Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Pakistan
Pakistan: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 1.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.5%
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
73rd
of 215 countries
All-time high
4.2%
in 1981
All-time low
1.3%
in 2016
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Population growth in Pakistan, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2024, population growth in Pakistan stood at 1.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Pakistan peaked at 4.2% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 2016.
That places Pakistan 73rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.9% | — |
| 1971 | 2.8% | -4.2% |
| 1972 | 2.8% | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | +5.2% |
| 1974 | 2.9% | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 3.0% | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 3.1% | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 3.1% | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 3.2% | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 3.5% | +8.1% |
| 1980 | 4.1% | +17.9% |
| 1981 | 4.2% | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 3.8% | -10.0% |
| 1983 | 3.5% | -7.9% |
| 1984 | 3.1% | -9.4% |
| 1985 | 3.2% | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 3.4% | +6.7% |
| 1987 | 3.4% | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 3.4% | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 3.3% | -2.8% |
| 1990 | 3.3% | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 3.3% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 2.9% | -13.4% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 2.9% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 2.8% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 2.8% | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -12.4% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 2.6% | +10.9% |
| 2008 | 2.7% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | -14.8% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | -14.6% |
| 2014 | 1.5% | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 1.3% | -7.2% |
| 2017 | 1.4% | +8.6% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | +14.8% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 1.8% | +6.6% |
| 2021 | 1.9% | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 1.7% | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | -11.4% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | -2.5% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 1.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.8%, 85% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 1.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.7%, 87% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.5% | 3.1% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More population data for Pakistan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.7801 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1091 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 367,808 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.8 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5037 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.168 (2100)
- Population density 662.88 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 32.24 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Pakistan?
- Population growth in Pakistan was 1.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 4.2% in 1981.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 2016.
- How does Pakistan rank for population growth?
- Pakistan ranks 73rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release