Pakistan
Federal parliamentary republic
Geography
Pakistan is located in the southern part of Asia and borders Afghanistan and Iran to the west, China to the north and India to the east. The country covers an area of 796,100 square kilometers and has a population of 235.82 million people. The southern coastal strip on the Arabian Gulf is around 1,046 km long.The north of the country lies partly in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush. With the 8,611 meter high K2, it is home to the second highest mountain peak in the world. A total of 5 of the 14 eight-thousanders are located in Pakistan or on Pakistani borders. The Baluchistan Plateau extends to the west, while the Thar Desert borders India to the southeast. The Indus, one of the longest rivers in the world, runs through the country from north to south. It forms the fertile Indus Valley, which is an important agricultural area.
The population density is 296.2 inhabitants per square kilometer, with a relatively low urbanization rate of just 37%. The largest cities are Karachi and Lahore. With only 1 million inhabitants (2 million in the metropolitan region), the capital Islamabad is only the tenth largest city in the country.
The countrywide time in Pakistan is Pakistan Standard Time (PKT), which is currently 9 hours ahead of New York.
As in many countries, there is no daylight savings time in Pakistan.
Related to Greenwich Mean Time, there's the same difference of 5 hours all over the year.
Population
Population pyramid
1 Rupee is divided into 100 Paisa.
Status: 07/12/2024
1000 Rupees = 3.58 US dollar
Climate in Pakistan
Pakistan has a subtropical climate and in most parts of the country temperatures vary between 20 and 39 degrees Celsius, depending on the season. However, in some regions, especially in the south and west of the country, temperatures can rise to as high as 42 °C during the hot summer months.The northern mountainous regions of the Hindu Kush, Himalayas and Karakoram have a temperate climate with cool summers and cold winters, often accompanied by heavy snowfall at higher altitudes. In contrast, the south including Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan, has a more arid and desert-like climate with hot and dry summers. The monsoon season usually takes place between June and September and sometimes brings torrential rains.
Languages
| Mother tongue | Distribution |
|---|---|
| Punjabi | 48.0 % |
| English | 46.0 % |
| Pashto | 13.1 % |
| Sindhi | 11.8 % |
| Saraiki | 9.8 % |
| Urdu | 7.6 % |
| Balochi | 3.0 % |
| Hindko | 2.4 % |
| Brahui | 1.2 % |
| Gujarati | 1.2 % |
Many Pakistanis are growing up bilingual, with English becoming increasingly prevalent.
Religions
| Religion | Distribution |
|---|---|
| Christs | 1.6% |
| Hinduists | 2.0% |
| Sunni | 80.0% |
| Shia | 15.0% |
| other | 1.4% |
more...
Economy
| GDP: | 374.70 bn $ |
| Exportations: | 38.97 bn $ |
| Importations: | 76.43 bn $ |
| › Tourism receipts: | 884.00 M $ |
| › Debt rate: | 75.75 % |
| › Unemployment rate: | 5.50 % |
| › Inflation rate: | 19.87 % |
| › Corruption index: | 29 (very bad) |
| › Energy consumption: | 103.5 bn kWh |
According to the definition from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan is a developing country because of its lower economic performance.
With an average annual income of 1,560 USD Pakistan is one of the lower middle-income countries.
Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries worldwide.
Land use
| 5% Urban areas: | 35,872 km² |
| 47% Agricultural areas: | 374,406 km² |
| 5% Forest: | 38,452 km² |
| 3% Water areas: | 25,220 km² |
| 44% Others: | 347,371 km² |
more...
Transport
| Roadways: | 263,775 km |
| Railways: | 11,881 km |
| Reg. vehicles: | 6,628,063 |
| › Airports: |
Border conflicts
Pakistan's borders, and therefore the exact area and population of the country, have been the subject of debate for years. The current border demarcations are not mutually agreed. The border between Pakistan and India is one of the most contested and militarized borders in the world. The main point of conflict is the Kashmir region, which both countries claim in full but only partially control. Since the partition of British India in 1947, Pakistan and India have fought several wars over this area. The borders shown on today's maps are based on the so-called Redcliffe Line, which was drawn in 1947 when British India was partitioned.On the border with Afghanistan, there is also a long-standing dispute over the Durand Line, which was drawn by the British in 1893. Afghanistan does not recognize this border, which leads to tensions and occasional military clashes. In addition, cross-border movements by Taliban fighters destabilize the region.
Most important cities
| City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad / Capital | Islamabad | 1,009,000 |
| Karachi | Sindh | 14,884,000 |
| Lahore | Punjab | 13,004,000 |
| Faisalabad | Punjab | 3,210,000 |
| Gujranwala | Punjab | 2,165,000 |
| Kashmor | Sindh | 2,098,000 |
| Rawalpindi | Punjab | 2,098,000 |
| Peshawar | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 1,970,000 |
| Multan | Punjab | 1,873,000 |
| Hyderabad | Sindh | 1,755,000 |
| Quetta | Balochistan | 999,000 |
| Kotli | Azad Kashmir | 640,000 |
| Sukkur | Sindh | 500,000 |
| Larkana | Sindh | 488,000 |
| Mardan | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 359,000 |
| Bhimbar | Azad Kashmir | 343,000 |
| Mingora | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 280,000 |
| Muzaffarabad | Azad Kashmir | 150,000 |
| Gilgit | Gilgit-Baltistan | 10,000 |
The difference between the urban area and the city proper alone can be considerable. Dera Ghazi Khan, for example, has an urban population of 534,000. However, the actual proper city is much smaller with only 218,000 inhabitants. The difference to metropolitan regions, i.e. conurbations with several cities, is even greater.
Political indicators
| Political stability: | ◈ |
| Rule of law: | ◈ |
| Effectivity: | ◈ |
| Regulatory quality: | ◈ |
| Voice accountability: | ◈ |
| Autocracy Index: | ◈ |
| Death penalty: | Legally allowed |
Country comparison: India / Pakistan
India: country data and statistics
List of 152 developing countries