A UN report paints a grim picture for Pakistan’s future, a country already struggling to feed its 240 million people. According to the UN’s World Population Prospects 2024 report, Pakistan will reach its peak population of 404.68 million in 2092.
The report indicates that Pakistan’s population is expected to surpass Indonesia’s in 2048, reaching 331.29 million at that time. Between 1998 and 2017, Pakistan’s average population growth rate was 2.40%, translating to an annual increase of approximately 5.28 million people for a population exceeding 220 million.
Pakistan has one of the highest birth rates globally, with 22 births per 1,000 people. The report highlights that few women in Pakistan use any form of birth control, leading to a rapidly growing population that strains water and sanitation systems, results in high unemployment rates, and overwhelms health and education services.
Since becoming a sovereign state in 1947, Pakistan’s population has grown significantly, partly due to the increasing number of people moving their families and businesses to the country.
Compared to other countries in the region, Pakistan’s growth rate is about 2.1 percent higher. If this growth rate continues, the report predicts that Pakistan’s population will double within 35 years from its 2001 levels. Given the significant population increase over the past decade, this doubling seems plausible.
Currently, Pakistan’s growth rate is close to 2%, but it is expected to decline to less than 1% by 2050, at which point the population is predicted to exceed 300 million.
