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Pakistan Studies · Class 10 · Chapter 7: The Population of Pakistan

8 min

Key points

Pakistan's population is approximately 220 million, making it the 5th most populous country in the world
Population distribution is uneven — Punjab has 53% of total population, followed by Sindh (23%), KPK (13%), and Balochistan (5%)
Population density in Pakistan is 287 persons per square kilometer
Annual population growth rate is 2.4%, which is considered high compared to developed countries
Rural population constitutes 63% while urban population is 37% of total population
Major cities include Karachi (16 million), Lahore (11 million), Faisalabad (3.2 million), and Rawalpindi (2.1 million)
Population pyramid shows a broad base indicating high birth rate and large proportion of young people
Life expectancy in Pakistan is 67 years for males and 69 years for females
Literacy rate is 60% with male literacy at 71% and female literacy at 48%

Definitions

Population: The total number of people living in a particular area at a given time
Population Density: The average number of people living per unit area, usually calculated per square kilometer
Population Distribution: The way in which people are spread across the earth's surface
Birth Rate: The number of live births per thousand people in one year
Death Rate: The number of deaths per thousand people in one year

Worked example

Define population density and explain three factors that affect population distribution in Pakistan. (6 marks)

Population density is the average number of people living per square kilometer in a given area. Three factors affecting population distribution in Pakistan are: (1) Physical factors - fertile plains of Punjab and Sindh support dense population due to availability of water and agricultural land, while mountainous areas of northern Pakistan have sparse population. (2) Economic factors - industrial cities like Karachi and Lahore attract large populations due to employment opportunities. (3) Climatic factors - areas with moderate climate and adequate rainfall like northern Punjab have higher population concentration compared to arid regions of Balochistan.

Common mistakes

Students confuse population density with population distribution
Writing incorrect population figures for provinces — memorize Punjab 53%, Sindh 23%
Forgetting to write units when calculating population density (persons per km²)
Mixing up birth rate and death rate definitions
Not mentioning both physical and human factors when discussing population distribution

Quick recap

Pakistan's population exceeds 220 million with high growth rate of 2.4% annually. Population density varies greatly - highest in Punjab plains, lowest in Balochistan mountains. Major demographic challenges include high birth rate, declining death rate, and uneven distribution. Census data shows rapid urbanization with Karachi being largest city.

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