Discover Fascinating Pakistan Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Pakistan.

Pakistan

Background

๐ŸŒ 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! ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿคฉ

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. ๐Ÿž๏ธ

So, the history of Pakistan is not just ancient; itโ€™s also a tale of change and challenges! ๐Ÿ“œโœจ

Age of Indus Valley Civilization

5000 years

Year of Pakistan's Independence

1947

Exports - commodities

๐Ÿ“ฆ Pakistan is known for its diverse range of exports! In 2022, the top commodities that Pakistan exported included:

  • Garments ๐Ÿ‘—
  • Fabric ๐Ÿงต
  • Cotton Fabric ๐Ÿ‘•
  • Rice ๐Ÿš
  • Refined Petroleum โ›ฝ

These exports play an important role in Pakistan's economy, helping to bring in cash and create jobs! ๐ŸŒŸ

Top Export Commodities

Garments, Fabric, Cotton Fabric, Rice, Refined Petroleum

Exports - partners

Let's explore who Pakistan's biggest export partners are! ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ In 2022, the country sent its goods to a variety of places, with the following partners leading the charge:

  • United States: 17% ๐Ÿ—ฝ
  • Germany: 7% ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • China: 7% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • United Arab Emirates: 7% ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • United Kingdom: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง

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! ๐Ÿ“Š๐ŸŽ‰

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

๐ŸŒ 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. ๐ŸŒณ Did you know that Islamabad was built during the 1960s to replace Karachi as the capital? Itโ€™s a well-planned city with lots of parks, museums, and cultural landmarks! ๐ŸŽจ

Imports - commodities

๐ŸŒ Letโ€™s take a deeper look at what Pakistan brings into its borders! In 2022, the country's imports included various key commodities. Hereโ€™s a list of some of the most important ones:

  • Refined Petroleum ๐Ÿš—
  • Crude Petroleum โš’๏ธ
  • Natural Gas ๐Ÿ’จ
  • Palm Oil ๐Ÿฅฅ
  • Cotton ๐Ÿงต

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! ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Whether itโ€™s tapping into the energy market or ensuring that farmers have the resources they need, these imports are crucial for the nationโ€™s growth and sustainability! ๐ŸŒฑ

Climate

๐ŸŒก๏ธ Pakistan's climate is super interesting! It tends to be mostly hot and dry like a desert. ๐Ÿœ๏ธ In the northwest, things are a bit different, with a temperate climate that can feel quite nice. ๐ŸŒค๏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! ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐโœจ

  • 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

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ Pakistan has a bicameral Parliament! This means there are two houses making the laws of the country.

  1. Senate: This house has 96 seats. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ
  2. National Assembly: This house is bigger, with 336 seats. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ๐Ÿ”Š

In total, this adds up to 432 seats in the Parliament! Thatโ€™s a lot of voices working together to shape the future of Pakistan! ๐ŸŒŸ

Total Seats in Parliament

432

Seats in the Senate

96

Seats in the National Assembly

336

Seats in the Pakistani Parliament

Natural resources

๐ŸŒ 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! ๐ŸŒพ
  • Natural gas: Pakistan has extensive reserves of natural gas, making it an important energy source ๐Ÿ’ก.
  • Petroleum: While it has limited reserves, petroleum is still a key resource for fuel โ›ฝ.
  • Coal: The country has poor quality coal, but it's still used for energy production ๐Ÿ”ฅ.
  • Minerals: Pakistan is home to iron ore, copper, salt, and limestone, all essential for various industries! โš’๏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. ๐Ÿ’ฐ However, it faces some serious challenges! It has extremely high debt, which can be tough for its economy. ๐Ÿ’” Corruption is a big issue too, making it hard for the country to grow.

In recent times, there has been major currency devaluation ๐Ÿช™, meaning its money is worth less than before. Food insecurity is also a pressing problem. ๐Ÿฝ๏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. ๐ŸŒฑ And let's not forget about the regional disputes with India and Afghanistan, which make it difficult to attract investment in the country. ๐ŸŒ

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? ๐Ÿ›๏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! ๐Ÿ“œ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ

Ethnic groups

Let's explore the rich tapestry of ethnic groups in Pakistan! ๐ŸŒ

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, thereโ€™s a collection of other ethnicities that together account for 6.3%. ๐Ÿฅณ

This diversity showcases the cultural richness of Pakistan, with each ethnic group contributing to the country's unique identity! ๐ŸŽ‰

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

๐ŸŒ Religions in Pakistan: Let's take a closer look at the religious landscape in Pakistan! ๐Ÿ•Œ 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%). ๐ŸŒ™ 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! ๐ŸŽ‰

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 ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ! Hereโ€™s how the different languages are spoken across the country:

  • Punjabi: 38.8% ๐Ÿฅ‡
  • Pashto: 18.2% ๐Ÿฅˆ
  • Sindhi: 14.6% ๐Ÿฅ‰
  • 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! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ฌ

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

๐ŸŒ 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% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • UAE: 8% ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Indonesia: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ
  • Saudi Arabia: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
  • Kuwait: 5% ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ

Each percentage shows how much of Pakistan's imports come from each country, with China leading the way! ๐Ÿ“Š

Total Import Partners

5

Highest Import Partner

China at 28%

Pakistan's Import Partners in 2022

Population

๐ŸŒ 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! ๐ŸŒˆ

Total Population of Pakistan

252,363,571

Area

๐ŸŒ Let's take a closer look at the amazing area of Pakistan! The total area of this beautiful country is 796,095 sq km! ๐Ÿ—บ๏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! ๐ŸŒŠ๐Ÿž๏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)

๐Ÿ’ต 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! ๐Ÿ“ˆโœจ

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

๐Ÿ“ˆ 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! ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Real GDP per capita in Pakistan (2021 - 2023)

Imports

๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's take a closer look at the imports of Pakistan over the last few years! ๐ŸŒ 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! ๐Ÿ“‰

2023 Imports Estimate

$57.806 billion

2022 Imports Estimate

$76.594 billion

2021 Imports Estimate

$76.514 billion

Pakistan Imports Over Time

Exports

๐ŸŒ 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! ๐ŸŽข 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

๐ŸŒ 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! ๐Ÿ“ˆ 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! ๐Ÿค”

Current Population Growth Rate

1.86%