The population of the country will increase to nearly 190 million by 2015, to over 220 million by 2020 and to almost 275 million by 2050, as Pakistan retains its position as the sixth most populous country in the world.
According to “Situation Analysis” of women and children in Pakistan jointly released by the Planning Commission of Pakistan and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the current fertility rate was about 3.2 percent in the country and the population was growing at a rate estimated by some sources to be 1.57 percent a year.
The analysis revealed that at present two-thirds of Pakistanis were under the age of 30 years, adding that only one other country, Yemen, had more citizens under the age of 24.
One in three Pakistanis had been estimated to be 14-year-old or younger, which meant that the country’s population would remain youthful for decades to come.
The analysis further stated that a number of young people in the age bracket of 15 to 24 years would swell by 20 percent by 2020, and under 24 years population would be in majority by 2030. Furthermore, as late as 2050, the medium age was still expected to be only 33 years.
Pakistan being one of the fastest urbanizing countries in South Asia, the “Situation Analysis” indicated that at least half of the population would live in cities till 2020. And by 2030 the urban population of the country which was currently 35 percent of the total was expected to have increased by 140 million.
Due to the demographic transition, the analysis mentioned that Pakistan have moved from a high-fertility and high-mortality phase to one of low fertility and low mortality. This had brought about major changes in the age distribution of the population in the country.
The analysis reviewed that if jobs could be found for most of the new entrants into the labour force, the economy and society benefit would show positive trends, and if they did not become economically active, the economy would face a huge challenge of finding ways to provide gainful employment to those falling in the working age.
Pakistan’s population to increase to 190 million by 2015: report
