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in Figure 3.8—eight are from Punjab (Sargodha, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Jhang, Shiekhupura, Gujrat, Sahiwal and Okara), two from Sindh (Sukkur and Larkana), while none belong to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Balochistan.
3.5 Age and Gender Distribution
The age -sex population distribution , excluding the head count without any additional
information, for the four provinces and ICT observed during the Digital Census can be seen in
Figure 3.9. The most striking feature of the age-sex population distribution is that over half of
the population recorded during the census is under 20 years old, nearly 80% is under 40, and
only 20% is above 40.This demographic trend carries significant economic implications for the
country as the rapid growth of the youth population may further strains the already meagre
economic resources of the country. Thus there is a risk that the job market may not be able to
absorb this influx, potentially leading to higher unemployment, underemployment, and social
unrest. Strategic planning, investment in education, skills development, and economic
diversification are therefore essential to address these challenges and ensure sustainable
growth. Furthermore, Figure 3.9 also highlights differences in male and female population
across different age groups. As the overall sex ratio has risen from 104.91 observed during the
6th Population and Housing Census-2017 to 106.12 derived for the Digital Census, the increase
is, however, more pronounced in the lower age groups, particularly for those under 20 years
old, where the male population exceeds the female population by over 4 million.
Figure 3.9: Population Pyramid (Age-sex Population Distribution) 10 8 6 4 2 0 2 4 6 8 10 00 - 04 05 - 09 10 - 14 15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 39 40 - 44 45 - 49 50 - 54 55 - 59 60 - 64 65 - 69 70 - 74 75 - 79 80 - 84 85 - 89 90 - 94 95 - 99 Percent of total population Age groups Male Female Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
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3.6 Population Density Analysis Population density, measured as people per square kilometer of land area, is estimated at 303.36 in the Digital Census at the national level. However, the population is not uniformly distributed across all the regions. Balochistan, with its challenging terrain, has a more dispersed population, whereas Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces have higher population concentrations —Population density for Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , Sindh, Balochistan and Islamabad Capital Territory in the Digital Census has been estimated at 535.64, 348.94, 339.60, 35.53 and 2211.22 persons per square kilometer, respectively. Major urban centers like Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Sukkur, and Rahim Yar Khan are particularly densely populated. In Pakistan, following a Population and Housing Census , population density is traditionally mapped at the district level. However, this method has its own limitations, as population concentrations often vary significantly within districts, with city tehsils typically being more densely populated than surrounding areas. To address this, tehsil-level mapping of population density for the Digital Census has been introduced. This approach provides a more accurate representation, revealing that some tehsils in districts like Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Khairpur, and Jamshoro are actually less populated than they would appear under the district-level mapping. It also highlights the diverse population distribution within Balochistan province, which would otherwise be obscured if district-level aggregation is employed. (The Tehsil-level population distribution and population density observed during the 7th Population and Housing Census-2023 are presented in Figures 3.10 & 3.11, respectively.) The top 15 tehsils with the lowest and highest population densities are shown in Table 2.2. As is obvious, variation in the population density across the country is remarkably huge. For example, Nokundi tehsil in the Chagai district has an extremely low population density of only 1.90 people per square kilometer, whereas in stark contrast, Lyari tehsil in Karachi South district has been estimated with an astonishingly high population density of approximately 158,000 people per square kilometer28 (For further clarity regarding the high population density in certain districts of Karachi Division , tehsil-level density map of Karachi Division, with classification specific to the area, is provided in Figure 3.12).
28 To place this figure in a global context, Manila may serve as a benchmark, with over 42,000 people living in
every square kilometer, making it one of the most densely populated cities in the world.
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Figure 3.10: Tehsil-level Population Distribution
Figure 3.11: Tehsil-level Population Density (People/km2)
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Table 3.2: Top 15 Tehsils with the Lowest and Highest Population Density Lowest Density Tehsils Highest Density Tehsils District Tehsil Density District Tehsil Density Chagai Nokundi 1.90 Karachi South Lyari 158,313 Chagai Taftan 2.07 Karachi South Garden 125,705 Chagai Yak Machh 3.03 Karachi Central Liaquatabad 91,284 Awaran Awaran 3.50 Karachi Central Nazimabad 71,593 Zhob Kashatoo 3.65 Karachi West Orangi 66,324 Sibi Sangan 3.94 Karachi Central New Karachi 64,763 Panjgur Gichk 4.00 Karachi East Jamshed Quarters 59,638 Awaran Jhal Jhao 4.41 Karachi South Aram Bagh 59,306 Sibi Kot Mandai 4.93 Karachi East Ferozabad 58,385 Washuk Mashkhel 5.76 Karachi West Mominabad 52,669 Kalat Gazg 5.96 Korangi Model Colony 49,088 Khuzdar Aranji 6.78 Karachi Central Gulberg 43,837 Awaran Gishkore 6.87 Karachi Central North Nazimabad 40,105 Washuk Washuk 7.42 Korangi Landhi 35,858 Kharan Tohmulk 7.85 Karachi East Gulshan-E-Iqbal 33,776
Figure 3.12: Population Density of Karachi Division
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Although Figures 3.10&3.11 effectively illustrate the population distribution and density from the 7th Population and Housing Census- 2023, the broad classification of data can sometimes obscure underlying patterns. For example, in the case of total tehsil-level population, the highest class—representing tehsils with a population of 1.5 million or more—also includes ten tehsils: Lahore City, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad City, Model Town, Shalimar, Multan City, Gujranwala City, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Sialkot. However, despite a class gap of half a million or less in the preceding classes, the actual population of these tehsils range between 2 million and 4.2 million. This wide range makes the classification less intuitive and may lead to misinterpretation. Therefore, a proportional symbol map, which scales symbols continuously based on exact data values rather than graduated into classes of only a limited number of sizes, may better reveal patterns and insights within the data.
Figure 3.13: Tehsil-level Population Distribution at Continuous Scale29
3.7 Inter-Regional Migration
The 7th Population and Housing Census-2023 provides important insights regarding inter-
regional migration trends30 across Pakistan. Punjab, with a population exceeding 127 million,
emerges as both a major source and destination of migration, with large numbers of people
moving to and from other provinces. Notably, the highest migration flow is from Punjab to
Sindh, accounting for approximately 50.2% of Punjab’s total migration. Sindh, home to around
55.7 million people, particularly Karachi, serves as a key economic hub attracting migrants
from various regions. Another significant migration flow is from Punjab to Islamabad Capital
Territory (ICT), representing about 41.2% of Punjab’s migration.
29 The legend only represents the main graph, thus excluding the zoomed-in inset graph for Karachi Division.
30 Migration estimates are derived based on respondents' birth district and their current district of residence.
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Similarly, inter-provincial migration from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a population of approximately 40 million, to Punjab is substantial, comprising about 44.9% of KP’s total migration, making it one of the most significant migration corridors. Additionally, migration from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Sindh and I slamabad accounts for 34.1% and 19.8% of KP’s total migration, respectively. Migration from Sindh to Punjab is also notable, standing at 62.4% of Sindh’s total migration. Balochistan, with a population of about 14.9 million, experiences limited inward migration due to its lower urbanization and economic opportunities. The interplay of migration between these regions highlights the role of economic hubs in shaping internal migration trends, with cities such as Karachi and Lahore serving as key destinations for incoming populations. Figure 3.14 depicts inter-regional migration patterns observed in the 7th Population and Housing Census-2023,31 with ribbons are colored based on the origin (out - migration region). Figure 3.14: Inter-regional Migration Trends
31 For Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), only out-migration is considered.
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3.8 Inter-Censal Literacy Trends Literacy rates vary significantly across regions. The 7th Population and Housing Census-2023 estimates literacy rates at 60.65% for Pakistan overall, with 83.97% in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 66.25% in Punjab, 51.09% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 57.54% in Sindh, and 42.01% in Balochistan. As illustrated in Figure 3.15, district -level data further highlights disparities in literacy attainment. While districts such as Rawalpindi, Karachi Central, Gujrat, Jhelum, Karachi East, Korangi, Lahore, Karachi South, Sialkot, Chakwal, Abbottabad, Gujranwala, Narowal, Haripur, Upper Chitral, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Mandi Bahauddin, and Attock report literacy rates exceeding 70%, others like Torghar, Nasirabad, Kohlu, Sujawal, Thatta, Bajaur, Dera Bugti, Sherani, Lower Kohistan, Washuk, Upper Kohistan, and Kolai Palas Kohistan struggle with rates below 30%. Additionally, a comparison with the 5 th Population and Housing Census -199832 reveals that progress in literacy over the past 25 years has been uneven across districts. Some districts, including Upper Chitral, Nushki, Mansehra, Lower Dir, Duki, Kasur, Musakhel, Kharan, Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Karachi South, and Hafizabad, have ma de remarkable gains, with literacy rates increasing by more than 25 percentage points. In contrast, districts such as Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Bannu, Malir, Mirpur Khas, Ziarat, Upper Kohistan, Kolai Palas Kohistan, Karachi Central, Karachi Eas t, Korangi, Washuk, Chagai, Keamari, Kambar Shahdad Kot, Thatta, and Sujawal have shown only marginal improvements, with increases of less than 10 percentage points. Notably, Quetta is the only district that has experienced a decline in literacy rates over this period. These disparities in literacy attainment highlight the need for region -specific educational policies, improved infrastructure, and targeted initiatives to bridge the literacy gap, particularly in underdeveloped areas. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for ensuring equitable access to education and fostering long-term socio-economic development across the country.
32 The 5th Population and Housing Census -1998 has been selected for comparison primarily because variables such as literacy evolve slowly over time. To observe significant variations and meaningful trends in the data, a longer time span is essential. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
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Figure 3.15: District-level Inter-censal Literacy Improvements
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3.9 Literacy Gaps Across Genders
The literacy gap between male and female in Pakistan remains a pressing concern. While male
literacy rates are significantly higher across all provinces, female literacy rates are considerably
lower, particularly in rural areas. Urban areas generally report higher literacy rates due to better
access to educational institutions, infrastructure, and resources. However, in rural regions,
socio-cultural restrictions and economic constraints continue to hinder girls' access to
education.
According to the 7th Population and Housing Census-2023, the disparity between male
and female literacy rates is stark. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the overall literacy rate is
51.09%, female literacy lags far behind male literacy, with a gap of 27.42 percentage points—
the highest gender gap among all the provinces. Similarly, the gap in Balochistan is 17.70
percentage points, in Sindh 14.02 percentage points, in Punjab 11.79 percentage points, and in
Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is 9.10 percentage points. At the national level, the overall
literacy gap between male and female stands at 16.16 percentage points. (Literacy rates by
gender and urban/rural breakdown observed in the 7th Population and Housing Census-2023
can be seen in Table 3.3.)
Table 3.3: Literacy Rates by Gender and Urban/Rural Breakdown Region/ Province Male Female Overall Urban Rural Total Urban Rural Total Urban Rural Total Pakistan 78.13 61.02 68.00 69.71 41.67 52.84 74.09 51.56 60.65 Punjab 80.37 65.91 71.98 74.01 50.51 60.19 77.30 58.37 66.25 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 75.06 62.55 64.57 55.39 33.76 37.15 65.55 48.35 51.09 Sindh 76.27 48.06 64.23 67.80 27.52 50.21 72.26 38.14 57.54 Balochistan 64.51 44.16 50.50 46.49 26.59 32.80 55.86 35.74 42.01 Islamabad 87.19 89.13 88.23 77.87 80.16 79.13 82.91 84.88 83.97 At the district level, literacy gap between males and females, as portrayed by Figure 3.16, varies significantly across Pakistan. Several districts have reported gender literacy gap exceeding 30 percentage points, all of which are located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. These districts include Hangu, Khyber, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Orakzai, Bannu, Torghar, Tank, Buner, Mohmand, Batagram, Upper Dir, and Shangla. These areas face deep-rooted socio-cultural and economic challenges that disproportionately affect female literacy. On the other hand, some districts have made notable progress in narrowing the gender literacy gap, reporting disparities of less than 10 percentage points. These districts include Malir, Rawalpindi, Narowal, Mandi