A report by the United Nations has highlighted significant demographic changes for Pakistan, projecting a substantial population increase over the coming decades, ARY News reported.

According to the UN’s World Population Prospects 2024 report, Pakistan’s population, currently over 24.5 crores, is expected to continue growing until 2054, potentially peaking at 40.47 crores by the year 2092.

The report indicates that Pakistan’s population will surpass Indonesia’s by 2048, reaching 33.13 crores at that time. Between 1998 and 2017, Pakistan experienced an average annual population growth rate of 2.40 per cent. For a population exceeding 22 crores, this growth rate translates to an increase of approximately 52.8 lakhs per year.

Pakistan’s high birth rate, which stands at 22 births per 1,000 people, contributes significantly to its population growth. The report points out, “Very few women use any type of birth control in Pakistan, and the surging population can put too much pressure on water and sanitation systems, result in millions of unemployed people, and overwhelm health and education systems.”

Since gaining sovereignty in 1947, Pakistan’s population has increased markedly. This growth is partly due to the influx of people who moved their families and businesses to the area, feeling more comfortable settling in the newly established country. Compared to other nations in the region, Pakistan’s growth rate is about 2.1 per cent higher.

Globally, the report states that the world population reached nearly 820 crores by mid-2024 and is expected to grow by another 200 crores over the next 60 years, peaking at around 1,030 crores in the mid-2080s. It is then expected to decline to approximately 1,020 crores, which is 70 crores lower than projections made a decade ago.

These findings were presented in a report published by the UN on July 11, World Population Day.