Census results show 59.7pc growth in Karachi's population, 116pc in Lahore's since 1998

Published August 28, 2017
Karachi, which retains its title as Pakistan's largest city, is now home to 14.9m people. Photo: File
Karachi, which retains its title as Pakistan's largest city, is now home to 14.9m people. Photo: File

Census data on the populations of the largest cities in Pakistan shows explosive growth in urban centres since the last census, which was conducted nearly two decades ago.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics' data, the two biggest population centres, Karachi and Lahore, have seen some staggering growth since 1998: with Karachi's population growing close to 60pc to reach 14.91 million, while Lahore's population more than doubled to 11.13m from 5.14m nearly two decades earlier.

The populations of the other provincial capitals, Quetta and Peshawar, have respectively grown 77.2pc and 100pc to 1m and 1.97m from 565,137 and 982,816 a decade ago.

The data is likely to cast fresh light on rural-urban migration trends, as these four cities seem to have retained their status as regional hubs for people looking for better opportunities.

According to the listing, of the 10 largest cities in the country by population, seven had populations lower than 2m while three had a population below 1m in 1998. In 2017, none of the ten cities has a population less than 1m, while half of the cities now have populations north of 2m.

The ranking of the cities, according to population, is as follows:

  1. Karachi (14.9m)

  2. Lahore (11.1m)

  3. Faisalabad (3.2m)

  4. Rawalpindi (2.1m)

  5. Gujranwala (2m)

  6. Peshawar (2m)

  7. Multan (1.9m)

  8. Hyderabad (1.7m)

  9. Islamabad (1m)

  10. Quetta (1m)

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...