首页 - Pakistan Studies
Pakistan Studies/Published by: Pakistan Research Center, Inner Mongolia Honder College of Arts and Sciences
Pakistan is one of the most populous countries in the world and has experienced rapid population growth over the past several decades. According to the 2017 national population census, Pakistan’s population exceeded 207 million, while by 2020 the population had surpassed 220 million, making Pakistan the fifth most populous country globally.
With its young and rapidly growing population, Pakistan possesses significant demographic potential. The large working-age population provides important advantages for economic development, industrial growth, and regional connectivity. At the same time, rapid population growth also creates challenges in areas such as education, employment, healthcare, urban development, and infrastructure construction.
Pakistan’s population distribution is highly uneven due to geographical, climatic, and economic factors. The fertile Indus River Basin, particularly the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, supports the majority of the country’s population and agricultural activities. In contrast, the mountainous northern regions, the deserts of the south, and the western plateau areas have relatively lower population densities.
It should be noted that Pakistan’s official population statistics generally do not include approximately 1.7 million Afghan refugees, who are mainly concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and some urban areas. Many of these Afghan refugees have lived in Pakistan for decades, and a large proportion were born in Pakistan. They mainly belong to ethnic groups including Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Baloch, and Turkmen, contributing to Pakistan’s complex demographic and cultural landscape.
Pakistan is a multi-ethnic and multicultural country. The formation of Pakistani society has been shaped by thousands of years of historical exchanges among South Asian, Central Asian, Persian, and Middle Eastern civilizations.
The major ethnic groups in Pakistan include:
In addition, Pakistan is home to numerous smaller ethnic communities, including:
The diversity of ethnic groups has contributed to Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage, reflected in its languages, traditional customs, literature, music, architecture, and social structures.
The Punjabi ethnic group is the largest ethnic community in Pakistan. It is estimated that Punjabis account for approximately 50 percent of Pakistan’s total population, with more than 110 million people.
The Punjabi population is mainly concentrated in Punjab Province, which is the country’s most populous and economically developed region. Punjabi society has historically been closely connected with agriculture due to the fertile lands of the Indus River plain. Agriculture, textile production, manufacturing, trade, and services remain important economic activities among Punjabi communities.
The Punjabi language belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family. In Pakistan, Punjabi is commonly written using the Shahmukhi script, which is based on the Urdu-Arabic writing system.
Historically, Punjabis have played an important role in Pakistan’s political, military, administrative, and economic development. Due to Punjab’s large population and economic importance, Punjabi communities have maintained significant influence in national affairs.
The Pashtuns are Pakistan’s second-largest ethnic group, accounting for approximately 15 percent of the national population. They are also the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, making them an important transnational community in South and Central Asia.
Pashtuns mainly speak Pashto and are traditionally associated with tribal social structures, strong community networks, and cultural traditions based on concepts such as honor, hospitality, and collective responsibility.
Due to historical migration, trade, and economic activities, Pashtuns are widely distributed throughout Pakistan, especially in:
Pashtuns have a strong tradition of mobility and entrepreneurship. Many Pashtuns are engaged in transportation, trade, construction, services, and business activities. Overseas Pashtun communities can also be found in the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Australia.
In Pakistan’s political and social development, Pashtuns have played an important role. Many prominent political figures, military officers, business leaders, and intellectuals come from Pashtun backgrounds.
Sindhis are one of Pakistan’s major ethnic groups, representing approximately 14 percent of the national population. They are primarily concentrated in Sindh Province, particularly along the lower Indus River region.
The name “Sindh” originates from the ancient Sanskrit word Sindhu, meaning “river,” referring to the Indus River. Sindhi civilization has a long history dating back to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations.
Sindhi people traditionally relied on agriculture, benefiting from the fertile lands surrounding the Indus River. In modern times, many Sindhis have also become active in commerce, industry, education, and professional sectors.
Sindhi culture is characterized by rich literary traditions, traditional music, handicrafts, and the influence of Sufi Islamic culture, which emphasizes tolerance and spiritual harmony.
The Sindhi language belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family and is generally written using a modified Arabic script.
The Baloch are one of the major ethnic communities in Pakistan, primarily inhabiting Balochistan Province, which covers nearly 44 percent of Pakistan’s total land area.
Baloch society has historically been organized around tribal structures. Many communities maintain traditional systems of leadership and social organization centered around tribal elders, commonly known as Sardars.
Traditionally, Baloch communities were involved in:
Balochistan is rich in natural resources, including:
However, despite its abundant resources, Balochistan has historically faced development challenges, including limited infrastructure, lower industrialization levels, and geographic isolation.
Baloch communities have made important contributions to Pakistan’s cultural diversity. At the same time, the province has experienced complex political, economic, and security issues related to development, resource distribution, and governance.
The Saraiki people are mainly distributed in southern Punjab and surrounding areas. Saraiki is considered a distinct linguistic and cultural identity closely related to Punjabi.
Most Saraiki people are Muslims, while smaller communities follow Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and other religious traditions.
The Saraiki region has historically been an important agricultural area due to its location along the Indus River system. The community has contributed significantly to Pakistan’s literature, poetry, music, and cultural heritage.
The term Muhajir literally means “migrant.” It refers primarily to the Urdu-speaking Muslim communities who migrated from different parts of India to Pakistan following the partition of British India in 1947.
Muhajirs are mainly concentrated in:
They also have communities in Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, and Peshawar.
In the early years after Pakistan’s independence, Muhajirs played a significant role in government administration, education, politics, and professional sectors because many migrants had urban and educational backgrounds.
Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and economic center, has historically been a major hub of Muhajir culture and community life.
The Kashmiri community has a long history and distinctive cultural identity. Kashmiri people are mainly associated with the Kashmir region and are distributed across Pakistan, India, and other countries.
The majority of Kashmiri people in Pakistan are Muslims, while smaller communities follow Hinduism, Sikhism, and Christianity.
Traditional Kashmiri society places strong emphasis on extended family networks and community relationships. These social structures continue to influence cultural identity, social cooperation, and community organization.
Kashmiri culture is well known for:
The Brahui people mainly live in central and southern Balochistan, especially around the Kalat region.
The Brahui language is unique because, unlike many neighboring languages, it belongs to the Dravidian language family, creating an important linguistic connection with southern India.
Most Brahui people practice Sunni Islam. Their traditional livelihoods include:
Due to close interaction with surrounding Baloch communities, cultural and linguistic exchanges between Brahui and Baloch populations have been extensive.
The Hazara community has a distinctive cultural and historical background. They are generally believed to have Central Asian, particularly Turkic-Mongol, historical origins.
In Pakistan, most Hazara people live in:
Many Hazara people practice Shia Islam and have contributed significantly to Pakistan’s education, business, sports, and professional sectors.
The international recognition of Hazara culture has also increased through literature, including Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner, which portrays aspects of Afghan society and the historical experiences of Hazara communities.
Pakistan is a multilingual country with a rich linguistic heritage.
The major languages include:
Among these languages, Urdu serves as Pakistan’s national language and an important symbol of national unity.
Urdu was selected as the national language after independence because it was considered a neutral language that could bridge different ethnic communities. Although Urdu is not the first language for most Pakistanis, it is widely used in communication, education, media, and government affairs.
Punjabi is the most widely spoken mother tongue in Pakistan, followed by Sindhi, Pashto, and Saraiki.
English remains an official language and continues to play an important role in government administration, higher education, law, business, and international communication.
Migration has created large Pakistani communities around the world. Overseas Pakistanis represent an important social and economic connection between Pakistan and the international community.
It is estimated that more than 7 million Pakistanis live abroad, mainly in:
Major overseas Pakistani communities exist in countries such as:
Source: Pakistan Research Center, Inner Mongolia Honder College of Arts and Sciences
Pakistan National Overview Series
