Country profile

Pakistan

Islamic Republic of Pakistan · Southern Asia

👥 Population

255,219,554

World Bank · 2025

🏛 Capital

Islamabad

🗺 Area

881,912 km²

💹 GDP (nominal)

$407.31B

World Bank · 2025

📈 HDI

0.544

UNDP · 2023

📍 Pop. density

289 /km²

💱 Currency

PKR

Pakistani rupee

🗣 Languages

English, Urdu

About Pakistan

Pakistan (officially Islamic Republic of Pakistan) is a country in Southern Asia, with Islamabad as its capital. It is home to roughly 255.22 million people, giving a population density of about 289 people per square kilometre. The country covers 881,912 km² of land and shares land borders with 4 neighbouring countries. Its economy is valued at approximately $407.31B in nominal GDP (2025), and it records a Human Development Index of 0.544. The official currency is the Pakistani rupee (PKR), and the main languages are English, Urdu.

How Pakistan is governed

🏛 Federal parliamentary republic

Head of State

President

Ceremonial head of state.

Head of Government

Prime Minister

Holds executive power; leads the government.

Legislature

Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora)

Bicameral — National Assembly — lower house; Senate — upper house

Who holds the power?

Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic in which the President is a ceremonial head of state and the Prime Minister — leader of the majority in the elected National Assembly — holds executive power. In practice, Pakistan's powerful military has repeatedly shaped politics, both directly through periods of military rule and indirectly, giving the armed forces an unusually strong role in national affairs compared with most parliamentary democracies.

Development profile (each axis 0–100%, higher is stronger)

Key indicators

Latest available data · World Bank & UNDP.

💹 Economy

GDP (PPP)

$1.57T

GDP/capita (PPP)

$6,252

GDP growth

3.7%

Inflation

3.5%

Unemployment

5.4%

👥 People

Life expectancy

67.8 yrs

Fertility rate

3.55

Pop. growth

1.6%

Urban population

39.5%

Infant mortality /1k

48.2

🌍 Quality of Life

Internet users

57.3%

Literacy rate

58.9%

Physicians /1k

1.16

Renewable energy

41.6%

Pakistan's GDP over time (nominal, US$)

Travel & practical

Capital

Islamabad

Currency

PKR

Dialing code

+92

Internet TLD

.pk

🌐 Get a Pakistan eSIM 🏨 Where to stay in Pakistan

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Fun facts about Pakistan

Pakistan is home to K2, the world's second-highest mountain.
The ancient Indus Valley Civilisation arose in what is now Pakistan.
The country was created in 1947 during the partition of British India.
Pakistan is the 5th most populous country in the world, with about 255.22 million people.
By land area it is the 33rd-largest country in the world, covering 881,912 km².
It has the world's 40th-largest economy by nominal GDP ($407.31B).
Pakistan shares land borders with 4 countries.

Compare Pakistan

Pakistan vs India

Pakistan vs Bangladesh

Neighbouring countries

More countries in Asia