use
agricultural land: 46.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 39.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.9% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 6.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 4.7% (2022 est.)
other: 48.6% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
194,200 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Indus river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) – 3,610 km; Sutlej river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) – 1,372 km; Chenab river mouth (shared with India [s]) – 1,086 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km)
Major aquifers
Indus Basin
Population distribution
the Indus River and its tributaries attract most of the settlement, with Punjab province the most densely populated
Natural hazards
frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)
Geography – note
controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and India
People and Society
Population
total: 252,363,571 (2024 est.)
male: 128,387,797
female: 123,975,774
comparison rankings: total 5; female 5; male 5
Nationality
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups
Punjabi 44.7%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.4%, Sindhi 14.1%, Saraiki 8.4%, Muhajirs 7.6%, Baloch 3.6%, other 6.3%
Languages
Punjabi 38.8%, Pashto (alternate name, Pashtu) 18.2%, Sindhi 14.6%, Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) 12.2%, Urdu 7.1%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2.4%, Brahui 1.2%, other 2.4%
major-language sample(s):
دنیا کا قاموس، ایک لازمی زریہ بنیادی معلومات کا (Urdu)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
note: data represent population by mother tongue; English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries)
Religions
Muslim (official) 96.5% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia 10-15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.5% (2020 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 34.4% (male 44,330,669/female 42,529,007)
15-64 years: 60.7% (male 78,321,834/female 74,833,003)
65 years and over: 4.9% (2024 est.) (male 5,735,294/female 6,613,764)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 64.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 56.7 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 8.1 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 12.4 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 22.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 22.8 years
female: 23 years
comparison ranking: total 180
Population growth rate
1.86% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 46
Birth rate
25.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 45
Death rate
5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 159
Net migration rate
-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 148
Population distribution
the Indus River and its tributaries attract most of the settlement, with Punjab province the most densely populated
Urbanization
urban population: 38% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
17.236 million Karachi, 13.979 million Lahore, 3.711 million Faisalabad, 2.415 million Gujranwala, 2.412 million Peshawar, 1.232 million ISLAMABAD (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
22.8 years (2017/18 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 48
Infant mortality rate
total: 51.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.8 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 18
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 68.2 years
female: 72.5 years
comparison ranking: total population 178
Total fertility rate
3.32 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 40
Gross reproduction rate
1.62 (2024 est.)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 92.9% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 89.3% of population (2022 est.)
total: 90.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 7.1% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 10.7% of population (2022 est.)
total: 9.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
2.9% of GDP (2021)
5.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
1.16 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density
0.5 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 90.5% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 76.1% of population (2022 est.)
total: 81.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 9.5% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 23.9% of population (2022 est.)
total: 18.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
8.6% (2016)
comparison ranking: 148
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 180
Tobacco use
total: 15.5% (2025 est.)
male: 25.7% (2025 est.)
female: 5.4% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 100
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
23.1% (2018)
comparison ranking: 7
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
63.5% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 3.6% (2018)
women married by age 18: 18.3% (2018)
men married by age 18: 4.7% (2018)
Education expenditure
1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
8.3% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 186
Literacy
total population: 58.9% (2021 est.)
male: 69.1% (2021 est.)
female: 48.5% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 8 years (2022 est.)
male: 8 years (2022 est.)
female: 7 years (2022 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution and noise pollution in urban areas
International environmental agreements
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Climate
mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Land use
agricultural land: 46.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 39.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.9% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 6.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 4.7% (2022 est.)
other: 48.6% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 38% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
212.655 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 59.937 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 93.713 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 59.006 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 30
Particulate matter emissions
50.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 30.76 million tons (2017 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,460,800 tons (2017 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2017 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 9.65 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 1.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 172.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
246.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan
local short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan
etymology: the name is said to have been proposed in the early 1930s by Muslim students at Cambridge University, created from the initials of Punjab, Afghanistan, and Kashmir; the word pak also means “pure” in Persian or Pashto, and the Persian suffix –stan means “place of” or “country,” so Pakistan literally means “Land of the Pure”
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Islamabad
geographic coordinates: 33 41 N, 73 03 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name means “city of Islam” and derives from the Arabic islam, referring to the Islamic faith, and the Persian suffix -abad, meaning “inhabited place” or “city”
Administrative divisions
4 provinces, 2 Pakistan-administered areas*, and 1 capital territory**; Azad Kashmir*, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh
Legal system
common law system with Islamic law influence
Constitution
history: several previous; latest endorsed 12 April 1973, passed 19 April 1973, entered into force 14 August 1973 (suspended and restored several times)
amendment process: proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Pakistan
dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries
residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years and including the 12 months preceding application
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
note: women and non-Muslims have joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats
Executive branch
chief of state: President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 10 March 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Shahbaz SHARIF (since 3 March 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
election/appointment process: president indirectly elected for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms) by the Electoral College, which consists of members of the Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies
most recent election date: 9 March 2024
election results:
2024: Asif Ali ZARDARI elected president; National Assembly vote – Asif Ali ZARDARI (PPP) 411 votes, Mehmood Khan ACHAKZALI (PMAP) 181 votes; Shahbaz SHARIF elected prime minister; National Assembly vote – Shahbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 201, Omar AYUB (PTI) 92
2018: Arif ALVI elected president; Electoral College vote – Arif ALVI (PTI) 352, Fazl-ur-REHMAN (MMA) 184, Aitzaz AHSAN (PPP) 124; Imran KHAN elected prime minister; National Assembly vote – Imran KHAN (PTI) 176, Shehbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 96
expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament (Majlis-E-Shoora)
legislative structure: bicameral
note: in May 2018, the Parliament of Pakistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed a constitutional amendment to merge the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; the amendment reduces the Senate from 104 to 96 members – 4 in the 2024 election and 4 in the 2027 election
Legislative branch – lower chamber
chamber name: National Assembly
number of seats: 336 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 2/8/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) (75); Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) (54); Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan (MQMP) (17); Independents (101); Other (16)
percentage of women in chamber: 17%
expected date of next election: February 2029
Legislative branch – upper chamber
chamber name: Senate
number of seats: 96 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 6 years
most recent election date: 4/2/2024
percentage of women in chamber: 18.8%
expected date of next election: March 2027
note: in 2018, the Parliament of Pakistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed a constitutional amendment to merge the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; the amendment reduces the Senate from 104 to 96 members — by 4 in the 2024 election and another 4 in the 2027 election
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Pakistan (consists of the chief justice and 16 judges)
judge selection and term of office: justices nominated by an 8-member parliamentary committee on the recommendation of the Judicial Commission, a 9-member body of judges and other judicial professionals, and appointed by the president; justices can serve until age 65
subordinate courts: High Courts; Federal Shariat Court; provincial and district civil and criminal courts; specialized courts for issues, such as taxation, banking, and customs
Political parties
Awami National Party or ANP
Awami Muslim League or AML
Balochistan Awami Party or BAP
Balochistan National Party-Awami or BNP-A
Balochistan National Party-Mengal or BNP-M
Grand Democratic Alliance or GDA (alliance of several parties)
Hazara Democratic Party or HDP
Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party
Jamaat-e-Islami or JI
Jamhoori Wattan Party or JWP
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl or JUI-F
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan or MWM
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA (alliance of several parties)
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan or MQM-P
National Party or NP
Pakistan Muslim League or PML-Z
Pakistan Muslim League-Functional or PML-F
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam or PML-Q
Pakistan Peoples Party or PPP
Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party or PRHP
Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI (Pakistan Movement for Justice)
Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party or PMAP or PKMAP
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan or TLP
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Rizwan Saeed SHEIKH (since 18 September 2024)
chancery: 3517 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1534
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://embassyofpakistanusa.org/
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. BAKER (since January 2025)
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: 8100 Islamabad Place, Washington, DC 20521-8100
telephone: [92] 051-201-4000
FAX: [92] 51-2338071
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://pk.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar
International organization participation
ADB, AIIB, ARF, ASEAN (sectoral dialogue partner), C, CERN (associate member), CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO, G-11, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNSOS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
14 August 1947 (from British India)
National holiday
Pakistan Day (also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day), 23 March (1940, 1956)
note: commemorates the All-India Muslim League adopting the Lahore Resolution during its 22-24 March 1940 session, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and also the adoption of Pakistan’s first constitution on 23 March 1956, during the transition to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Flag description
green with a vertical white band on the hoist side, symbolizing the role of religious minorities; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field, all of which are traditional Islamic symbols
National symbol(s)
five-pointed star between the horns of a waxing crescent moon, jasmine
National color(s)
green, white
National anthem(s)
title: “Qaumi Tarana” (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez JULLANDHURI/Ahmed Ghulamali CHAGLA
history: adopted 1954; also known as “Pak sarzamin shad bad” (Blessed Be the Sacred Land)
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro; Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi; Taxila; Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore; Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta; Rohtas Fort
Economy
Economic overview
lower middle-income South Asian economy; extremely high debt; endemic corruption; regional disputes with India and Afghanistan hinder investment; falling inflation, IMF relief programs, and strong agricultural output slowly contributing to economic recovery
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.39 trillion (2024 est.)
$1.346 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.347 trillion (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 26
Real GDP growth rate
3.2% (2024 est.)
0% (2023 est.)
4.8% (2022 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 113
Real GDP per capita
$5,500 (2024 est.)
$5,400 (2023 est.)
$5,500 (2022 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 171
GDP (official exchange rate)
$373.072 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
12.6% (2024 est.)
30.8% (2023 est.)
19.9% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 186
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 23.5% (2024 est.)
industry: 20% (2024 est.)
services: 50.5% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 143; industry 129; agriculture 24
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 85.2% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 8.5% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 11.2% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.7% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 10.4% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -17.1% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sugarcane, bison milk, wheat, milk, rice, maize, potatoes, cotton, mangoes/guavas, chicken (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate
-1.7% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 157
Labor force
83.644 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 7
Unemployment rate
5.5% (2024 est.)
5.5% (2023 est.)
5.5% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 97
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 9.9% (2024 est.)
male: 9.8% (2024 est.)
female: 10.1% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 121
Population below poverty line
21.9% (2018 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
29.6 (2018 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 130
Average household expenditures
on food: 37.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4.2% (2018 est.)
highest 10%: 25.5% (2018 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
9.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
7.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
8% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $40.774 billion (2015 est.)
expenditures: $49.558 billion (2015 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Current account balance
$699.22 million (2024 est.)
-$1.039 billion (2023 est.)
-$12.216 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 61
Exports
$40.219 billion (2024 est.)
$36.215 billion (2023 est.)
$38.967 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 73
Exports – partners
USA 14%, UAE 10%, China 9%, Germany 7%, UK 6% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
garments, fabric, refined petroleum, rice, cotton fabric (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$66.844 billion (2024 est.)
$58.069 billion (2023 est.)
$76.594 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 59
Imports – partners
China 25%, Qatar 11%, UAE 9%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Indonesia 6% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
natural gas, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, palm oil, plastics (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$18.408 billion (2024 est.)
$13.73 billion (2023 est.)
$9.927 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 64
Debt – external
$89.148 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 12
Exchange rates
Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
278.581 (2024 est.)
280.356 (2023 est.)
204.867 (2022 est.)
162.906 (2021 est.)
161.838 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 95% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 100%
electrification – rural areas: 93%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 43.512 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 145.357 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 481.25 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 25.811 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 193; imports 93; consumption 28; installed generating capacity 31
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 60.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 14.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 6 (2025)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 3.26GW (2025 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 17.4% (2023 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1 (2025)
Coal
production: 13.765 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 30.191 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 16.185 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 2.857 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 91,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 645,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 540 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 27.476 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 36.323 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 8.847 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 592.219 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
14.076 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 142
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2.573 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 44
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 189 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 82 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 10
Broadcast media
120 satellite TV stations; 42 media companies/channels; state-run Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) is the largest TV network, serves over 85 percent of the population with 9 TV channels; over 100 private cable and satellite channels; state-owned Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC or Radio Pakistan) has the largest radio audience, particularly in rural areas, with AM/SW/FM stations covering most of the country (2022)
Internet country code
.pk
Internet users
percent of population: 27% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 3.36 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 47
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
AP
Airports
117 (2025)
comparison ranking: 45
Heliports
48 (2025)
comparison ranking: 41
Railways
total: 11,881 km (2021)
narrow gauge: 389 km (2021) 1.000-m gauge
broad gauge: 11,492 km (2021) 1.676-m gauge (286 km electrified)
Merchant marine
total: 60 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 5, oil tanker 9, other 46
comparison ranking: total 113
Ports
total ports: 3 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 2
small: 1
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Gwadar, Karachi, Muhamamad Bin Qasim
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Pakistan Armed Forces: Pakistan Army (includes National Guard), Pakistan Navy (includes Pakistan Marines, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force
Ministry of Interior: Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps, National Police, Pakistan Coast Guard, Punjab (Pakistan) Rangers, Sindh (Pakistan) Rangers (2025)
note: the National Guard is a paramilitary force and one of the Army’s reserve forces; other Army reserves include the Pakistan Army Reserve, the Frontier Corps, and the Pakistan Rangers
Military expenditures
2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
3% of GDP (2023 est.)
4% of GDP (2022 est.)
4% of GDP (2021 est.)
4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 650,000 active Armed Forces (550,000 Army; 30,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military’s inventory is a broad mix of mostly imported and some domestically produced weapons and equipment; most of its imported weapons are from China; other suppliers include France, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK, and the US; Pakistan also has a large domestic defense industry, which produces or co-produces such items as armored vehicles, aircraft, missiles, naval vessels (2024)
Military service age and obligation
16 (or 17 depending on service) to 23 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age 18; women serve in all three armed forces; reserve obligation to age 45 for enlisted men, age 50 for officers (2023)
Military deployments
1,300 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 290 South Sudan (UNMISS); 590 Sudan (UNISFA) (2024)
Military – note
the Pakistan military is responsible for external defense but also has a domestic security role; its chief external focus is India; the military is the lead security agency in many areas of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and has for decades conducted operations against various internal militant groups; it is also one of the longest serving and largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions; China is its closest security partner
the military operates largely independently and without effective civilian oversight; it has ruled the country for more than 30 years since independence in 1947 and continues to play a significant role in Pakistan’s political arena; it also has a large stake in the country’s economic sector and is involved in a diverse array of commercial activities, including banking, construction of public projects, employment services, energy and power generation, fertilizer, food, housing, real estate, and security services
Pakistan has fought four wars and several skirmishes with India; three of the wars have been over the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir, the status of which has been unsettled since the UK’s 1947 withdrawal and the partition and independence of India and Pakistan; a fragile cease-fire was reached in 2003, revised in 2018, and reaffirmed in 2021, although the militarized Line of Control which serves as the border remains contested, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in the territory New Delhi controls; in the Spring of 2025, Indian held Pakistan responsible for a terrorist attack in India-controlled Kashmir and retaliated, sparking a brief cross-border conflict involving aircraft, artillery, drone, and missile strikes
the Kashmir dispute also includes the Siachen Glacier, located in the Karakoram Mountain Range, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area several times between 1985 and 1995; despite the 2003 cease-fire, both sides continue to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties are due to extreme weather and the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness (2025)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO; established 1961); National Remote Sensing Center (aka Resacent; established 1980) (2024)
Space launch site(s)
Somiani Flight Test Range (Balochistan); Tilla Satellite Launch Center (aka Tilla Range; Punjab) (2024)
Space program overview
space program dates back to the early 1960s but funding shortfalls and shifts in priority toward ballistic missile development in the 1980s and 1990s hampered the program’s development; more recently, the program has regained attention and become more ambitious, particularly in acquiring satellites and reaching agreements with other space powers for additional capabilities; manufactures and operates satellites; researching and developing other space-related capabilities and technologies, such as satellite payloads and probably satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs); also conducts research in such areas as astronomy, astrophysics, environmental monitoring, and space sciences; has relations or cooperation agreements on space with China, Russia, and Turkey (cooperated with the UK and US prior to the 1990s) (2024)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): al-Qa’ida; al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS); Haqqani Network (HQN); Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI); Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Hizbul Mujahideen; Indian Mujahedeen; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – India (ISI); Islamic State of ash-Sham – Pakistan (ISP); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM); Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ); Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT); The Resistance Front (TRF); Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
note 1: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
note 2: the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an armed separatist group that targets security forces and civilians, has been active in Pakistan since the 2000s, mainly in ethnic Baloch areas of the country; in 2019, the US designated BLA as Specially Designated Global Terrorists
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees: 1,759,332 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 224,813 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 60 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs
USG identification:
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
