Census in Pakistan
The Census in Pakistan (Urdu: مردم شماری پاکستان), is a decennial census and a descriptive count of Pakistan's population on Census Day, and of their dwellings, conducted and supervised by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.[2] The 2017 Census in Pakistan marks the first census to take place in Pakistan since 1998. The next census will take place in August 2022.
Pakistan Census مردم شماری پاکستان | |
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Location(s) | Plot #21, Mauve Area, G-9/1, Islamabad Pakistan 44080 |
Country | ![]() |
Inaugurated | 1951 |
Previous event | April 2017 |
Next event | August 2022 |
People | Asif Bajwa[1] Chief Statistician/Chief Census Commissioner |
Website | www |
Overview
A national census is mandated by the Constitution of Pakistan to be held every ten years.[3][4] After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the first census took place in 1951 under Finance Minister Sir Malik Ghulam, serving under Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan.[5] Since 1951, there have been only 6 nationwide censuses (1961, 1972, 1981, 1998 and 2017). Delays and postponements have often been due to politicization. Pakistan's last completed census took place in 2017. The next national census was scheduled to take place in 2001 and later 2008,[6][7] and again in 2010, but none of those plans could materialize.[8] There were multiple census counts completed for the latest round in April 2012,[9][10] but were subsequently thrown out as being "unreliable". A UN led census was to be conducted with staff training and GPS digitisation.[11] As of 2015, the population of Pakistan is estimated at 191.71 million.[12][13] As of 2016, the population of religious minorities in Pakistan have increased to 3 million.[14] On 25 August 2017, the official results declared Pakistan's population to be 207.74 million.[15]

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Census
1951
According to 1951 census, the Dominion of Pakistan (both West and East Pakistan) had a population of 75.7 million, in which West Pakistan had a population of 33.7 million and East Pakistan (today Bangladesh) had a population of 42 million.[16][17] In 1951, minorities constituted 14.4% of the Pakistani population (this includes East Pakistan, today Bangladesh). Breaking down between East and West Pakistan, the population of West Pakistan was 3.44% non-Muslim (1.16 million out of 33.7 million), while East Pakistan (today Bangladesh) was 23.20% non-Muslim (9.744 million out of 42 million). Total non- Muslim population on both sides added up to 10.90 million.
1961
According to the 1961 census, the population of Pakistan was 93 million, with 42.8 million residing in West Pakistan and 50 million residing in East Pakistan.[16][17] The literacy was 19.2%, in which East Pakistan had a literacy rate of 21.5% while West Pakistan had a literacy rate of 16.9%.[18] Hindus in East Pakistan were 18.4%[19]
1972
The scheduled 1971 census was postponed due to the political crisis of 1970 followed by the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 and subsequent loss of East Pakistan.[20][21] In 1970, the population was 65 million in the East Pakistan and 58 million in West Pakistan.[22]
According to the 1972 census, the population of Pakistan was 65.3 million.[23][24] After 1972, the Census Organization was merged into the Ministry of Interior.[25]
1981
According to the 1981 census, the population of Pakistan was 83.783 million.
1998

2017
The 2017 Census of Pakistan was a detailed enumeration of the Pakistani population which began on 15 March 2017 and ended on 25 May 2017. It was the first census taken in the country in the 21st century, nineteen years after the previous one in 1998, and it was carried out by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
The census recorded a total population throughout the country of 213,222,917.[note 1] The results showed a massive population increase having occurred between 1998 and 2017 of 77.0 Million people, or an increase of +56.5%.[note 2] The results also marked a significant overperformance compared to estimations made of the Pakistani population before the census, which had previously estimated the Pakistani population in 2017 to be 195 Million - 200 Million.[30][31]2022
Notes
- The population of the four provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory being 207,684,626,[27] the population of Azad Jammu & Kashmir being 4,045,367,[28] and the population of Gilgit-Baltistan being 1,492,924.[29]
- In 1998, the population of the four provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory being 132,352,279,[27] the population of Azad Jammu & Kashmir being 2,972,501,[28] and the population of Gilgit-Baltistan being 884,000.[29] This is a total of 136,208,780.
References
- "Chief Statistician/Chief Census Commissioner, PBS | Pakistan Bureau of Statistics". www.pbs.gov.pk. Chief Statistician, Govt. of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- "Population Census". www.pbs.gov.pk. Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- "Why the census is important for Pakistan".
- [Article 9] in PART II of Fourth Schedule: Federal Legislative List of Constitution of Pakistan.
- "Population count: NADRA records cannot substitute for census, says Ravi Pinjani".
- "Plan to hold census in 2008: Cabinet okays F-16 purchase". dawn.com.
- "The census that may reveal too much?".
- "Population, housing census in Pakistan after Eid". Pakistan Times. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- uzairakhan. "Pakistan's population up by 46.9 per cent since 1998". dawn.com.
- "Pak population increased by 46.9% between 1998 and 2011". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013.
- "The Government of Pakistan, Statistics Division in collaboration with UN-Habitat and UNFPA reaffirm their support for the forthcoming Census". ReliefWeb.
- "Population, Labour Force and Employment PAKISTAN ECONOMIC SURVEY 2014–15" (PDF).
- "PAKISTAN ECONOMIC SURVEY 2014–15 -GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN MINISTRY OF FINANCE".
- Minorities’ vote bank reaches close to 3m
- "PROVISIONAL SUMMARY RESULTS OF 6TH POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS-2017 | Pakistan Bureau of Statistics | 6th Population and Housing Census". www.pbs.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- "Migration from East Pakistan(1951–1961)" (PDF).
- http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/other/pocket_book2006/2.pdf
- "East Wing beats West Wing in literacy rate".
- D'Costa, Bina (2011), Nationbuilding, Gender and War Crimes in South Asia, Routledge, pp. 100–, ISBN 978-0-415-56566-0
- "Why a census counts".
- "Population survey: PM gives green light for sixth census".
- "When East overtakes West".
- "2.1 Population of Pakistan" (PDF).
- "Census & labour data".
- "Population Census Pakistan".
- "DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS - 1998 CENSUS | Pakistan Bureau of Statistics". Archived from the original on 10 September 2013.
- "TABLE - 1 AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN PROPORTION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE" (PDF). National.pdf. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 19 May 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- "STATISTICAL YEAROOK 2020" (PDF). Statistical Yearbook 2020.pdf. AJ&K BUREAU OF STATISTICS PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. 5 January 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- "GILGIT-BALTISTAN at a GLANCE 2020" (PDF). Gilgit Baltistan at a Glance New Design.cdr. Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Planning & Development Department Statistical & Research Cell (SRC). 20 January 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- "Gross Domestic Product of Pakistan (at current basic prices)" (PDF). Table_4.pdf. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 20 August 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- "Download Files". World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations. United Nations. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- "7th Population and Housing Census 2022: PBS hosts first sensitisation workshop". 7th Population and Housing Census 2022: PBS hosts first sensitisation workshop. The News International Pakistan. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- "Umar rules out military role in 7th digital census". Umar rules out military role in 7th digital census. The Express Tribune. 23 February 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- "Pakistan's first-ever digitised population census to be completed in August 2022". Pakistan's first-ever digitised population census to be completed in August 2022. Geo News. 23 February 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
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