Pakistan’s population rises to over 207 million

KARACHI: Pakistan’s current population stands at slightly over 207 million with an annual growth rate of 2.4 per cent, according to provisional results of the country’s sixth census held earlier this year, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported.

The sixth census had been organised after a gap of over 18 years in the country.The government of Pakistan and the United Nations had previously estimated the current population to be between 180 million and 200 million.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s House announced the new census figures had been approved by the Council of Common Interests – a constitutional body – during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in capital Islamabad.

According to the preliminary figures, the current population of the country stands at 207.77 million compared with 132.35 million in 1998. Out of the total, there are 106.45 million males and 101.31 million females.

Punjab province again emerged as the country’s most populous province with a population of 110.01 million, with 2.13 per cent annual growth rate, followed by Sindh – 47.89 million with 2.41 per cent annual growth, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – 30.52 million with 2.89 per cent annual growth, and Balochistan – 12.34 million with 3.37 per cent annual growth.

Urban population in Pakistan increased from 32.5 per cent in 1998 to 36.4 per cent in 2017. — Bernama