People and Society of Pakistan

Nationality

Pakistani(s)

Ethnic Groups

Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants)

Population

231,402,117

Population in Major Urban Areas

Karachi 13.876 million; Lahore 7.566 million; Faisalabad 3.038 million; Rawalpindi 2.164 million; Multan 1.775 million; ISLAMABAD (capital) 919,000

Adequate basic non-emergency medical care is available in major Pakistani cities but is limited in rural areas. Facilities in the cities vary in level and range of services, resources, and cleanliness, and U.S. citizens may find them below U.S. standards; facilities in rural areas are consistently below U.S. standards. Medical facilities require prepayment and most do not accept credit cards. Water is not potable anywhere in Pakistan and sanitation in many restaurants is inadequate. Stomach illnesses are common. Effective emergency response to personal injury and illness is virtually non-existent in Pakistan. Ambulances are few and are not necessarily staffed by medical personnel. Any emergency case should be transported immediately to a recommended emergency receiving room. Many U.S.-brand medications are not widely available, but generic brands from well-known pharmaceuticals usually are. The quality of the locally produced medications is uneven.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Pakistan has shown steady improvement over recent decades, reflecting advances in healthcare access, vaccination programs, and reductions in infant and child mortality. As of the most recent estimates, the average life expectancy at birth in Pakistan stands at approximately 66 to 67 years overall, with women generally living slightly longer than men. Female life expectancy is estimated at around 68 years, while male life expectancy is approximately 65 years. These figures represent meaningful progress compared to earlier generations. In the 1960s, life expectancy in Pakistan was below 45 years, meaning the country has added more than two decades of average lifespan over roughly 60 years. This improvement is attributed in large part to expanded immunization campaigns, better maternal and neonatal care, and broader access to clean water and sanitation in urban centers. Despite this progress, Pakistan still faces significant challenges that keep life expectancy lower than many of its regional neighbors and well below the global average of approximately 73 years. Infant and child mortality remain disproportionately high in rural and underserved areas, where access to qualified medical professionals and health facilities is limited. Preventable and treatable diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid, and respiratory illnesses continue to be leading causes of death in certain communities. Malnutrition is another contributing factor, particularly among children under five, and stunted development in early life has long-term consequences for overall health and longevity. Urban-rural disparities are pronounced — residents of major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad tend to have access to better healthcare infrastructure, while communities in remote provinces such as Balochistan and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face considerably higher mortality risks. Pakistan's government, alongside international health organizations, has implemented various programs aimed at improving maternal health, reducing preventable deaths, and expanding primary healthcare networks into underserved regions. Climate-related challenges, including flooding and displacement, have introduced additional public health pressures in recent years, placing further strain on already limited healthcare resources. Continued investment across all of these areas is considered essential for further gains in life expectancy in the years ahead.

Infant Mortality Rate

Pakistan's infant mortality rate remains one of the more pressing public health challenges in South Asia. As of recent estimates, approximately 52 to 55 deaths occur per 1,000 live births in the first year of life, placing Pakistan's rate significantly higher than the global average and well above neighboring countries such as India and Bangladesh, both of which have made faster progress in reducing infant deaths over the past two decades. The leading causes of infant mortality in Pakistan include neonatal complications such as preterm birth, birth asphyxia, and neonatal infections, which together account for the majority of deaths in the first 28 days of life. Beyond the neonatal period, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, and malnutrition continue to claim infant lives, particularly in rural and underserved regions. Geographic disparities are stark. Provinces such as Balochistan and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa record notably higher infant death rates than urban centers like Karachi or Lahore, where access to skilled birth attendants, hospitals, and postnatal care is comparatively better. Rural areas often lack sufficient primary healthcare infrastructure, and many births still occur outside of formal medical facilities without trained attendants. Malnutrition compounds the problem significantly. Stunting and wasting rates among young children remain high, weakening immune systems and increasing vulnerability to infections that might otherwise be survivable with adequate nutrition and care. Pakistan has made measurable, if slow, progress over recent decades. In 1990, the infant mortality rate was estimated at over 100 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning the rate has roughly halved in roughly 30 years. Government initiatives, international aid programs, and expanded immunization campaigns — particularly for diseases like measles, tetanus, and polio — have contributed to this decline. However, progress has lagged behind sustainable development targets, and significant investment in maternal health, clean water access, sanitation, and healthcare staffing will be necessary to accelerate further reductions in infant deaths.

Major Infectious Diseases

high

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

• Sunni Muslim77.0%
• Shia Muslim20.0%
• Christian, Hindu, and other3.0%

Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%

• Brahui
• Pashtu
• Punjabi
• Urdu

Crime Information

Crime is a serious concern for foreigners throughout Pakistan. Carjacking, armed robberies, house invasions, and other violent crimes occur in many major urban areas. These crimes have also occurred infrequently in other areas. Petty crime, especially theft of personal property, is common. U.S. citizen travelers to Pakistan are strongly advised to avoid traveling by taxi and other forms of public transportation, and have members of their host organizations or families meet them at the airport. In the past, several U.S. citizen travelers arriving at the international airport in Lahore, who were met by their families, were robbed outside the airport of cash and jewelry, after being stopped by a car with fake government license plates. Such schemes are common. Travel outside urban centers should only be undertaken during daylight hours. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates have seen a large increase in the number of U.S. citizens alleging the loss of property or financial investment due to the unfair business practices of their Pakistani partners. Don’t buy counterfeit or pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, you may be breaking local law too. Forced Marriage: The U.S. government considers the issue of forced marriage to be a violation of basic human rights and in the case of minors, a form of child abuse. Forced marriage is defined as one in which one or both parties have not consented to the marriage; it differs from arranged marriage. Often, victims of forced marriage are subjected to non-consensual sex, physical and emotional abuse, isolation, and threats of violence. International law and conventions also support an individual's right to self-determination, minimum marriage ages, and the rejection of abuse of women and honor-based violence.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Pakistan, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings, but the law on this subject is vague and applied indiscriminately. In some places, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Pakistan, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. Persons violating Pakistani laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Pakistan are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas. Please note that a consular officer might not be able to visit you for 15 working days or longer after your arrest in Pakistan. In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law.