Pakistan’s population has surged past a significant milestone, reaching over 241 million people, with a growth rate of 2.55%, as officially declared by the seventh digital census data. The announcement was made on Monday following the ratification of the census results by the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
A detailed analysis of the census data, as highlighted in a gazette notification, reveals that Punjab remains the most populous province in the country, boasting a population of 127,688,922 individuals. Sindh closely follows with a population of 55,696,147 people.
The census has calculated the population of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province at 48,506,095, while Balochistan stands as the least populous province with 14,894,402 residents. The federal capital is home to 2,363,863 individuals, according to the notification.
In accordance with the gazette notification, Pakistan’s total population now stands at an impressive 241,499,431 people. The national population growth rate has been officially recorded at 2.55%.
Breaking down the census data by province, Balochistan emerges with the highest growth rate at 3.2%, closely followed by Islamabad at 2.8%. Sindh maintains a growth rate of 2.57%, with Punjab at 2.53% and K-P at 2.38%.
One notable observation from the census data, as outlined in the gazette notification, is the higher count of the rural population compared to the urban population. The rural areas house a population of 147,748,707, while urban regions are home to 93,750,724 people.
Among the most populous divisions within Pakistan, the Lahore division leads the count with 22,772,710 residents, followed by the Karachi division with 20,382,881 individuals. The Peshawar division accommodates 10,035,171 people, while the Quetta Division registers 4,259,163 inhabitants.
The comprehensive digital census, conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) from March 1 to May 22, 2023, included a survey-after data collection phase held between July 8 and 19. Notably, the digital census was executed in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), the National Telecom Corporation (NTC), and the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco).
The success of the digital census was made possible by the involvement of 121,000 personnel provided by provincial governments, supported by the armed forces and law enforcement agencies ensuring security during data collection.
The approval of the census data by the CCI during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signifies a crucial step in utilizing the gathered information. The PBS underlines that the seventh Population and Housing Census stands as South Asia’s most extensive digitization endeavor. This landmark initiative marks Pakistan’s first-ever digital population count, using state-of-the-art tablet technology.
The census data, a cornerstone of demographic information, plays a pivotal role in the government’s allocation of funds among provinces, districts, and localities. Additionally, it contributes to the reconfiguration of National Assembly seats and legislative district boundaries, ensuring equitable representation for the diverse population.
