Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Pakistan
Pakistan: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 28.23 million people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Pakistan, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2020, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Pakistan stood at 28.23 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Pakistan peaked at 33.79 million people in 1990 and was at its lowest, 21.74 million people, in 1950.
That places Pakistan 11th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 21.74 million people | — |
| 1955 | 23.05 million people | +6.0% |
| 1960 | 24.57 million people | +6.6% |
| 1965 | 26.07 million people | +6.1% |
| 1970 | 27.61 million people | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 29.07 million people | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 31.83 million people | +9.5% |
| 1985 | 33.71 million people | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 33.79 million people | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 33.73 million people | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 33.14 million people | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 32.91 million people | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 32.25 million people | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 31.15 million people | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 28.23 million people | -9.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.40 million people | 21.74 million people | 23.05 million people | 2 |
| 1960s | 25.32 million people | 24.57 million people | 26.07 million people | 2 |
| 1970s | 28.34 million people | 27.61 million people | 29.07 million people | 2 |
| 1980s | 32.77 million people | 31.83 million people | 33.71 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 33.76 million people | 33.73 million people | 33.79 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 33.02 million people | 32.91 million people | 33.14 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 31.70 million people | 31.15 million people | 32.25 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 28.23 million people | 28.23 million people | 28.23 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 8 Russian Federation 31.00 million people compare
- 9 Mexico 28.75 million people compare
- 10 Tanzania, United Republic of 28.35 million people compare
- 12 Thailand 28.19 million people compare
- 13 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 26.02 million people compare
- 14 France 24.97 million people compare
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)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 662.88 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.24 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Pakistan?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Pakistan was 28.23 million people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 33.79 million people in 1990.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.74 million people in 1950.
- How does Pakistan rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Pakistan ranks 11th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.