Pakistan's population is set to surge to over 225 million by 2026, making it the world's fifth most populous country, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This significant growth highlights the urgent need to address rapid population expansion, high fertility rates, and persistent gender inequality. While the population boom presents an opportunity for sustainable and inclusive development, it also puts immense pressure on health, education, employment, and social protection systems across the country.
The UNFPA emphasizes that population growth should not be viewed as a burden, but as a strategic asset if effectively managed. However, the agency also warns of significant challenges, including high maternal mortality, unmet needs for family planning, early marriages, gender-based violence, and unequal access to quality reproductive health services, particularly in remote areas. These issues are closely linked to stalled fertility decline and uneven development outcomes, underscoring the need for strong political commitment, robust population data, and evidence-based planning.
Looking ahead, the UNFPA urges a shift in national planning and public financing, particularly in the National Finance Commission (NFC) award formula. Instead of using population size as the sole determinant for resource allocation, the agency proposes a forward-looking approach that rewards provinces for measurable progress in gender equality, climate resilience, balanced population outcomes, and improvements in the quality of health and education services. Such reforms, the UNFPA says, would better align fiscal incentives with human development outcomes, encourage innovation, strengthen accountability, and translate population policies into tangible benefits for communities nationwide.
The top most populous countries in the world include India with over 1.4 billion, China with over 1.4 billion, the United States with around 347-340 million, and Indonesia with around 285-284 million. Pakistan's population is projected to surpass 255 million, making it the fifth most populous country in the world.
