Pakistan’s population growth among highest in world: report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has released the comprehensive findings from its seventh and inaugural digital population census.

According to the latest digital population census report released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, as of 2023, the total number of Afghans residing in Pakistan is 1,923,453.

As of 2023, Pakistan is home to a staggering 21,260,079 foreign nationals, including 1,923,453 Afghans, 356,800 Chinese, and 26,900 Bengalis, among others.

The report highlighted that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa hosts the largest number of Afghan residents, with 939,878 individuals, followed by Balochistan (474,812), Punjab (310,832), Sindh (145,875), and Islamabad (52,056). Additionally, the country is home to approximately 8,700,000 religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Ahmadis.

The census report raised concerns about Pakistan’s population growth rate, which is expected to double by 2050. With a current population of over 220 million, the country faces significant challenges in providing education, healthcare, and employment opportunities to its citizens.

Alarmingly, 25,370,700 children aged 5 to 16 years are currently out of school.

Despite these challenges, the report noted a record high literacy rate since 2017, with 61% overall literacy, 68% among males, and 53% among females.