World Population Prospects - Population Division

World Population Prospects 2024

Data Sources

A description of the empirical data used and the methods applied in revising past estimates of population and components of demographic change (fertility, child, adult and overall mortality, international migration) is available here for each country or area for the period 1950 to 2023. For the countries with less than 1,000 inhabitants in 2023, only the data sources for total population are made available.

Select below a country or area to see the respective information, or download the whole set of metadata in PDF format for all countries or areas or a tabular version for each demographic component under Documentation.

Pakistan

Population: Total population and distribution by age and sex estimated to be consistent with the population by age and sex of the (a) 1972, 1981, 1998, 2017 censuses; (b) adjusted for under/over count; (c) adjusted for age heaping; (d) adjusted for under enumeration of children under age 15; (e) 1962-1965 PGE and 1968-1971 PGS and 1973 HED Survey and 1990-1991, 2006-2007 DHS survey estimates; (f) official estimates through 2015; (g) only total population for 1951 Census and 1960 Housing Census; (h) International estimates used up to 2019; and with estimates of the subsequent trends in fertility, mortality and international migration. In addition, the (a) 2012-2013, 2017-2018 DHS survey estimates; (b) only total population for 2023 Census have been considered.
Note: 1972, 1998 and 2017 censuses adjusted to include Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Graphs: Total Population 5-year age groups Single age distribution

Fertility: Total fertility rate and age pattern of fertility based on: (a) registered births classified by age of mother and the underlying female population by age through 2006; (b) birth-histories data from the 1968-1969 NIS and 1975 WFS and 1976-1979 PGS and 1979-1980 LFMS and 1993, 1994-1995 CPS and 1995-1996, 1998-1999, 2001-2002 IHS and 1996-1997 FFPS and 2000-2001 RHFPS and 2003 SWRHFPS and 2005-2006, 2018-2019 LSMS and 2006-2007, 2012-2013, 2017-2018 DHS and 2019 PMMS; (c) births in the household in the preceding 12 (or 24) months classified by age of mother from the 1962-1965 PGE and 1962-1984, 1991-1992, 1992-1993, 1994, 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2021 Annual PDS and 1968-1971 PGS and 1984-1985 CPS and 1998 Census; (d) adjusted fertility using synthetic relational Gompertz model with data on children ever born and births in the preceding 12 (or 24/36) months, both classified by age of mother, from the 1962-1984, 1966-1988 Annual PDS and 1968-1971 PGS and 1975 WFS and 1984-1985, 1994-1995 CPS and 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1998-1999, 2001-2002 IHS and 1996-1997 FFPS and 1998 Census and 2000-2001 RHFPS and 2005-2006 LSMS; (e) indirect estimates obtained from the application of the reverse survival method to the 1981 Census and 2001, 2006, 2007 Annual PDS; (f) cohort-completed fertility backdated by the mean age of childbearing from the 1962-1984, 1966-1988 Annual PDS and 1975 WFS and 1990-1991, 2006-2007, 2012-2013, 2017-2018 DHS and 1995-1996, 1998-1999, 2001-2002 IHS and 1996-1997 FFPS and 1998 Census and 2000-2001 RHFPS and 2005-2006 LSMS. In addition, the (a) official estimates of age-specific fertility rates through 2018; (b) birth-histories data from the 1990-1991 DHS and 2007-2008, 2011-2012 LSMS; (c) births in the household in the preceding 12 (or 24) months classified by age of mother from the 1999, 2003 Annual PDS; (d) indirect estimates obtained from the application of the reverse survival method to the 1957-2012 Education Stats and 1972, 1998, 2017 censuses and 1973 HED Survey and 2003 Annual PDS and 2017-2018 DHS; (e) cohort-completed fertility backdated by the mean age of childbearing from the 1973 HED Survey have been considered.

Graphs: Total fertility rate 5-year age groups

Child Mortality: Under-five mortality based on: (a) official estimates of infant and child mortality through 2017; (b) direct estimates from births and deaths under-five calculated from full birth histories data from the 1968-1971, 1976-1979 PGS and 1975 WFS and 1979-1980 LFMS and 1990-1991, 2006-2007, 2012-2013, 2017-2018 DHS and 1991, 1998-1999, 2001-2002 IHS and 1996-1997 FFPS and 2000-2001 RHFPS and 2014-2015 LSMS and 2019 PMMS; (c) indirect estimates from data on children ever born and surviving from the 1981, 1998 censuses and 1984-1985, 1994-1995 CPS and 1995-1996 IHS; (d) recent household deaths from the 1962-1965 PGE and 1963-1991, 1969-1987, 1983-1988, 1984-1989, 1988-1990, 1989-1991, 1990-1992, 1991-1993, 1992-1994, 1993-1995, 1994-1996, 1995-1997, 1996-1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2021 Annual PDS; (e) International estimates used up to 2021. In addition, the (a) direct estimates from births and deaths under-five calculated from full birth histories data from the 1968-1969 NIS and 1995-1996, 2005-2006, 2007-2008 IHS and 2003 SWRHFPS and 2013-2014 LSMS; (b) recent household deaths from the 1968-1971, 1976-1979 PGS have been considered.

Graphs: Infant Mortality Under-five Mortality

Overall Mortality: Life expectancy at birth and age pattern of mortality based on: (a) official estimates through 2007; (b) registered deaths by age and sex available through 2020; (c) estimates using CD West model life tables and estimates of infant and under-five mortality (5q0), and adult mortality (45q15).

Graphs: Life expectancy at birth Life expectancy at age Age specific mortality rate

Adult and Old Age Mortality: Estimates derived from: (a) recent household deaths data by age and sex from the 1961-2007 Estimates and 1962-1965 PGE and 1968-1971, 1976-1979 PGS and 1983-1984, 1984-1985, 1985-1986, 1986-1987, 1987-1988, 1988-1989, 1989-1990, 1990-1991, 1991-1992, 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1994-1995, 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 Annual PDS; (b) recent household deaths adjusted at adult ages for underregistration using death distribution methods; (c) maternal orphanhood from the 1983-1984, 1987-1988 Annual PDS and 2006-2007, 2012-2013, 2017-2018 DHS; (d) intercensal survivorship from successive census age distributions; (e) estimates of under-five, adult and old age mortality. In addition, the (a) siblings deaths from the 2000-2001 RHFPS; (b) paternal orphanhood from the 1983-1984, 1987-1988 Annual PDS and 2006-2007, 2012-2013, 2017-2018 DHS; (c) indirect estimates of male adult mortality based on female widowhood data from the 1951, 1972, 1981, 1998 censuses and 1961 Pop. Census and 1975 WFS and 1990-1991, 2006-2007, 2012-2013, 2017-2018 DHS; (d) indirect estimates of female adult mortality based on male widowhood data from the 1951, 1972, 1981, 1998 censuses and 1961 Pop. Census and 1975 WFS and 1990-1991, 2006-2007, 2012-2013, 2017-2018 DHS; (e) intercensal survivorship from successive census age distributions have been considered.

Graphs: Adult mortality

Migration: International migration based on: (a) official figures of net international migration flows, and assumed subsequent trends in international migration; (b) information on foreign-born populations from censuses and registers from major countries of destination; (c) estimates derived as the differences between overall population growth and natural increase; (d) UNHCR statistics on the number of refugees in the main countries of asylum.

Graphs: Total net migration

Disclaimer: This web site contains data tables, figures, maps, analyses and technical notes from the current revision of the World Population Prospects. These documents do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.