Pakistan’s population is over 207 million

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s total population stands at 207.774 million in 2017 against 132 million in 1998 census, indicating a 57 percent surge in population in last 19 years, the provisional results of 6th Population and Housing Census 2017 revealed on Friday. However, this population size of 207.774 million does not include census figures of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

“There is a decline in the population growth rate in Punjab and Sindh, while an increase has been observed in FATA and the provinces of KP and Balochistan,” the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) announced following a briefing to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair.

The highest ever population was witnessed by the rural areas of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) reflecting a growth rate of 6.95 percent from 1998 to 2017, Balochistan's population grew by   3.37 percent,  KP’s population by 2.89 percent and Sindh’s urban population by 2.46 percent.

The provisional results show the total population of Pakistan as 207.774 million, with an average annual growth rate of 2.4 percent over a period of 1998-2017. Out of total 207.774  average annual growth rate of 2.4 percent over a period of 1998-2017. Out of total 207.774 million population, there are 106.449 million male, 101.314 million female and 10,418 as transgender population in 2017.

Punjab’s population went up to 110.012 million in 2017 against 73.621 million in 1998, witnessing growth by 2.13 percent. Sindh’s population increased to 47.886 million in 2017 against 30.439 million, registering a growth by 2.41 percent. Sindh’s rural population stands at 22.975 million and urban population at 24.910 million. Balochistan’s population almost doubled and stood at 12.344 million in 2017 against 6.565 million in 1998, registering growth by 3.37 percent. The rural population in Balochistan stands at 8.943 million in 2017 and 3.400 million in urban areas of the province. The population in ICT went up to 2.006 million in 2017 against 991.747 in 1998.

Out of total 10,418 transgender population in whole Pakistan, 913 live in KP, 27 in Fata, 6,709 in Punjab, 2,527 in Sindh, 109 in Balochistan and 133 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

The provisional summary results of population census 2017 showed that Pakistan’s total number of households stands at 32.205 million with 20.012 million located in rural areas and 12.192 million in urban areas of the country.

The male population in 2017 increased to 106.449 million out of which 67.300 million live in rural areas and 39.149 million reside in urban areas. Out of female population of 101.314 million, 64.886 million are living in rural and 36.428 million in urban areas. There are total 10,418 transgender in Pakistan out of which 2,767 live in rural and 7,661 in urban areas of the country.

In Punjab, the total population stands at 110.012 million with 69 million are living in rural areas and 40.387 million in urban areas. The share of urban population of Punjab is 36.71 percent. Sindh population is 47.886 million with rural population of 22.975 million and urban 24.910 million. The share of urban population in Sindh stands at 52.02 percent.

In KP, there are 3.845 million households out of which 3.014 million are located in rural and 74,014 in urban areas. The male population in KP stands at 15.467 million, female 15.054 million and transgender 913 in 2017. The population stands at 17.747 million in 1998 so the population has gone up by around 13 million, witnessing surge in growth by 2.89 percent in KP in 2017 compared with 1998.

According to press statement issued by PBS on Friday, the provisional summary results of the 6th Population and Housing Census were presented to the CCI on Friday.

The CCI took note of the position and after detailed discussion allowed the Ministry of Statistics to disseminate the provisional results and directed the PBS to expedite the compilation of the final results.

The provisional results show the total population of As per the provisional results, the urban population shows a growing trend with 36.38 percent of the population living in urban areas. The comparative position of provinces and areas shows similar trend in urban population with a slightly higher increase in the Punjab. On the other hand a significant decrease has been observed in the percentage of urban population in ICT which has gone down from 65.72 percent to 50.58 percent, indicating that growth occurred in the rural areas of Islamabad. Amongst the provinces, Sindh is the most urbanised province, where 52.02 percent population lives in urban areas.

Total population includes all persons residing in the country including Afghans and other aliens residing with the local population. The population does not include Afghan refugees living in refugee villages and diplomats.

The provisional summary results show an overall increase in population by 57 percent over the year 1998, while the population increased by 146.6 percent since Census-1981.

According to the official sources, the 6th Population and Housing Census was carried out across the country from March 15 to May 24, 2017.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Army, law enforcing agencies, police, district administration and staff of PBS for completing the Census 2017. The PM also lauded the sacrifices of Shuhuda of Lahore blast and ten enumerators who lost their lives during the census operation. The prime minister urged the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ staff to ensure early completion of final figures so that economic and social planning of the country could be carried out on scientific footing.