Pakistan

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<p>The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of modern-day Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The partition in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India created lasting tension between the two countries. They have fought two wars and a limited conflict -- in 1947-48, 1965, and 1999 respectively -- over the Kashmir territory, a dispute that continues to this day. A third war in 1971 -- in which India assisted an indigenous movement reacting to Bengali marginalization in Pakistani politics -- resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh.</p> <p>In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. Pakistan has been engaged in a decades-long armed conflict with militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant networks that target government institutions and civilians.</p>

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Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

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30 00 N, 70 00 E

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Asia

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slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California

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1,046 km

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mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

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divided into three major geographic areas: the northern highlands, the Indus River plain in the center and east, and the Balochistan Plateau in the south and west

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arable land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

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194,200 sq km (2022)

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Indus river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,610 km; Sutlej river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 1,372 km; Chenab river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 1,086 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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Indus Basin

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the Indus River and its tributaries attract most of the settlement, with Punjab province the most densely populated

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frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)

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controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and India

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Punjabi 44.7%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.4%, Sindhi 14.1%, Saraiki 8.4%, Muhajirs 7.6%, Baloch 3.6%, other 6.3%

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<strong>note:</strong> data represent population by mother tongue; English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries)

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Muslim 96.4%, Hindu 1.6%, Christian 1.4%; less than 1%: scheduled castes, Qadiani/Ahmadi, other, Sikh. (2020 est.)

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1.82% (2025 est.)

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25.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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5.79 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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the Indus River and its tributaries attract most of the settlement, with Punjab province the most densely populated

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17.236 million Karachi, 13.979 million Lahore, 3.711 million Faisalabad, 2.415 million Gujranwala, 2.412 million Peshawar, 1.232 million ISLAMABAD (capital) (2023)

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22.8 years (2017/18 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

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155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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3.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.59 (2025 est.)

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1.16 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

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0.5 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

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8.6% (2016)

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23.1% (2018 est.)

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63.4% (2018 est.)

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water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution and noise pollution in urban areas

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mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

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50.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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246.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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federal parliamentary republic

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4 provinces, 2 Pakistan-administered areas*, and 1 capital territory**; Azad Kashmir*, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh

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common law system with Islamic law influence

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note:</strong> women and non-Muslims have joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats

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<br><br>

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Awami National Party or ANP<br>Awami Muslim League or AML<br>Balochistan Awami Party or BAP<br>Balochistan National Party-Awami or BNP-A<br>Balochistan National Party-Mengal or BNP-M<br>Grand Democratic Alliance or GDA (alliance of several parties)<br>Hazara Democratic Party or HDP<br>Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party<br>Jamaat-e-Islami or JI<br>Jamhoori Wattan Party or JWP<br>Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl or JUI-F<br>Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan or MWM<br>Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA (alliance of several parties)<br>Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan or MQM-P<br>National Party or NP<br>Pakistan Muslim League or PML-Z<br>Pakistan Muslim League-Functional or PML-F<br>Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N<br>Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam or PML-Q<br>Pakistan Peoples Party or PPP<br>Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party or PRHP<br>Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI (Pakistan Movement for Justice)<br>Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party or PMAP or PKMAP<br>Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan or TLP

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ADB, AIIB, ARF, ASEAN (sectoral dialogue partner), C, CERN (associate member), CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO, G-11, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNSOS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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14 August 1947 (from British India)

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Pakistan Day, 23 March, also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day (1940) or Republic Day (1956)

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<strong>note:</strong> commemorates the adoption of the Lahore Resolution on 23 March 1940, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and also the adoption of Pakistan's first constitution on 23 March 1956, during the transition to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

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<strong>description: </strong>green with a vertical white band on the left side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the crescent, star, and color green are all traditional Islamic symbols; the white band symbolizes the role of religious minorities

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five-pointed star between the horns of a waxing crescent moon, jasmine

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green, white

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lower middle-income South Asian economy; extremely high debt; endemic corruption; regional disputes with India and Afghanistan hinder investment; falling inflation, IMF relief programs, and strong agricultural output slowly contributing to economic recovery

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$373.072 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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sugarcane, bison milk, wheat, milk, rice, maize, potatoes, cotton, mangoes/guavas, chicken (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp

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-1.7% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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83.644 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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21.9% (2018 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 14%, UAE 10%, China 9%, Germany 7%, UK 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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garments, fabric, refined petroleum, rice, cotton fabric (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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China 25%, Qatar 11%, UAE 9%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Indonesia 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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natural gas, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, palm oil, plastics (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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120 satellite TV stations; 42 media companies/channels; state-run Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) is the largest TV network, serves over 85 percent of the population with 9 TV channels; over 100 private cable and satellite channels; state-owned Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC or Radio Pakistan) has the largest radio audience, particularly in rural areas, with AM/SW/FM stations covering most of the country (2022)

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.pk

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AP

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117 (2025)

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48 (2025)

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Pakistan Armed Forces: Pakistan Army (includes National Guard), Pakistan Navy (includes Pakistan Marines, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force<br><br>Ministry of Interior: Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps, National Police, Pakistan Coast Guard, Punjab (Pakistan) Rangers, Sindh (Pakistan) Rangers (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the National Guard is a paramilitary force and one of the Army's reserve forces; other Army reserves include the Pakistan Army Reserve, the Frontier Corps, and the Pakistan Rangers

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approximately 650,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

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the military's inventory is a mix of mostly imported and some domestically produced armaments; the majority of its imported weapons are from China; other suppliers include France, Russia, T&uuml;rkiye, Ukraine, the UK, and the US; Pakistan also has a domestic defense industry, which produces or co-produces such items as armored vehicles, aircraft, missiles, naval vessels (2025)

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16-28 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; lower and upper age limits vary by military branch, position, and role; personnel cannot be deployed for combat until age 18 (2025)

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1,400 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 300 MONUSCO; 300 South Sudan (UNMISS); 575 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)

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the Pakistan military is responsible for external defense but also has a domestic security role; its chief external focus is India; the military is the lead security agency in many areas of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and has for decades conducted operations against various internal militant groups; it is also one of the longest serving and largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions; China is its closest security partner<br><br>the military operates largely independently and without effective civilian oversight; it has ruled the country for more than 30 years since independence in 1947 and continues to play a significant role in Pakistan's political arena; it also has a large stake in the country’s economic sector and is involved in a diverse array of commercial activities, including banking, construction of public projects, employment services, energy and power generation, fertilizer, food, housing, real estate, and security services<br><br>Pakistan has fought four wars and several skirmishes with India; three of the wars have been over the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir, the status of which has been unsettled since the UK's 1947 withdrawal and the partition and independence of India and Pakistan; a fragile cease-fire was reached in 2003, revised in 2018, and reaffirmed in 2021, although the militarized Line of Control which serves as the border remains contested, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in the territory New Delhi controls; in the Spring of 2025, Indian held Pakistan responsible for a terrorist attack in India-controlled Kashmir and retaliated, sparking a brief cross-border conflict involving aircraft, artillery, drone, and missile strikes<br><br>the Kashmir dispute also includes the Siachen Glacier, located in the Karakoram Mountain Range, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area several times between 1985 and 1995; despite the 2003 cease-fire, both sides continue to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties are due to extreme weather and the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness (2025)

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Pakistan Space &amp; Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO; established 1961) (2025)

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none; missile test sites at Somiani (Balochistan) and Tilla Jogian (Punjab) (2025)

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space program dates back to the early 1960s, but funding shortfalls and shifts in priority toward ballistic missile development in the 1980s and 1990s hampered the program&rsquo;s development; now has a strengthened focus on acquiring satellites and reaching agreements with other space powers for additional capabilities; manufactures and operates satellites; researching and developing other space-related capabilities and technologies, such as satellite payloads; also conducts research in areas such as astronomy, astrophysics, environmental monitoring, and space sciences; works with China, Russia, and Turkey (cooperated with the UK and US prior to the 1990s) (2025)

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1962-1972 - launched about 200 sounding rockets with some US assistance <br><br>1990 - first domestically built experimental satellite (Badr-1) launched by China<br><br>2001 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Badr-2) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia<br><br>2011 - first digital communications satellite (PakSat-1R) launched by China<br><br>2017 - successfully test-launched ballistic missile system (Shaheed-III)<br><br>2023 - joined China’s International Lunar Research Station program<br><br>2024 - first lunar orbiter/satellite (iCube Qamar) launched by China and deployed from China's Chang'e-6 spacecraft<br><br>2025 - first fully domestic RS satellite (PRSC-EO1) launched by China; selected country's first astronauts to be trained by China for mission to China's space station

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al-Qa’ida; al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS); Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA); Haqqani Network (HQN); Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI); Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Hizbul Mujahideen;<strong> </strong>Indian Mujahedeen; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – India (ISI); Islamic State of ash-Sham – Pakistan (ISP); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM); Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ); Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT); The Resistance Front (TRF); Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

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<strong>note 1:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an armed separatist group that targets security forces and civilians, has been active in Pakistan since the 2000s, mainly in ethnic Baloch areas of the country; in 2019, the US designated BLA as Specially Designated Global Terrorists