Population in largest city in Pakistan
Pakistan: Population in largest city was 18.08 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
18.08 million
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
9th
of 153 countries
All-time high
18.08 million
in 2025
All-time low
1.85 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Pakistan, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 18.08 million for population in largest city in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.4% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Pakistan peaked at 18.08 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.85 million, in 1960.
Pakistan ranks 9th of 153 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.85 million | — |
| 1961 | 1.95 million | +5.4% |
| 1962 | 2.06 million | +5.3% |
| 1963 | 2.17 million | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 2.28 million | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 2.41 million | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 2.53 million | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 2.67 million | +5.3% |
| 1968 | 2.81 million | +5.3% |
| 1969 | 2.96 million | +5.3% |
| 1970 | 3.12 million | +5.3% |
| 1971 | 3.29 million | +5.3% |
| 1972 | 3.46 million | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 3.63 million | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 3.81 million | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 3.99 million | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 4.18 million | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 4.38 million | +4.8% |
| 1978 | 4.59 million | +4.8% |
| 1979 | 4.82 million | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 5.05 million | +4.8% |
| 1981 | 5.27 million | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 5.45 million | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 5.64 million | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 5.83 million | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 6.03 million | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 6.24 million | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 6.46 million | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 6.68 million | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 6.91 million | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 7.15 million | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 7.39 million | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 7.65 million | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 7.91 million | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 8.19 million | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 8.47 million | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 8.76 million | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 9.06 million | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 9.35 million | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 9.58 million | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 9.83 million | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 10.07 million | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 10.33 million | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 10.59 million | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 10.86 million | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 11.13 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 11.41 million | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 11.70 million | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 12.00 million | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 12.30 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 12.61 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 12.93 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 13.26 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 13.59 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 13.94 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 14.29 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 14.65 million | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 15.02 million | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 15.40 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 15.74 million | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 16.09 million | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 16.46 million | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 16.84 million | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 17.24 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 17.65 million | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 18.08 million | +2.4% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 18.08 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 6.9× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 18.08 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.05 million, 5.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.37 million | 1.85 million | 2.96 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.93 million | 3.12 million | 4.82 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.95 million | 5.05 million | 6.91 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.35 million | 7.15 million | 9.58 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.02 million | 9.83 million | 12.30 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.14 million | 12.61 million | 15.74 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.06 million | 16.09 million | 18.08 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More urban development data for Pakistan
- Population in the largest city 17.9% (2025)
- Population density 321.07 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2008 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 51.25 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 63.14 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 9.2 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 354.81 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Pakistan?
- Population in largest city in Pakistan was 18.08 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 18.08 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.85 million in 1960.
- How does Pakistan rank for population in largest city?
- Pakistan ranks 9th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.