Country Profile: Pakistan

Pakistan, located in Southern Asia, is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the south, India to the east, and Afghanistan and Iran to the west, with China to the north. It has a diverse geography, comprising northern highlands, the Indus River plain, and the Balochistan Plateau, and is home to a population of approximately 257 million people, making it one of the most populous countries in the world. The economy, marked by a combination of agriculture, industry, and services, is characterized as lower middle-income, grappling with high debt and ongoing regional conflicts that hinder investment. Governed as a federal parliamentary republic, Pakistan faces significant political challenges including corruption and security issues, especially concerning militant groups.

Geography

Pakistan features varied terrain, including highlands, plains, and plateaus, with an elevation range from sea level at the Arabian Sea to K2, the second highest mountain in the world at 8,611 meters. The country is home to major rivers such as the Indus, which is crucial for agriculture and settlement.

Area: 796,095 sq km
Land boundaries: 7,257 km shared with Afghanistan, China, India, and Iran
Climate: Predominantly hot and dry, with temperate zones in the northwest
Natural resources: Includes extensive natural gas reserves and arable land comprising 46.7% of total land use as of 2023
Irrigated land: 194,200 sq km as of 2022

People and Society

Pakistan's demographic profile exhibits a diverse ethnic composition where Punjabis make up the largest group, followed by Pashtuns and Sindhis. The country has a literacy rate of 58.9% and significant disparities in education and health services across genders and urban-rural divides.

Population: 257 million (2025 est.)
Major ethnic groups: Punjabis 44.7%, Pashtuns 15.4%, Sindhis 14.1%
Languages: Predominantly Punjabi, Pashto, and Urdu
Religion: 96.4% Muslim, with small Hindu and Christian minorities
Urban population: 38% as of 2023

Economy

The economy of Pakistan is classified as lower middle-income with a real GDP of approximately $1.39 trillion (2024 est.). Agriculture comprises 23.5% of the GDP, and the country relies significantly on textile and apparel exports. However, it faces high levels of debt and inflation.

GDP growth rate: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Public debt: 67.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Poverty rate: 21.9% below the national poverty line (2018 est.)
Major exports: Garments and textiles

Government

Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic with a democratic structure that includes a president and a prime minister. It is administratively divided into four provinces and several territories, with significant political dynamics influenced by military involvement.

Capital: Islamabad
Government type: Federal parliamentary republic
Elected officials: President Asif Ali Zardari (2024), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (2024)
Legislature: Bicameral Parliament (National Assembly and Senate)
Suffrage: Universal at age 18

Military and Security

The Pakistan Armed Forces consist of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with a significant military presence due to ongoing tensions primarily with India. The military plays a critical role in both defense and domestic security, including operations against militant groups.

Active personnel: Approximately 650,000 (2025)
Military expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Conflict hotspots: Kashmir remains a contentious area with a historical backdrop of military skirmishes
Military deployments: Participates in UN peacekeeping missions in several countries

Energy

Pakistan's energy sector is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, but it is also making strides in renewable energy and electricity access. As of 2022, a significant portion of the population is electrified, with efforts ongoing to enhance energy efficiency and production capacity.

Electricity access: 95% of total population (2022 est.)
Installed capacity: 43.512 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy consumption: 145.357 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas production: 27.476 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Coal consumption: 30.191 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues in Pakistan include severe water pollution, deforestation, and limited access to clean drinking water. The country is party to numerous international environmental agreements but faces substantial challenges in managing its natural resources sustainably.

Water pollution: Major concern from agricultural runoff and industrial waste
Urbanization: 2.1% annual growth in urban population (2020-2025 est.)
Natural hazards: Frequent earthquakes and flooding during heavy rains
Total water withdrawal: 172.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Transportation

Pakistan has a developing transportation infrastructure that includes extensive railway networks and a growing number of airports. Efforts are ongoing to enhance connectivity and modernize transport systems.

Railways: 11,881 km (2021)
Airports: 117 (2025)
Merchant marine fleet: 60 vessels (2023)
Ports: 3 major ports including Gwadar and Karachi

Communications

The communications landscape in Pakistan is evolving with increasing mobile cellular subscriptions and internet usage. While significant progress has been made in telecommunication infrastructure, disparities persist in rural and urban access.

Mobile subscriptions: 193 million (2024)
Internet users: 27% of the population (2023 est.)
Fixed broadband subscriptions: 3.36 million (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	257,047,044 (2025 est.)
Area	796,095 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$1.39 trillion (2024 est.)
Energy consumption per capita	14.076 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth rate	25.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Unemployment rate	5.5% (2024 est.)
Military expenditures	2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)