Discover Fascinating Pakistan Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Pakistan.
Pakistan
Background
๐ Welcome to Pakistan, a land with a rich tapestry of history! Did you know that the Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5000 years? It spread across much of what we now call Pakistan! ๐ต๐ฐ๐คฉ
In the 18th century, the British took control of the region. Fast forward to 1947, when British India was split into two nations: the Muslim state of Pakistan and mostly Hindu India. This division has led to ongoing tensions, especially over the beautiful and contested Kashmir territory. ๐๏ธ
So, the history of Pakistan is not just ancient; itโs also a tale of change and challenges! ๐โจ
Age of Indus Valley Civilization
5000 years
Year of Pakistan's Independence
1947
Exports - commodities
๐ฆ Pakistan is known for its diverse range of exports! In 2022, the top commodities that Pakistan exported included:
- Garments ๐
- Fabric ๐งต
- Cotton Fabric ๐
- Rice ๐
- Refined Petroleum โฝ
These exports play an important role in Pakistan's economy, helping to bring in cash and create jobs! ๐
Top Export Commodities
Garments, Fabric, Cotton Fabric, Rice, Refined Petroleum
Exports - partners
Let's explore who Pakistan's biggest export partners are! ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฐ In 2022, the country sent its goods to a variety of places, with the following partners leading the charge:
- United States: 17% ๐ฝ
- Germany: 7% ๐ฉ๐ช
- China: 7% ๐จ๐ณ
- United Arab Emirates: 7% ๐ฆ๐ช
- United Kingdom: 6% ๐ฌ๐ง
These percentages show the share of each partner in Pakistan's total exports. It's interesting to see how these countries contribute to the economy! ๐๐
Total Share of US in Exports
17%
Total Share of Germany in Exports
7%
Total Share of China in Exports
7%
Total Share of UAE in Exports
7%
Total Share of UK in Exports
6%
Export Partners of Pakistan (2022)
Capital
๐ The capital city of Pakistan is Islamabad! This vibrant city serves as the heart of the nation and is known for its beautiful architecture and lush greenery. ๐ณ Did you know that Islamabad was built during the 1960s to replace Karachi as the capital? Itโs a well-planned city with lots of parks, museums, and cultural landmarks! ๐จ
Imports - commodities
๐ Letโs take a deeper look at what Pakistan brings into its borders! In 2022, the country's imports included various key commodities. Hereโs a list of some of the most important ones:
- Refined Petroleum ๐
- Crude Petroleum โ๏ธ
- Natural Gas ๐จ
- Palm Oil ๐ฅฅ
- Cotton ๐งต
These imports play a significant role in supporting both the economy and the everyday needs of the people in Pakistan. Each of these commodities helps to fuel industries, generate jobs, and keep the markets buzzing! ๐
Whether itโs tapping into the energy market or ensuring that farmers have the resources they need, these imports are crucial for the nationโs growth and sustainability! ๐ฑ
Climate
๐ก๏ธ Pakistan's climate is super interesting! It tends to be mostly hot and dry like a desert. ๐๏ธ In the northwest, things are a bit different, with a temperate climate that can feel quite nice. ๐ค๏ธ But if you go all the way to the north, it gets arctic! โ๏ธ Imagine experiencing such different weather all in one country!
Climate Zones
Desert, Temperate, Arctic
Executive branch
In Pakistan, the Executive branch is led by two key figures: the Chief of State and the Head of Government! ๐ต๐ฐโจ
- Chief of State: President Asif Ali ZARDARI has been in office since 10 March 2024.
- Head of Government: Prime Minister Shahbaz SHARIF has taken charge on 3 March 2024.
These leaders play a vital role in shaping the policies and governance of the country!
Current Chief of State
Asif Ali ZARDARI
Chief of State Start Date
10 March 2024
Current Head of Government
Shahbaz SHARIF
Head of Government Start Date
3 March 2024
Legislative branch
๐ต๐ฐ Pakistan has a bicameral Parliament! This means there are two houses making the laws of the country.
- Senate: This house has 96 seats. ๐๏ธ
- National Assembly: This house is bigger, with 336 seats. ๐๏ธ๐
In total, this adds up to 432 seats in the Parliament! Thatโs a lot of voices working together to shape the future of Pakistan! ๐
Total Seats in Parliament
432
Seats in the Senate
96
Seats in the National Assembly
336
Seats in the Pakistani Parliament
Natural resources
๐ Pakistan is rich in natural resources! Here are some of the key resources that the country has:
- Arable land: A vital resource for growing food! ๐พ
- Natural gas: Pakistan has extensive reserves of natural gas, making it an important energy source ๐ก.
- Petroleum: While it has limited reserves, petroleum is still a key resource for fuel โฝ.
- Coal: The country has poor quality coal, but it's still used for energy production ๐ฅ.
- Minerals: Pakistan is home to iron ore, copper, salt, and limestone, all essential for various industries! โ๏ธ
These resources help support both the economy and the daily lives of people in Pakistan!
Natural gas reserves
extensive
Petroleum reserves
limited
Coal quality
poor
Main minerals
iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Economic overview
Pakistan is a lower middle-income country in South Asia. ๐ฐ However, it faces some serious challenges! It has extremely high debt, which can be tough for its economy. ๐ Corruption is a big issue too, making it hard for the country to grow.
In recent times, there has been major currency devaluation ๐ช, meaning its money is worth less than before. Food insecurity is also a pressing problem. ๐ฝ๏ธ Prices for food are rising, and many people are struggling.
Additionally, Pakistan's agricultural sector is environmentally fragile, which means it can't always produce enough food safely. ๐ฑ And let's not forget about the regional disputes with India and Afghanistan, which make it difficult to attract investment in the country. ๐
Economic Classification
Lower middle-income
Debt Situation
Extremely high
Corruption Level
Endemic
Currency Status
Major devaluation
Food Security Status
Major food insecurity
Inflation Issue
High
Agricultural Sector
Environmentally fragile
Regional Disputes Impacting Investment
With India and Afghanistan
Government type
Did you know that Pakistan has a federal parliamentary republic as its government type? ๐๏ธ This means that the country has a system where power is divided between a central government and smaller political units, like provinces. The parliament plays a significant role in making laws and decisions! ๐๐ต๐ฐ
Ethnic groups
Let's explore the rich tapestry of ethnic groups in Pakistan! ๐
Pakistan is home to a variety of ethnicities, with Punjabis representing the largest group at 44.7% of the population! Next up are the Pashtuns (Pathans), making up 15.4%. The Sindhis follow closely at 14.1%. Other significant groups include the Saraikis at 8.4%, Muhajirs at 7.6%, and Baloch at 3.6%. Lastly, thereโs a collection of other ethnicities that together account for 6.3%. ๐ฅณ
This diversity showcases the cultural richness of Pakistan, with each ethnic group contributing to the country's unique identity! ๐
Percentage of Punjabis
44.7%
Percentage of Pashtuns
15.4%
Percentage of Sindhis
14.1%
Percentage of Saraikis
8.4%
Percentage of Muhajirs
7.6%
Percentage of Baloch
3.6%
Percentage of Other Ethnicities
6.3%
Ethnic Composition of Pakistan
Religions
๐ Religions in Pakistan: Let's take a closer look at the religious landscape in Pakistan! ๐ The striking fact is that a whopping 96.5% of the population identifies as Muslim. Within this group, the major denominations are Sunni (making up about 85-90%) and Shia (making up about 10-15%). ๐ Meanwhile, 3.5% of the population practices other religions, which include Christianity and Hinduism. This rich tapestry of faiths paints a vivid picture of the country's cultural diversity! ๐
Percentage of Muslim Population
96.5%
Percentage of Sunni Muslims
85-90%
Percentage of Shia Muslims
10-15%
Percentage practicing other religions
3.5%
Religious Distribution in Pakistan (2020)
Languages
In Pakistan, languages are a vibrant part of culture ๐ฃ๏ธ! Hereโs how the different languages are spoken across the country:
- Punjabi: 38.8% ๐ฅ
- Pashto: 18.2% ๐ฅ
- Sindhi: 14.6% ๐ฅ
- Saraiki: 12.2%
- Urdu: 7.1%
- Balochi: 3%
- Hindko: 2.4%
- Brahui: 1.2%
- Other Languages: 2.4%
This shows a beautiful tapestry of languages that people in Pakistan speak every day! ๐๐ฌ
Percentage of Punjabi speakers
38.8%
Percentage of Pashto speakers
18.2%
Percentage of Sindhi speakers
14.6%
Percentage of Saraiki speakers
12.2%
Percentage of Urdu speakers
7.1%
Percentage of Balochi speakers
3%
Percentage of Hindko speakers
2.4%
Percentage of Brahui speakers
1.2%
Percentage of speakers of other languages
2.4%
Language Distribution in Pakistan
Imports - partners
๐ Let's take a closer look at Pakistan's import partners! In 2022, these countries played a massive role in providing goods and services to Pakistan. Here's how the pie chart breaks down:
- China: 28% ๐จ๐ณ
- UAE: 8% ๐ฆ๐ช
- Indonesia: 6% ๐ฎ๐ฉ
- Saudi Arabia: 6% ๐ธ๐ฆ
- Kuwait: 5% ๐ฐ๐ผ
Each percentage shows how much of Pakistan's imports come from each country, with China leading the way! ๐
Total Import Partners
5
Highest Import Partner
China at 28%
Pakistan's Import Partners in 2022
Population
๐ Pakistan is home to a whopping 252,363,571 people! That's a vast number of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions coming together in one vibrant nation. Just imagine all the stories and experiences packed into that large population! ๐
Total Population of Pakistan
252,363,571
Area
๐ Let's take a closer look at the amazing area of Pakistan! The total area of this beautiful country is 796,095 sq km! ๐บ๏ธ Out of this, most of the land is comprised of 770,875 sq km! But don't forget the stunning water bodies, which cover 25,220 sq km! Whether it's land or water, Pakistan surely has a lot of space to explore! ๐๐๏ธ
Total Area
796095 sq km
Land Area
770875 sq km
Water Area
25220 sq km
Area Distribution in Pakistan
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ต Real GDP in Pakistan has been growing steadily over the past few years! Here's a closer look at the numbers:
- In 2021, Pakistan's Real GDP was 1.285 trillion USD.
- By 2022, it held steady at 1.347 trillion USD.
- And in 2023, it maintained that same value of 1.347 trillion USD as well!
This shows a stable economic environment in recent years! ๐โจ
Real GDP in 2021
1.285 trillion USD
Real GDP in 2022
1.347 trillion USD
Real GDP in 2023
1.347 trillion USD
Real GDP (PPP) Over Time in Pakistan
Real GDP per capita
๐ Let's dive into the economy of Pakistan! The Real GDP per capita is a way to understand how well people are doing financially in a country. Here's a look at Pakistan's GDP per capita over the last few years:
- In 2021, it was $5,600.
- In 2022, it increased slightly to $5,700.
- In 2023, it dropped back to $5,600.
This tells us how the average income of people in Pakistan has changed recently! ๐ฐ
Real GDP per capita in Pakistan (2021 - 2023)
Imports
๐ Let's take a closer look at the imports of Pakistan over the last few years! ๐ In 2023, Pakistan's imports were estimated to be worth $57.806 billion. This was a decrease compared to $76.594 billion in 2022 and $76.514 billion in 2021.
This downward trend might be something to keep an eye on! ๐
2023 Imports Estimate
$57.806 billion
2022 Imports Estimate
$76.594 billion
2021 Imports Estimate
$76.514 billion
Pakistan Imports Over Time
Exports
๐ Exports of Pakistan are an essential part of the economy! Here are the estimated export values over the last three years:
- 2021: $35.612 billion
- 2022: $38.967 billion
- 2023: $36.442 billion
You can see the ups and downs of the exports like a roller coaster! ๐ข Let's explore this data further in a chart!
Total Exports (2021-2023)
$110.021 billion
Highest Export Year
2022 ($38.967 billion)
Lowest Export Year
2021 ($35.612 billion)
Exports of Pakistan Over Time
Population growth rate
๐ Did you know that Pakistan's population growth rate is 1.86%? This means that the number of people living in Pakistan is steadily increasing! ๐ Every percentage point counts when it comes to understanding how fast a country is growing. Let's think about what this means for the future! ๐ค
Current Population Growth Rate
1.86%