Pakistan

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

South Asia Islamabad

Population

257.05M

Area

796,095 km²

GDP

$373.07B

GDP Per Capita

$5,500

Pop. Density

323/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

₨Pakistani rupee(PKR)

Calling Code

+92

Timezone

UTC+05:00

Languages

English, Urdu

Driving Side

left

Demonym

Pakistani

Background

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑129.5% since 2006

$162B (2006)$372B (2024)

Population

↑39.8% since 2006

179.7M (2006)251.3M (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 67.6 years

2006: 63.6 years2023: 67.6 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography20

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

Area - comparative

slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries

total: 7,257 km
border countries: 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

46.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 39.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 6.5% (2023 est.)

forest

4.1% (2023 est.)

other

49.2% (2023 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 & Society36

Population

total: 257,047,044 (2025 est.)
male: 130,727,015
female: 126,320,029

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

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.

Religions

Muslim 96.4%, Hindu 1.6%, Christian 1.4%; less than 1%: scheduled castes, Qadiani/Ahmadi, other, Sikh. (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)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 64 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 55.8 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 8.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 12.1 (2025 est.)

Median age

total: 23.2 years (2025 est.)
male: 22.8 years
female: 23 years

Population growth rate

1.82% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

25.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.79 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio

155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 50.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 68.2 years
female: 72.5 years

Total fertility rate

3.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.59 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 92.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 89.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 90.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 7.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 10.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 9.4% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 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

urban: 90.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 76.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 81.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 9.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 23.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 18.5% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.6% (2016)

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.)

Tobacco use

total: 15.5% (2025 est.)
male: 25.7% (2025 est.)
female: 5.4% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

23.1% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

63.4% (2018 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

Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.8% national budget (2023 est.)

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.)

Government25

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

Executive branch

chief of state

President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 10 March 2024)

head of government

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz 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; prime minister elected for a 5-year term by the National Assembly

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; Shehbaz SHARIF elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - Shehbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 201, Omar AYUB (PTI) 92

expected date of next election

2029

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament (Majlis-E-Shoora)
legislative structure: bicameral

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

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

consularsection@embassyofpakistanusa.org

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

ACSIslamabad@state.gov

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, 23 March, also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day (1940) or Republic Day (1956)

Flag

description: green with a vertical white band on the left side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field

meaning: the crescent, star, and color green are all traditional Islamic symbols; the white band symbolizes the role of religious minorities

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

Economy31

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)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.39 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.346 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.347 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $5,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,500 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$373.072 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 12.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 30.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 19.9% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 23.5% (2024 est.)
industry: 20% (2024 est.)
services: 50.5% (2024 est.)

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.)

Agricultural products

sugarcane, bison milk, wheat, milk, rice, maize, potatoes, cotton, mangoes/guavas, chicken (2023)

Industries

textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp

Industrial production growth rate

-1.7% (2024 est.)

Labor force

83.644 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 5.5% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 9.9% (2024 est.)
male: 9.8% (2024 est.)
female: 10.1% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

21.9% (2018 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 29.6 (2018 est.)

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.)

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 9.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 7.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget

revenues: $40.774 billion (2015 est.)
expenditures: $49.558 billion (2015 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 67.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: $699.22 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$1.039 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$12.216 billion (2022 est.)

Exports

Exports 2024: $40.219 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $36.215 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $38.967 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

USA 14%, UAE 10%, China 9%, Germany 7%, UK 6% (2023)

Exports - commodities

garments, fabric, refined petroleum, rice, cotton fabric (2023)

Imports

Imports 2024: $66.844 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $58.069 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $76.594 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

China 25%, Qatar 11%, UAE 9%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Indonesia 6% (2023)

Imports - commodities

natural gas, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, palm oil, plastics (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $18.408 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $13.73 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $9.927 billion (2022 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $89.148 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

278.581 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

280.356 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

204.867 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

162.906 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

161.838 (2020 est.)

Energy8

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.)

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

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 14.076 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2.573 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 193 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (2024 est.)

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.)

Transportation6

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

117 (2025)

Heliports

48 (2025)

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

Ports

total ports

3 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Gwadar, Karachi, Muhamamad Bin Qasim

Military & Security7

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)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 650,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is a mix of mostly imported and some domestically produced armaments; the majority of its imported weapons are from China; other suppliers include France, Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine, the UK, and the US; Pakistan also has a domestic defense industry, which produces or co-produces such items as armored vehicles, aircraft, missiles, naval vessels (2025)

Military service age and obligation

16-28 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; lower and upper age limits vary by military branch, position, and role; personnel cannot be deployed for combat until age 18 (2025)

Military deployments

1,400 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 300 MONUSCO; 300 South Sudan (UNMISS); 575 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)

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)

Transnational Issues2

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)

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