The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics has presented a provisional census report showing the country’s current population at 207.7 million against 132 million that was estimated in the last census in 1998.
The census report was presented during the Council of Common Interest meeting today.
The statistics show that the population of the country is at 2.7% annual growth rate over a period of 1998-2017.
Province wise breakdown shows that Punjab leads in terms of populace with 110 million, Sindh 47.8 million, Khyber Pakhtonkhwa 30.5 million, Balochistan 12.3 million, Fata 2.4 million and Islamabad Capital Territory 2 million.
Below is the further breakdown in terms of gender, sex ration and increase in average annual growth from 1998 to 2017.
The first census in the country was conducted in 1951, followed by second in 1961, third in 1972, instead of 1971 due to political turmoil, and the fourth in 1981.
The fifth census, which was due in 1991, was held in March 1998. The army assisted the authorities in conducting the last census 19 years ago.
Fast-growing Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, had not held a census since 1998 due to years of bickering between politicians.
The count could redraw the political map as the country gears up for a national election next year — a prospect that has raised fears over power bases and federal funding.
At the time census was launched, it was stated that the people who will provide wrong information to the enumerators will face six-month jail term and Rs. 50,000 fine over the breach of the census rules.
Each enumerator was given the map of his or her area for the census. The houses having more than one family were counted on the basis of separate kitchens.
