Country Summary
Introduction
Background
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. The British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved and the countries continue to spar over the disputed Kashmir territory.
Geography
Area
total: 796,095 sq km
land: 770,875 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km
Climate
mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Natural resources
arable land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
People and Society
Population
242,923,845 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups
Punjabi 44.7%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.4%, Sindhi 14.1%, Saraiki 8.4%, Muhajirs 7.6%, Balochi 3.6%, other 6.3%
Languages
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashto (alternate name, Pashtu) 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Religions
Muslim (official) 96.5% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia 10-15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.5% (2020 est.)
Population growth rate
1.95% (2022 est.)
Government
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Islamabad
Executive branch
chief of state: President Arif ALVI (since 9 September 2018)
head of government: Prime Minister Shehbaz SHARIF (since 11 April 2022); former Prime Minister Imran KHAN on 10 April lost a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly
Legislative branch
description: bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of:
Senate (100 seats; members indirectly elected by the 4 provincial assemblies and the territories' representatives by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years)
National Assembly (342 seats; 272 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 70 members - 60 women and 10 non-Muslims - directly elected by proportional representation vote; all members serve 5-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
lower middle-income South Asian economy; extremely high debt; endemic corruption; major currency devaluation; major food insecurity and inflation; environmentally fragile agricultural sector; regional disputes with India and Afghanistan hinder investment
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1,021,130,000,000 (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$4,600 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
sugar cane, buffalo milk, wheat, milk, rice, maize, potatoes, cotton, fruit, mangoes/guavas
Industries
textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp
Exports
$27.3 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
United States 14%, China 8%, Germany 7%, United Kingdom 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities
textiles, clothing and apparel, rice, leather goods, surgical instruments (2019)
Imports
$51.07 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
China 28%, United Arab Emirates 11%, United States 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, palm oil, scrap iron (2019)
Exchange rates
Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar -
Page last updated: Thursday, May 12, 2022
