country statistical
profile no.3
country statistical
profile no.3
september 2008
september 2008
pakistan
Statistical Profile
Compiled by Farooq Pasha
introduction to the islamic republic of pakistan
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan declared its independence from Great Britain on August
14, 1947. At that time Pakistan was comprised of the Muslim-majority provinces of Baluchistan, East Bengal, North West Frontier Province, West Punjab and Sind. The modern
state of Pakistan occupies an area of 340,403 square miles (881,640 square kilometers)1 ,
bordering the countries of Afghanistan, China, India and Iran. Pakistan is home to one of
the oldest civilization of the Indus Valley with a long, rich cultural history dating back to
pre-historic times. The latest estimates of Pakistani population are in the neighborhood
of 173 million 2, making it the sixth most populous nation of the world. Islam is the most
prevalent religion with 97% 3 of the population belonging to one of the two main sects of
Islam – Sunni (77%) and Shia (20%).
About this Statistical Profile Organizations striving to be employers-of-choice in different countries
around the world need access to current information about the economic, social, political, and demographic
characteristics of the countries where
their employees live and work.
The Country Profile Series focuses
on statistics that can guide decisionmaking at the workplace: workforce
highlights, economic highlights, and
population highlights. This Country
Profile is part of a set of resources
about Pakistan available on the
website of the Global Perspectives
Institute: www.bc.edu/agingandwork.
At the time of its independence Pakistan was a very poor and predominantly agricultural
country. Over the last 60 years the Pakistani economy has shifted from agricultural to industrial and service sectors; in 1947 approximately one half of the total GDP was accounted
for by the agricultural sector, while in 2005 agriculture accounted for one fifth of the total
GDP4. Following the tumultuous 1990’s – a decade marred by economic policy mismanagement, mixed levels of foreign investment, and political instability – the Pakistani economy
has been in recovery. In 2005, the World Bank named Pakistan the top macroeconomic
reformer in its region and within the top 10 macroeconomic reformers globally5.
Since 2004 Pakistan has averaged GDP growth rates of between 6-8%. However, inflation
remains one of the biggest threats to the economy, jumping to more than 9% in 2005 before easing to 7.9% in 20066. Pakistan has been doing well in reducing its poverty rate but
still more work needs to be done. Pakistan is a member of the World Trade Organization
and has bilateral and multilateral trade agreements with many nations such as China and
various international organizations. Pakistan is a founding member of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Sponsored by:
agework@bc.edu
1
labor force highlights
àà 57% of the total Pakistani population is in the labor force, where in Pakistan labor
force includes persons age 10 and above.7
àà Economically active population in Pakistan is projected to increase from 62 million
in 2007 to 93 million in 2020.8
àà The “economically active population” comprises all persons of either sex who furnish
the supply of labor for the production of goods and services during a specified timereference period.
àà The un-employed rate at the end of the labor force survey 2005-06 was 5%.7
àà In 2005, 71.9% of Pakistani employees reported to have worked 40 hours or more
in a given week.7
àà In 2005, 8.4% of Pakistani employees worked less than 25 hours in a given week.7
àà 34.9% of the total civilian employed labor force reported being self-employed in
2005.7
àà 35% of the Pakistani population is employed, compared to 44% in Bangladesh and
38% in India.9 (see figure 1a)
àà Pakistan has one of the lowest rates of employment for women in this age group
compared to other South Asian Countries (see figure 2)
àà In 2007, the employment rate for people age 50-54 was lowest in Pakistan (66.6%)
and highest in Bangladesh (75.2%).8 (see figure 4 for comparisons the employment
rates for each age group in Pakistan with India and Bangladesh)
figure 1a. Employed as a percent of Total Population, selected South Asian Countries, 2006
44
Bangladesh
41
40
Bhutan
Maldives
39
Sri Lanka
38
37
India
Iran
36
Nepal
35
Pakistan
34
Turkey
Afghanistan
0%
31
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Source:United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
2
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
figure 1b. Employed as a percent of Total Population, selected Low GNI Countries, 2006
september 2008
42
Mongolia
Solomon Islands
39
India
38
35
Pakistan
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Source: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
figure 2. Employment Rates, Age 15-64 by Gender: Pakistan and comparable South Asian
Nations, 2006
100%
82
81
78
75
80%
60%
34
40%
72
72
43
34
70
61
49
43
30
67
68
31
33
25
32
20%
a
di
In
n
Ira
al
Sr
iL
an
ka
M
al
di
ve
s
Tu
rk
ey
ep
ut
Bh
N
an
n
ta
Pa
kis
ist
an
gh
ng
la
de
sh
an
0%
Ba
Figure 1b compares the rate of
employment as a percent of total
population in Pakistan with other
countries with low gross national incomes. The employment rates of the
countries included range from 35%
in Pakistan to 52% in Vietnam.
52
Vietnam
Af
country statistical
profile no.3
Men
Women
Source: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
figure 3. Employment Rates in Pakistan, within age group, 2005-06
80%
67.4
70%
61.6
60%
70.8
72.7 74.1
74.0
69.3
64.4
54.0
45.3
50%
40%
30%
20%
31.0
19.4
10%
0%
10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64
65+
Source: Federal Bureau of Statistics Pakistan
agework@bc.edu
3
figure 4. Employment Rates in Pakistan compared to selected South Asian Countries, within age group, 2007
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65+
Bangladesh
Pakistan
India
Source: International Labor Organization
figure 5a. Current and Projected Economically Active Population Estimates and Projections in Pakistan, within age group, 2007 and 2020
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
71
70
76
72 75
73
78
71
77
69
75
67
60
72
62 63
51 50
38 38
15-19
32 31
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65+
Source: International
Organization
2007 Labor 2020
figure 5b. Current and Projected Percentage of Total Population Economically Active in
Pakistan, 2007 and 2020
2020 Female
3.3
2020 Male
4.0
2007 Female
3.6
2007 Male
4.3
0%
30.4
24.6
31.8
24.0
38.1
27.1
40.3
10%
20%
Under 20
28.0
30%
40%
20 - 44
50%
60%
70%
45 and up
Source: International Labor Organization
4
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
80%
Figure 5a, compares the 2007 employment rates for the different age
groups in Pakistan with the projected
rates for 2020.9 Figure 5b compares
these same rates between genders.
country statistical
profile no.3
september 2008
economic highlights
àà Gross Domestic Product per capita in Pakistan was $716, while it was $739 for India
and $461 for Bangladesh.9
àà The gross domestic product of Pakistan shrunk by 0.1% in 1997. Gross Domestic
Product growth, stayed above 1.9% before and after 1997. Growth rate peaked in
2004 at 8.3%, and was 6.2% in 2006.10
figure 6. GDP Growth, Pakistan and India, 1990 -2006
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
-2%
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Pakistan
India
Source: International Monetary Fund
figure 7. Total External Debt as percentage of GDP, selected South Asian Countries,
1990-2006
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Sri Lanka
Nepal
Maldives
Pakistan
Bangladesh
India
Source: World Bank
agework@bc.edu
5
demographic highlights
àà In 2007, the Pakistani population was 160,943,000, compared to 1,151,751,000 for
India and 155,991,000 for Bangladesh.9
àà The median age of the Pakistani population in 2007 was 21.2 years, 21 years for men
and 21.4 for women.7 (See figure 7)
àà The life expectancy at birth for the Pakistani population in 2005 was 64 years for
men and 65 years for women.12 (See figure 8)
àà Total Fertility rate, indicates the number of children to be born to a woman during
her reproductive span of her life. According to Pakistan Demographic Survey of
2005, total fertility rate for Pakistani women is 3.8 children per woman.13
figure 8. Median Age, selected South Asian countries, 2007
22.9
Female
25.5
21.4
Bangladesh
22.8
Male
24.7
India
21
Pakistan
22.8
Total
25.1
21.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
Source: The World Factbook 2007
figure 9. Life Expectancy at birth, selected South Asian Countries, 2005
63
Male
63
64
Bangladesh
India
65
Female
Pakistan
64
65
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Source: Asian Development Bank
6
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
country statistical
profile no.3
september 2008
àà In Pakistan, 6.0% of the male population and 4.6% of the female population is 60
or older.13 In comparison:
In India, 7.0% of the male population and 7.7% of the female population is 60 or older.14
In Bangladesh, 6.6% of the male population and 5.6% of the female population is 60 or older.15
àà In Pakistan, there is a bulge in the population under 25 years. Bangladesh and India
show similar dynamics for the younger population but Bangladesh has a bulge in
female population for some age groups. (See figures 10a-10c)
figure 10a.Population Distribution of Pakistan, 2005-06
Male
Female
65+
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
5%
0%
10%
15%
20%
% of Population
Source: Federal Bureau of Statistics
figure 10b. Population Distribution by age of India, 2005-06
Male
Female
60+
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
10%
8%
6%
4%
0%
2%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
% of Population
Source: National Sample Survey Organization India
agework@bc.edu
7
figure 10c. Population Distribution by age in Bangladesh, 2004
Male
Female
65+
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
15%
12%
9%
6%
3%
0
0%
0%
3%
6%
9%
% of Population
Source: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
8
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
12%
15%
country statistical
profile no.3
september 2008
about the institute
Established in 2007 by the Center on Aging & Work, the Global Perspectives Institute is an
international collaboration of scholars and employers committed to the expansion of the
quality of employment available to the 21st century multi-generational workforce in countries around the world.
Global Research Team &
Research Affiliates
The Global Perspectives Institute focuses on innovative and promising practices that might
be adopted by employers and policy-makers.
Armenia: Shoghik Hovhannisyan
The Institute’s research, publications, and international forums contribute to:
Australia: Libby Brooke, Phil Taylor
China: Ce Shen, Qingwen Xu
France: Emilie Bargues, Étienne
Campens, Mélanie Burlet, Ariane OllierMalaterre, Julien Pelletier,
Phillippe Trouvé
Israel: Michelle Mor Barak
Italy: Louisa Diana Brunner, Simona
Cuomo, Chiara Paolina
àà a deeper understanding of the employment experiences and career aspirations of
employees of different ages who work in countries around the world;
àà informed decision making by employers who want to be employers-of-choice in
different countries; and
àà innovative thinking about private-public partnerships that promote sustainable,
quality employment.
Japan: Masa Higo, Noriko Kameda,
Atsuhiro Yamada
S. Korea: Min Jung, Jungui Lee, Othelia
Lee, Patricia Yu
Pakistan: Farooq Pasha
Russia/US: Natasha Sarkasian
Uruguay: Celina Pagani-Tousignant
UK: Richard Croucher, Matt Flynn, Suzan
Lewis, Emma Parry
US: Janet Gornick, Ariane Hegewisch,
Kathy Lynch, Tay McNamara, Marcie PittCatsouphes, Chantel Sheaks,
Martin Tracy
Farooq Pasha is currently a doctoral student in Economics at Boston College. A native of Pakistan, he is
also presently working as a Research Affiliate with the Sloan Center on Aging & Work, where he is helping to
develop the Global Context Study.
The Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College was founded in 2005 with a multi-million dollar grant
from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The Center partners with workplace decision-makers in evidence-based
research on employer and employee responses to the increasingly global multi-generational workforce.
These collaborations focus on quality of employment with the aim to inform employers with research data
to attract, engage and retain high quality industry talent. As of 2008, the Center has three research streams
– the US National Initiatives, the State Initiatives and the Global Initiatives. Their collective mission is to
gather information and collaborate with leaders in the public, non-profit and business sectors in an effort
to leverage today’s multi-generational workforce and globalization as competitive advantages in the 21st
century economy.
agework@bc.edu
9
references
1 CIA World Fact book 2006 retrieved on 11/03/2006
2 Population Reference Bureau: 2008 Datasheet
3 “Population by Religion”, Population Census Organization, Government of Pakistan retrieved on 02/13/2008
4 Economic Survey of Pakistan 2005
5 Pakistan among Top Ten Reformers (September 12, 2005), retrieved on 09/05/2008
(http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,contentMDK:20643510~
menuPK:158937~pagePK:146736~piPK:146830~theSitePK:223547,00.html)
6 Economic Data – Trend in Price Inflation (State Bank of Pakistan)
7 Federal Bureau of Statistics Pakistan, “Labor Force Survey 2005-06”,
(http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/index.html)
8 International Labor Organization, “ILO Estimates and Projections of the Economically Active Population
(1980-2020)”, (http://laborsta.ilo.org/)
9 United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, “Statistical Yearbook for Asia and
the Pacific 2007”, (http://www.unescap.org/stat/data/syb2007/index.asp)
10 World Bank, “World Development Indicators Online Database”, (http://www.worldbank.org/)
11 Central Intelligence Agency, United States of America, “The World Fact book 2007”, (http://www.cia.gov/
library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html)
12 Asian Development Bank, “Key Indicators of Developing Asian and Pacific Countries 2007”, (http://www.adb.
org/Statistics/ki.asp)
13 Federal Bureau of Statistics Pakistan, “Pakistan Demographic Survey 2005”, (http://www.statpak.gov.pk/
depts/fbs/statistics/pds2005/pds2005.html)
14 National Sample Survey Organization, “Employment and Unemployment Situation in India 2005-06”, (http://
mospi.nic.in/welcome.asp)
15 Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, “Bangladesh Data Sheet” uploaded on July 11, 2007, (http://www.bbs.gov.bd/)
For all of the Sloan Centers’ Publications, visit our website at www.bc.edu/agingandwork
Global Statistical Profile
Global Statistical Profile 01 - Japan
10
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork