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Theofficial religion ofPakistan isIslam,[2] as enshrined by Article 2 of theConstitution,[3] and is practised by an overwhelming majority of 96.35% of the country's population. The remaining 3.65% practiceHinduism,Christianity,Ahmadiyya (considered a non-Muslim group as per the Pakistani constitution[4]),Sikhism,Zoroastrianism and other religions.[1]
Muslims comprise a number ofsects: the majority practiceSunni Islam (estimated at 85-90%), while a minority practiceShia Islam (estimated at 10-15%).[5][6][7] Most Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to theHanafi school of jurisprudence,[2] which is represented by theBarelvi andDeobandi traditions. However, theAhl-i Hadith movement has also gained popularity together withWahhabi influence from theMiddle East.[8] The majority ofPakistani Shia Muslims belong to theTwelver Islamic law school, with significant minority groups who practiceIsmailism, which is composed ofNizari (Aga Khanis),Mustaali,Dawoodi Bohra,Sulaymani, and others.
Before thearrival of Islam beginning in the 8th century, the region comprising Pakistan was home to a number of faiths, includingHinduism,Buddhism,Jainism andZoroastrianism.[9][10]
Khawaja Nazimuddin, Pakistan'ssecond Prime Minister, argued against equal rights for all citizens in anIslamic state.[11] TheConstitution of Pakistan establishesIslam as thestate religion,[3] and provides that all citizens have the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion subject to law, public order, and morality.[12] The Constitution also states that all laws are to conform with the injunctions ofIslam as laid down in theQuran andSunnah.[13]
The Constitution limits the political rights of Pakistan's non-Muslims. Only Muslims are allowed to become thePresident[14] or thePrime Minister.[15] Only Muslims are allowed to serve as judges in theFederal Shariat Court, which has the power to strike down any law deemed un-Islamic, though its judgments can be overruled by theSupreme Court of Pakistan.[16] However, non-Muslims have served as judges in the High Courts and Supreme Court.[17] In 2019,Naveed Amir, a Christian member of the National Assembly moved a bill to amend the article 41 and 91 of the Constitution which would allow non-Muslims to become Prime Minister and President of Pakistan. However, Pakistan's parliament blocked the bill.[18]
The main principles ofHuman rights in thePakistani constitution were incorporated in itsfundamental rights which were granted under various articles of 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 36 & 38 of the constitution[19] –
(a) Article 20 : Freedom to profess religion and to managereligious institutions.[20]
(b) Article 21 : Safeguard againsttaxation for purposes of any particular religion.[21]
(c) Article 22 : Safeguards as toeducational institutions in respect of religion, etc.[21]
(d) Article 25 : Equality of citizens.[22]
(e) Article 26 : Non-discrimination in respect of access topublic places.[12]
(f) Article 27 : Safeguard against discrimination inservices.[12]
(g) Article 36 : Protection ofMinorities.[23]
(h) Article 38 : Promotion of social and economic well-being of all the people.[24]
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![The animistic Kalash people at Chilam Joshi festival in Chitral, whose religion resembles ancient Hinduism[25]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aChilam_Gosh_Festival%2c_Chitral%2c_Pakistan.jpg)
| Religious group | 1901 census[a] | 1911 census[b] | 1921 census[c] | 1931 census[d] | 1941 census[e] | 1951 census[26][27] | 1961 census[28][29] | 1972 census[30] | 1981 census[31][32] | 1998 census[33] | 2017 census[34] | 2023 census[1][35] | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
Islam | 14,022,544 | 79.52% | 14,966,846 | 79.58% | 15,203,501 | 78.41% | 17,557,877 | 77.98% | 21,113,214 | 77.43% | 32,731,582 | 97.12% | 41,666,153 | 97.17% | 60,434,659 | 96.75% | 81,450,057 | 96.67% | 127,433,409 | 96.28% | 200,362,718 | 96.47% | 231,686,709 | 96.35% |
Hinduism [f] | 3,009,842 | 17.07% | 2,766,581 | 14.71% | 2,957,680 | 15.25% | 3,298,570 | 14.65% | 3,981,565 | 14.6% | 531,131 | 1.58% | 621,805 | 1.45% | 900,206 | 1.44% | 1,276,116 | 1.51% | 2,443,614 | 1.85% | 4,444,870 | 2.14% | 5,217,216 | 2.17% |
Sikhism | 529,910 | 3.01% | 884,987 | 4.71% | 931,489 | 4.8% | 1,282,698 | 5.7% | 1,672,753 | 6.13% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2,146 | 0% | — | — | — | — | 15,998 | 0.01% |
Christianity | 59,387 | 0.34% | 167,178 | 0.89% | 276,107 | 1.42% | 360,371 | 1.6% | 432,724 | 1.59% | 432,978 | 1.28% | 583,884 | 1.36% | 907,861 | 1.45% | 1,310,426 | 1.56% | 2,092,902 | 1.58% | 2,642,048 | 1.27% | 3,300,788 | 1.37% |
Jainism | 6,529 | 0.04% | 7,348 | 0.04% | 7,490 | 0.04% | 8,096 | 0.04% | 13,215 | 0.05% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Zoroastrianism | 2,512 | 0.01% | 3,007 | 0.02% | 3,407 | 0.02% | 4,178 | 0.02% | 4,253 | 0.02% | 5,320 | 0.02% | 5,219 | 0.01% | 9,589 | 0.02% | 7,007 | 0.01% | — | — | — | — | 2,348 | 0% |
Judaism | 489 | 0% | 702 | 0% | 706 | 0% | 1,019 | 0% | 1,180 | 0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Buddhism.svg) | 6 | 0% | 207 | 0% | 373 | 0% | 155 | 0% | 266 | 0% | 680 | 0% | 2,445 | 0.01% | 4,318 | 0.01% | 2,639 | 0% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tribal | — | — | 9,224 | 0.05% | 8,186 | 0.04% | 236 | 0% | 37,603 | 0.14% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Ahmadiyya | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 104,244 | 0.12% | 286,212 | 0.22% | 191,737 | 0.09% | 162,684 | 0.07% |
| Others | 2,039 | 0.01% | 299 | 0% | 77 | 0% | 1,553 | 0.01% | 19,228 | 0.07% | 1,476 | 0% | 872 | 0% | 205,250 | 0.33% | 101,009 | 0.12% | 96,142 | 0.07% | 43,253 | 0.02% | 72,346 | 0.03% |
| Total responses | 17,633,258 | 99.58% | 18,806,379 | 92.06% | 19,389,016 | 87.28% | 22,514,768 | 90.88% | 27,266,001 | 91.98% | 33,703,167 | 99.77% | 42,880,378 | 99.77% | 62,461,883 | 95.64% | 84,253,644 | 100% | 132,352,279 | 100% | 207,684,626 | 100% | 240,458,089 | 99.57% |
| Total population | 17,708,014 | 100% | 20,428,473 | 100% | 22,214,152 | 100% | 24,774,056 | 100% | 29,643,600 | 100% | 33,779,555 | 100% | 42,978,261 | 100% | 65,309,340 | 100% | 84,253,644 | 100% | 132,352,279 | 100% | 207,684,626 | 100% | 241,499,431 | 100% |
| Note 1: Colonial–era (1901, 1911, 1921, 1931, and 1941) figures taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit–Baltistan. Note 2: 1951 and 1961 figures taken from census data by combining the total population of the former administrative division of West Pakistan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 17,708,014 according to the 1901 census. With the exception of theFederally Administered Tribal Areas, alladministrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 17,633,258, for an overall response rate of 99.6 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data inAzad Jammu and Kashmir andGilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.
| Religious group | Pakistan[b] | Punjab[36][g] | Sindh[37][h] | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[38] | Balochistan[39] | AJK[40][i] | Gilgit– Baltistan[40][j] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 14,022,544 | 79.52% | 7,951,155 | 76.25% | 2,609,337 | 76.52% | 1,890,479 | 92.19% | 765,368 | 94.4% | 747,426 | 85.62% | 58,779 | 96.54% |
| Hinduism | 3,009,842 | 17.07% | 1,944,363 | 18.65% | 787,683 | 23.1% | 129,306 | 6.31% | 38,158 | 4.71% | 108,331 | 12.41% | 2,001 | 3.29% |
| Sikhism | 529,910 | 3.01% | 483,999 | 4.64% | — | — | 25,733 | 1.25% | 2,972 | 0.37% | 17,132 | 1.96% | 74 | 0.12% |
| Christianity | 59,387 | 0.34% | 42,371 | 0.41% | 7,825 | 0.23% | 5,119 | 0.25% | 4,026 | 0.5% | 18 | 0% | 28 | 0.05% |
| Jainism | 6,529 | 0.04% | 5,562 | 0.05% | 921 | 0.03% | 37 | 0% | 8 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0% |
| Zoroastrianism | 2,512 | 0.01% | 300 | 0% | 2,000 | 0.06% | 46 | 0% | 166 | 0.02% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Judaism | 489 | 0.003% | 9 | 0% | 428 | 0.01% | 4 | 0% | 48 | 0.01% | — | — | — | — |
| Buddhism | 6 | 0% | 6 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Others | 2,039 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 2,029 | 0.06% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 8 | 0% | 2 | 0% |
| Total responses | 17,633,258 | 99.58% | 10,427,765 | 100% | 3,410,223 | 100% | 2,050,724[k] | 96.48% | 810,746 | 100% | 872,915 | 100% | 60,885 | 100% |
| Total population | 17,708,014 | 100% | 10,427,765 | 100% | 3,410,223 | 100% | 2,125,480[k] | 100% | 810,746 | 100% | 872,915 | 100% | 60,885 | 100% |
The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 20,428,473 according to the 1911 census. With the exception of theFederally Administered Tribal Areas, alladministrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 18,806,379, for an overall response rate of 92.1 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data inAzad Jammu and Kashmir andGilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.
| Religious group | Pakistan[b] | Punjab[41][l] | Sindh[42][m] | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[43] | Balochistan[44] | AJK[45][n] | Gilgit– Baltistan[45][o] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 14,966,846 | 79.58% | 8,494,314 | 76.49% | 2,822,756 | 75.53% | 2,039,994 | 92.86% | 782,648 | 93.76% | 749,945 | 87.76% | 77,189 | 98.45% |
| Hinduism | 2,766,581 | 14.71% | 1,645,758 | 14.82% | 877,313 | 23.47% | 119,942 | 5.46% | 38,326 | 4.59% | 84,130 | 9.85% | 1,112 | 1.42% |
| Sikhism | 884,987 | 4.71% | 813,441 | 7.33% | 12,339 | 0.33% | 30,345 | 1.38% | 8,390 | 1.01% | 20,391 | 2.39% | 81 | 0.1% |
| Christianity | 167,178 | 0.89% | 144,514 | 1.3% | 10,917 | 0.29% | 6,585 | 0.3% | 5,085 | 0.61% | 55 | 0.01% | 22 | 0.03% |
| Tribal | 9,224 | 0.05% | — | — | 9,224 | 0.25% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jainism | 7,348 | 0.04% | 5,977 | 0.05% | 1,349 | 0.04% | 4 | 0% | 10 | 0% | 8 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Zoroastrianism | 3,007 | 0.02% | 377 | 0% | 2,411 | 0.06% | 49 | 0% | 170 | 0.02% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Judaism | 702 | 0.004% | 36 | 0% | 595 | 0.02% | 14 | 0% | 57 | 0.01% | — | — | — | — |
| Buddhism | 207 | 0.001% | 168 | 0% | 21 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 16 | 0% | 2 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Others | 299 | 0.002% | 0 | 0% | 298 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Total responses | 18,806,379 | 92.06% | 11,104,585 | 100% | 3,737,223 | 100% | 2,196,933[k] | 57.53% | 834,703 | 100% | 854,531 | 100% | 78,404 | 100% |
| Total population | 20,428,473 | 100% | 11,104,585 | 100% | 3,737,223 | 100% | 3,819,027[k] | 100% | 834,703 | 100% | 854,531 | 100% | 78,404 | 100% |
The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 22,214,152 according to the 1921 census. With the exception of theFederally Administered Tribal Areas, alladministrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 19,389,016, for an overall response rate of 87.3 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data inAzad Jammu and Kashmir andGilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.
| Religious group | Pakistan[c] | Punjab[46][p] | Sindh[47][q] | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[48] | Balochistan[49] | AJK[51][r] | Gilgit– Baltistan[50][s] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 15,203,501 | 78.41% | 8,975,288 | 75.49% | 2,562,700 | 73.8% | 2,062,786 | 91.62% | 733,477 | 91.73% | 780,607 | 88.02% | 88,643 | 98.82% |
| Hinduism | 2,957,680 | 15.25% | 1,797,141 | 15.12% | 876,629 | 25.24% | 149,881 | 6.66% | 51,348 | 6.42% | 81,733 | 9.22% | 948 | 1.06% |
| Sikhism | 931,489 | 4.8% | 863,091 | 7.26% | 8,036 | 0.23% | 28,040 | 1.25% | 7,741 | 0.97% | 24,491 | 2.76% | 90 | 0.1% |
| Christianity | 276,107 | 1.42% | 247,030 | 2.08% | 11,734 | 0.34% | 10,610 | 0.47% | 6,693 | 0.84% | 24 | 0% | 16 | 0.02% |
| Tribal | 8,186 | 0.04% | — | — | 8,186 | 0.24% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jainism | 7,490 | 0.04% | 5,930 | 0.05% | 1,534 | 0.04% | 3 | 0% | 17 | 0% | 6 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Zoroastrianism | 3,407 | 0.02% | 309 | 0% | 2,913 | 0.08% | 20 | 0% | 165 | 0.02% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Judaism | 706 | 0.004% | 16 | 0% | 671 | 0.02% | 0 | 0% | 19 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Buddhism | 373 | 0.002% | 172 | 0% | 41 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 160 | 0.02% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Others | 77 | 0.0004% | 8 | 0% | 64 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 5 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Total responses | 19,389,016 | 87.28% | 11,888,985 | 100% | 3,472,508 | 100% | 2,251,340[k] | 44.35% | 799,625 | 100% | 886,861 | 100% | 89,697 | 100% |
| Total population | 22,214,152 | 100% | 11,888,985 | 100% | 3,472,508 | 100% | 5,076,476[k] | 100% | 799,625 | 100% | 886,861 | 100% | 89,697 | 100% |
The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 24,774,056 according to the 1931 census. With the exception of theFederally Administered Tribal Areas, alladministrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 22,514,768, for an overall response rate of 90.9 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data inAzad Jammu and Kashmir andGilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.
| Religious group | Pakistan[d] | Punjab[52][t] | Sindh[53][u] | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[54] | Balochistan[55] | AJK[51][x] | Gilgit– Baltistan[51][w] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 17,557,877 | 77.98% | 10,570,029 | 75.28% | 3,017,377 | 73.34% | 2,227,303 | 91.84% | 798,093 | 91.88% | 850,135 | 87.68% | 94,940 | 98.44% |
| Hinduism[f] | 3,298,570 | 14.65% | 1,957,878 | 13.94% | 1,055,119 | 25.65% | 142,977 | 5.9% | 53,681 | 6.18% | 87,554 | 9.03% | 1,361 | 1.41% |
| Sikhism | 1,282,698 | 5.7% | 1,180,789 | 8.41% | 19,172 | 0.47% | 42,510 | 1.75% | 8,425 | 0.97% | 31,709 | 3.27% | 93 | 0.1% |
| Christianity | 360,371 | 1.6% | 324,730 | 2.31% | 15,152 | 0.37% | 12,213 | 0.5% | 8,059 | 0.93% | 168 | 0.02% | 49 | 0.05% |
| Jainism | 8,096 | 0.04% | 6,921 | 0.05% | 1,144 | 0.03% | 0 | 0% | 17 | 0% | 11 | 0% | 3 | 0% |
| Zoroastrianism | 4,178 | 0.02% | 413 | 0% | 3,537 | 0.09% | 60 | 0% | 167 | 0.02% | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Judaism | 1,019 | 0.005% | 6 | 0% | 985 | 0.02% | 11 | 0% | 17 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Tribal | 236 | 0.001% | — | — | 204 | 0% | — | — | 32 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Buddhism | 155 | 0.001% | 32 | 0% | 53 | 0% | 2 | 0% | 68 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Others | 1,553 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 1,510 | 0.04% | 0 | 0% | 43 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Total responses | 22,514,768 | 90.88% | 14,040,798 | 100% | 4,114,253 | 100% | 2,425,076[k] | 51.77% | 868,617 | 100% | 969,578 | 100% | 96,446 | 100% |
| Total population | 24,774,056 | 100% | 14,040,798 | 100% | 4,114,253 | 100% | 4,684,364[k] | 100% | 868,617 | 100% | 969,578 | 100% | 96,446 | 100% |
The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 29,643,600 according to the final census prior to partition in 1941. With the exception of theFederally Administered Tribal Areas, alladministrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 27,266,001, for an overall response rate of 92.0 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data inAzad Jammu and Kashmir andGilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.
| Religious group | Pakistan[e] | Punjab[56]: 42 [y] | Sindh[57]: 28 [z] | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[58]: 22 | Balochistan[59]: 13–18 | AJK[60]: 337–352 [v] | Gilgit– Baltistan[60]: 337–352 [aa] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 21,113,214 | 77.43% | 13,022,160 | 75.06% | 3,462,015 | 71.52% | 2,788,797 | 91.8% | 785,181 | 91.53% | 939,460 | 87.54% | 115,601 | 99.62% |
| Hinduism[f] | 3,981,565 | 14.6% | 2,373,466 | 13.68% | 1,279,530 | 26.43% | 180,321 | 5.94% | 54,394 | 6.34% | 93,559 | 8.72% | 295 | 0.25% |
| Sikhism | 1,672,753 | 6.13% | 1,530,112 | 8.82% | 32,627 | 0.67% | 57,939 | 1.91% | 12,044 | 1.4% | 39,910 | 3.72% | 121 | 0.1% |
| Christianity | 432,724 | 1.59% | 395,311 | 2.28% | 20,304 | 0.42% | 10,889 | 0.36% | 6,056 | 0.71% | 136 | 0.01% | 28 | 0.02% |
| Tribal | 37,603 | 0.14% | — | — | 37,598 | 0.78% | — | — | 3 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 0% |
| Jainism | 13,215 | 0.05% | 9,520 | 0.05% | 3,687 | 0.08% | 1 | 0% | 7 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Zoroastrianism | 4,253 | 0.02% | 312 | 0% | 3,841 | 0.08% | 24 | 0% | 76 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Judaism | 1,180 | 0.004% | 7 | 0% | 1,082 | 0.02% | 71 | 0% | 20 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Buddhism | 266 | 0.001% | 87 | 0% | 111 | 0% | 25 | 0% | 43 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Others | 19,228 | 0.07% | 19,128 | 0.11% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 11 | 0% | 89 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% |
| Total responses | 27,266,001 | 91.98% | 17,340,103 | 100% | 4,840,795 | 100% | 3,038,067[k] | 56.1% | 857,835 | 100% | 1,073,154 | 100% | 116,047 | 100% |
| Total population | 29,643,600 | 100% | 17,340,103 | 100% | 4,840,795 | 100% | 5,415,666[k] | 100% | 857,835 | 100% | 1,073,154 | 100% | 116,047 | 100% |
After partition, when first census of Pakistan was conducted in the year 1951, It was found that the Muslim proportion in West Pakistan (contemporary Pakistan) increased from approximately 77.3 percent according to the 1941 census,[e] to 97.1 percent as per the 1951 census;[61] in contrast, the combined Hindu and Sikh proportion in West Pakistan (contemporary Pakistan) decreased from approximately 20.7 percent[e] to just 1.7 percent during the same timeframe, as the1947 Partition of India gave rise to bloody rioting and indiscriminate inter-communal killing ofHindus,Muslims, andSikhs across theIndian subcontinent, especially inPunjab region. As a result, around 7.3 million Hindus and Sikhs moved toIndia and 7.2 million Muslims moved toPakistan permanently, leading to demographic change of both the nations to a certain extent.[62][63]
| Religious group | Pakistan[26][27] | Punjab[64] | Sindh[ab] | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[65] | Balochistan[66] | AJK | Gilgit– Baltistan | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 32,731,582 | 97.12% | 20,200,794 | 97.89% | 5,535,645 | 91.53% | 5,858,080 | 99.89% | 1,137,063 | 98.52% | — | — | — | — |
| Hinduism | 531,131 | 1.58% | 33,052 | 0.16% | 482,560 | 7.98% | 2,432 | 0.04% | 13,087 | 1.13% | — | — | — | — |
| Christianity | 432,978 | 1.28% | 402,617 | 1.95% | 22,601 | 0.37% | 3,823 | 0.07% | 3,937 | 0.34% | — | — | — | — |
| Zoroastrianism | 5,320 | 0.02% | 195 | 0% | 5,046 | 0.08% | — | — | 79 | 0.01% | — | — | — | — |
| Buddhism | 680 | 0.002% | 9 | 0% | 670 | 0.01% | — | — | 1 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Others | 1,476 | 0.004% | 35 | 0% | 1,226 | 0.02% | 215 | 0% | 0 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Total responses | 33,703,167[ac] | 99.77% | 20,636,702[ad] | 99.93% | 6,047,748[ae] | 99.89% | 5,864,550[af] | 99.4% | 1,154,167[ag] | 98.31% | — | — | — | — |
| Total population | 33,779,555 | 100% | 20,651,140 | 100% | 6,054,474 | 100% | 5,899,905 | 100% | 1,174,036 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
| Religious group | Pakistan[28][29] | Punjab | Sindh | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Balochistan | AJK | Gilgit– Baltistan | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 41,666,153 | 97.17% | 25,013,796 | 97.78% | 7,936,979 | 92.73% | 7,569,026 | 99.88% | 1,146,352 | 98.74% | — | — | — | — |
| Hinduism | 621,805 | 1.45% | 41,965 | 0.16% | 568,530 | 6.64% | 1,474 | 0.02% | 9,836 | 0.85% | — | — | — | — |
| Christianity | 583,884 | 1.36% | 524,770 | 2.05% | 46,931 | 0.55% | 7,463 | 0.1% | 4,720 | 0.41% | — | — | — | — |
| Zoroastrianism | 5,219 | 0.01% | 251 | 0% | 4,866 | 0.06% | 10 | 0% | 92 | 0.01% | — | — | — | — |
| Buddhism | 2,445 | 0.01% | 757 | 0% | 1,683 | 0.02% | 4 | 0% | 1 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Others | 872 | 0.002% | 104 | 0% | 549 | 0.01% | 209 | 0% | 10 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Total responses | 42,880,378[ah] | 99.77% | 25,581,643[ai] | 99.85% | 8,559,538[aj] | 99.92% | 7,578,186[ak] | 99.72% | 1,161,011[al] | 97.34% | — | — | — | — |
| Total population | 42,978,261 | 100% | 25,619,437 | 100% | 8,566,512 | 100% | 7,599,627 | 100% | 1,192,685 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
| Religious group | Pakistan[30] | Punjab[67] | Sindh[68] | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[69][70] | Balochistan[71] | ICT[72] | AJK | Gilgit– Baltistan | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 60,434,659 | 96.75% | 36,610,508 | 97.34% | 13,212,500 | 93.34% | 7,998,232 | 99.58% | 2,381,810 | 98.07% | 231,609 | 98.64% | — | — | — | — |
| Christianity | 907,861 | 1.45% | 786,494 | 2.09% | 95,777 | 0.68% | 12,828 | 0.16% | 9,807 | 0.4% | 2,955 | 1.26% | — | — | — | — |
| Hinduism | 900,206 | 1.44% | 61,405 | 0.16% | 815,452 | 5.76% | 5,014 | 0.06% | 18,223 | 0.75% | 112 | 0.05% | — | — | — | — |
| Zoroastrianism | 9,589 | 0.02% | 375 | 0% | 8,923 | 0.06% | 39 | 0% | 173 | 0.01% | 79 | 0.03% | — | — | — | — |
| Buddhism | 4,318 | 0.01% | 1,386 | 0% | 2,736 | 0.02% | 77 | 0% | 61 | 0% | 58 | 0.02% | — | — | — | — |
| Others | 205,250 | 0.33% | 149,991 | 0.4% | 20,521 | 0.14% | 16,134 | 0.2% | 18,604 | 0.77% | 0 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Total responses | 62,461,883 | 95.64% | 37,610,159 | 100% | 14,155,909 | 100% | 8,032,324[k] | 73.83% | 2,428,678 | 100% | 234,813 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
| Total population | 65,309,340 | 100% | 37,610,159 | 100% | 14,155,909 | 100% | 10,879,781[k] | 100% | 2,428,678 | 100% | 234,813 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
| Religious group | Pakistan[31][32] | Punjab[73] | Sindh[74] | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[75] | Balochistan[76] | ICT | AJK | Gilgit– Baltistan | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 81,450,057 | 96.67% | 46,110,205 | 97.5% | 17,556,712 | 92.26% | 13,194,345 | 99.51% | 4,257,628 | 98.27% | 331,167 | 97.32% | — | — | — | — |
| Christianity | 1,310,426 | 1.56% | 1,061,037 | 2.24% | 176,898 | 0.93% | 44,514 | 0.34% | 20,131 | 0.46% | 7,846 | 2.31% | — | — | — | — |
| Hinduism | 1,276,116 | 1.51% | 29,268 | 0.06% | 1,221,961 | 6.42% | 5,253 | 0.04% | 19,598 | 0.45% | 36 | 0.01% | — | — | — | — |
| Ahmadiyya | 104,244 | 0.12% | 63,694 | 0.13% | 21,210 | 0.11% | 12,333 | 0.09% | 5,824 | 0.13% | 1,183 | 0.35% | — | — | — | — |
| Zoroastrianism | 7,007 | 0.01% | 1,766 | 0% | 4,305 | 0.02% | 462 | 0% | 439 | 0.01% | 35 | 0.01% | — | — | — | — |
| Buddhism | 2,639 | 0.003% | 756 | 0% | 1,714 | 0.01% | 58 | 0% | 106 | 0% | 5 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Sikhism | 2,146 | 0.003% | 832 | 0% | 393 | 0% | 729 | 0.01% | 189 | 0% | 3 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Others | 101,009 | 0.12% | 24,883 | 0.05% | 45,473 | 0.24% | 2,181 | 0.02% | 28,461 | 0.66% | 11 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Total responses | 84,253,644 | 100% | 47,292,441 | 100% | 19,028,666 | 100% | 13,259,875 | 100% | 4,332,376 | 100% | 340,286 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
| Total population | 84,253,644 | 100% | 47,292,441 | 100% | 19,028,666 | 100% | 13,259,875 | 100% | 4,332,376 | 100% | 340,286 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
| Religious group | Pakistan[33] | Punjab | Sindh | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Balochistan | ICT | AJK | Gilgit– Baltistan | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 127,433,409 | 96.28% | 71,574,830 | 97.22% | 27,796,814 | 91.32% | 20,808,480 | 99.47% | 6,484,006 | 98.75% | 769,279 | 95.53% | — | — | — | — |
| Hinduism | 2,443,614 | 1.85% | 116,410 | 0.16% | 2,280,842 | 7.49% | 7,011 | 0.03% | 39,146 | 0.6% | 205 | 0.03% | — | — | — | — |
| Christianity | 2,092,902 | 1.58% | 1,699,843 | 2.31% | 294,885 | 0.97% | 38,974 | 0.19% | 26,462 | 0.4% | 32,738 | 4.07% | — | — | — | — |
| Ahmadiyya | 286,212 | 0.22% | 181,428 | 0.25% | 43,524 | 0.14% | 48,703 | 0.23% | 9,800 | 0.15% | 2,757 | 0.34% | — | — | — | — |
| Others | 96,142 | 0.07% | 48,779 | 0.07% | 23,828 | 0.08% | 16,808 | 0.08% | 6,471 | 0.1% | 256 | 0.03% | — | — | — | — |
| Total responses | 132,352,279 | 100% | 73,621,290 | 100% | 30,439,893 | 100% | 20,919,976 | 100% | 6,565,885 | 100% | 805,235 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
| Total population | 132,352,279 | 100% | 73,621,290 | 100% | 30,439,893 | 100% | 20,919,976 | 100% | 6,565,885 | 100% | 805,235 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
As per2017 Census of Pakistan, the country has a population of 207,684,000.The CCI approved the release of provisional population figures of 207.754 million people. The final results showed the total population of Pakistan to be 207.684 million, a reduction of 68,738 people or 0.033% against provisional results.[77]
As of 2018, there are 3.63 million non-Muslim voters in Pakistan- 1.77 million wereHindus, 1.64 millionChristians, 167,505 wereAhmadi, 31,543 wereBaháʼís, 8,852 wereSikhs, 4,020 wereParsis, 1,884 wereBuddhist and others such asKalashas.[78] The NADRA makes it nearly impossible to declare and change the religion to anything from Islam making the statistics somewhat misleading.[79]
| Religious group | Pakistan[34] | Punjab | Sindh | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Balochistan | ICT | AJK | Gilgit– Baltistan | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 200,362,718 | 96.47% | 107,541,602 | 97.77% | 43,234,107 | 90.34% | 35,428,857 | 99.79% | 12,246,275 | 99.28% | 1,911,877 | 95.43% | — | — | — | — |
| Hinduism | 4,444,870 | 2.14% | 211,641 | 0.19% | 4,176,986 | 8.73% | 6,373 | 0.02% | 49,133 | 0.4% | 737 | 0.04% | — | — | — | — |
| Christianity | 2,642,048 | 1.27% | 2,063,063 | 1.88% | 408,301 | 0.85% | 50,018 | 0.14% | 33,819 | 0.27% | 86,847 | 4.34% | — | — | — | — |
| Ahmadiyya | 191,737 | 0.09% | 158,021 | 0.14% | 21,661 | 0.05% | 7,204 | 0.02% | 2,113 | 0.02% | 2,738 | 0.14% | — | — | — | — |
| Others | 43,253 | 0.02% | 15,328 | 0.01% | 13,455 | 0.03% | 9,512 | 0.03% | 3,789 | 0.03% | 1,169 | 0.06% | — | — | — | — |
| Total responses | 207,684,626 | 100% | 109,989,655 | 100% | 47,854,510 | 100% | 35,501,964 | 100% | 12,335,129 | 100% | 2,003,368 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
| Total population | 207,684,626 | 100% | 109,989,655 | 100% | 47,854,510 | 100% | 35,501,964 | 100% | 12,335,129 | 100% | 2,003,368 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released religious data of Pakistan Census 2017 on 19 May 2021.[80] 96.47% are Muslims, followed by 2.14% Hindus, 1.27% Christians, 0.09% Ahmadis and 0.02% others.
These are some maps of religious minority groups. The 2017 census showed an increasing share inHinduism, mainly caused by a higher birth rate among the impoverished Hindus of Sindh province. This census also recorded Pakistan's first Hindu-majority district, calledUmerkot District, where Muslims were previously the majority.
On the other hand,Christianity in Pakistan, while increasing in raw numbers, has fallen significantly in percentage terms since the last census. This is due to Pakistani Christians having a significantly lower fertility rate than Pakistani Muslims and Pakistani Hindus as well as them being concentrated in the most developed parts of Pakistan,Lahore District (over 5% Christian),Islamabad Capital Territory (over 4% Christian), and Northern Punjab.
TheAhmadiyya movement shrunk in size (both raw numbers and percentage) between 1998 and 2017, while remaining concentrated inLalian Tehsil, Chiniot District, where approximately 13% of the population is Ahmadi.
Here are some maps ofPakistan's religious minority groups as of the 2017 census by district:
| Religious group | Pakistan[1][35] | Punjab | Sindh | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Balochistan | ICT | AJK | Gilgit– Baltistan | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | Percentage | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 231,686,709 | 96.35% | 124,462,897 | 97.75% | 50,126,428 | 90.09% | 40,486,153 | 99.62% | 14,429,568 | 99.09% | 2,181,663 | 95.55% | — | — | — | — |
| Hinduism | 5,217,216 | 2.17% | 249,716 | 0.2% | 4,901,407 | 8.81% | 6,102 | 0.02% | 59,107 | 0.41% | 884 | 0.04% | — | — | — | — |
| Christianity | 3,300,788 | 1.37% | 2,458,924 | 1.93% | 546,968 | 0.98% | 134,884 | 0.33% | 62,731 | 0.43% | 97,281 | 4.26% | — | — | — | — |
| Ahmadiyya | 162,684 | 0.07% | 140,512 | 0.11% | 18,266 | 0.03% | 951 | 0% | 557 | 0% | 2,398 | 0.11% | — | — | — | — |
| Sikhism | 15,998 | 0.01% | 5,649 | 0% | 5,182 | 0.01% | 4,050 | 0.01% | 1,057 | 0.01% | 60 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Zoroastrianism | 2,348 | 0.001% | 358 | 0% | 1,763 | 0% | 36 | 0% | 181 | 0% | 10 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Others | 72,346 | 0.03% | 15,249 | 0.01% | 38,395 | 0.07% | 8,944 | 0.02% | 8,810 | 0.06% | 948 | 0.04% | — | — | — | — |
| Total responses | 240,458,089 | 99.57% | 127,333,305 | 99.72% | 55,638,409 | 99.9% | 40,641,120 | 99.47% | 14,562,011 | 97.77% | 2,283,244 | 96.59% | — | — | — | — |
| Total population | 241,499,431 | 100% | 127,688,922 | 100% | 55,696,147 | 100% | 40,856,097 | 100% | 14,894,402 | 100% | 2,363,863 | 100% | — | — | — | — |
| Religious group | 1855[81][82][am] | 1868[83][an] | 1881[84][85][86][87][ao] | 1891[88][89][90][91][ap] | 1901[36][92][g] | 1911[41][93][l] | 1921[46][p] | 1931[52][t] | 1941[56][y] | 1951[26][27][64] | 1961[28][29] | 1972[30][67] | 1981[31][32][73] | 1998[33] | 2017[34][94] | 2023[1][95] | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 3,937,730[aq] | 74.56% | 4,750,944 | 75.1% | 6,201,859 | 78.09% | 6,766,545 | 76.07% | 7,951,155 | 76.25% | 8,494,314 | 76.49% | 8,975,288 | 75.49% | 10,570,029 | 75.28% | 13,022,160 | 75.06% | 20,200,794 | 97.89% | 25,013,796 | 97.78% | 36,610,508 | 97.34% | 46,110,205 | 97.5% | 71,574,830 | 97.22% | 107,541,602 | 97.77% | 124,462,897 | 97.75% |
| Hinduism[ar] | 1,343,361[as] | 25.44% | 1,264,052[at] | 19.98% | 1,449,913 | 18.26% | 1,727,810 | 19.42% | 1,944,363 | 18.65% | 1,645,758 | 14.82% | 1,797,141 | 15.12% | 1,957,878 | 13.94% | 2,373,466 | 13.68% | 33,052 | 0.16% | 41,965 | 0.16% | 61,405 | 0.16% | 29,268 | 0.06% | 116,410 | 0.16% | 211,641 | 0.19% | 249,716 | 0.2% |
| Sikhism | — | — | 290,337 | 4.59% | 272,908 | 3.44% | 366,162 | 4.12% | 483,999 | 4.64% | 813,441 | 7.33% | 863,091 | 7.26% | 1,180,789 | 8.41% | 1,530,112 | 8.82% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 832 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — | 5,649 | 0.004% |
| Christianity | — | — | 8,626 | 0.14% | 12,992 | 0.16% | 30,168 | 0.34% | 42,371 | 0.41% | 144,514 | 1.3% | 247,030 | 2.08% | 324,730 | 2.31% | 395,311 | 2.28% | 402,617 | 1.95% | 524,770 | 2.05% | 786,494 | 2.09% | 1,061,037 | 2.24% | 1,699,843 | 2.31% | 2,063,063 | 1.88% | 2,458,924 | 1.93% |
| Jainism | — | — | 5,027 | 0.08% | 4,352 | 0.05% | 4,408 | 0.05% | 5,562 | 0.05% | 5,977 | 0.05% | 5,930 | 0.05% | 6,921 | 0.05% | 9,520 | 0.05% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Zoroastrianism | — | — | — | — | 354 | 0.004% | 215 | 0.002% | 300 | 0.003% | 377 | 0.003% | 309 | 0.003% | 413 | 0.003% | 312 | 0.002% | 195 | 0.001% | 251 | 0.001% | 375 | 0.001% | 1,766 | 0.004% | — | — | — | — | 358 | 0% |
| Buddhism | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 6 | 0% | 168 | 0.002% | 172 | 0.001% | 32 | 0% | 87 | 0.001% | 9 | 0% | 757 | 0.003% | 1,386 | 0.004% | 756 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Judaism | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0% | 9 | 0% | 36 | 0% | 16 | 0% | 6 | 0% | 7 | 0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ahmadiyya | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63,694 | 0.13% | 181,428 | 0.25% | 158,021 | 0.14% | 140,512 | 0.11% |
| Others | — | — | 7,061 | 0.11% | 21 | 0% | 17 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 8 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 19,534 | 0.11% | 35 | 0% | 104 | 0% | 149,991 | 0.4% | 24,883 | 0.05% | 48,779 | 0.07% | 15,328 | 0.01% | 15,249 | 0.01% |
| Total responses | 5,281,091 | 100% | 6,326,047 | 100% | 7,942,399 | 100% | 8,895,342 | 100% | 10,427,765 | 100% | 11,104,585 | 100% | 11,888,985 | 100% | 14,040,798 | 100% | 17,350,103 | 100% | 20,636,702 | 99.93% | 25,581,643 | 99.85% | 37,610,159 | 100% | 47,292,441 | 100% | 73,621,290 | 100% | 109,989,655 | 100% | 127,333,305 | 99.72% |
| Total population | 5,281,091 | 100% | 6,326,047 | 100% | 7,942,399 | 100% | 8,895,342 | 100% | 10,427,765 | 100% | 11,104,585 | 100% | 11,888,985 | 100% | 14,040,798 | 100% | 17,350,103 | 100% | 20,651,140 | 100% | 25,581,643 | 100% | 37,610,159 | 100% | 47,292,441 | 100% | 73,621,290 | 100% | 109,989,655 | 100% | 127,688,922 | 100% |
| Religious group | 1872[96][au] | 1881[97][av] | 1891[98][aw] | 1901[37][h] | 1911[42][m] | 1921[47][q] | 1931[53][u] | 1941[57]: 28 [z] | 1951[26][27][ab] | 1961[28][29] | 1972[30][68] | 1981[31][32][74] | 1998[33] | 2017[34][94] | 2023[1][99] | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 1,712,266[ax] | 78.1% | 1,989,630 | 78.24% | 2,318,180 | 77.18% | 2,609,337 | 76.52% | 2,822,756 | 75.53% | 2,562,700 | 73.8% | 3,017,377 | 73.34% | 3,462,015 | 71.52% | 5,535,645 | 91.53% | 7,936,979 | 92.73% | 13,212,500 | 93.34% | 17,556,712 | 92.26% | 27,796,814 | 91.32% | 43,234,107 | 90.34% | 50,126,428 | 90.09% |
| Hinduism[ay] | 475,848[az] | 21.7% | 544,848 | 21.43% | 674,371 | 22.45% | 787,683 | 23.1% | 877,313 | 23.47% | 876,629 | 25.24% | 1,055,119 | 25.65% | 1,279,530 | 26.43% | 482,560 | 7.98% | 568,530 | 6.64% | 815,452 | 5.76% | 1,221,961 | 6.42% | 2,280,842 | 7.49% | 4,176,986 | 8.73% | 4,901,407 | 8.81% |
| Christianity | 3,329[ba] | 0.15% | 6,082 | 0.24% | 7,768 | 0.26% | 7,825 | 0.23% | 10,917 | 0.29% | 11,734 | 0.34% | 15,152 | 0.37% | 20,304 | 0.42% | 22,601 | 0.37% | 46,931 | 0.55% | 95,777 | 0.68% | 176,898 | 0.93% | 294,885 | 0.97% | 408,301 | 0.85% | 546,968 | 0.98% |
| Zoroastrianism | 870[bb] | 0.04% | 1,063 | 0.04% | 1,534 | 0.05% | 2,000 | 0.06% | 2,411 | 0.06% | 2,913 | 0.08% | 3,537 | 0.09% | 3,841 | 0.08% | 5,046 | 0.08% | 4,866 | 0.06% | 8,923 | 0.06% | 4,305 | 0.02% | — | — | — | — | 1,763 | 0.003% |
| Buddhism | 67 | 0.003% | 9 | 0% | 2 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 21 | 0.001% | 41 | 0.001% | 53 | 0.001% | 111 | 0.002% | 670 | 0.01% | 1,683 | 0.02% | 2,736 | 0.02% | 1,714 | 0.01% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Judaism | 35 | 0.002% | 153 | 0.01% | 210 | 0.01% | 428 | 0.01% | 595 | 0.02% | 671 | 0.02% | 985 | 0.02% | 1,082 | 0.02% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jainism | — | — | 1,191 | 0.05% | 923 | 0.03% | 921 | 0.03% | 1,349 | 0.04% | 1,534 | 0.04% | 1,144 | 0.03% | 3,687 | 0.08% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sikhism | — | — | — | — | 720 | 0.02% | —[bc] | — | 12,339 | 0.33% | 8,036 | 0.23% | 19,172 | 0.47% | 32,627 | 0.67% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 393 | 0% | — | — | — | — | 5,182 | 0.01% |
| Tribal | — | — | — | — | — | — | —[bc] | — | 9,224 | 0.25% | 8,186 | 0.24% | 204 | 0% | 37,598 | 0.78% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ahmadiyya | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21,210 | 0.11% | 43,524 | 0.14% | 21,661 | 0.05% | 18,266 | 0.03% |
| Others | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 0% | 2,029 | 0.06% | 298 | 0.01% | 64 | 0.002% | 1,510 | 0.04% | 0 | 0% | 1,226 | 0.02% | 549 | 0.01% | 20,521 | 0.14% | 45,473 | 0.24% | 23,828 | 0.08% | 13,455 | 0.03% | 38,395 | 0.07% |
| Total Responses | 2,192,415 | 94.39% | 2,542,976 | 100% | 3,003,711 | 100% | 3,410,223 | 100% | 3,737,223 | 100% | 3,472,508 | 100% | 4,114,253 | 100% | 4,840,795 | 100% | 6,047,748 | 99.89% | 8,559,538 | 99.92% | 14,155,909 | 100% | 19,028,666 | 100% | 30,439,893 | 100% | 47,854,510 | 100% | 55,638,409 | 99.9% |
| Total Population | 2,322,765 | 100% | 2,542,976 | 100% | 3,003,711 | 100% | 3,410,223 | 100% | 3,737,223 | 100% | 3,472,508 | 100% | 4,114,253 | 100% | 4,840,795 | 100% | 6,054,474 | 100% | 8,566,512 | 100% | 14,155,909 | 100% | 19,028,666 | 100% | 30,439,893 | 100% | 47,854,510 | 100% | 55,696,147 | 100% |
| Religious group | 1855[100][101] | 1868[102] | 1881[103] | 1891[104] | 1901[38] | 1911[43] | 1921[48] | 1931[54] | 1941[58] | 1951[26][27][65] | 1961[28][29] | 1972[30][69][70] | 1981[31][32][75] | 1998[33] | 2017[34][94] | 2023[1][99] | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |||
| Islam | 1,099,134[aq] | 90.86% | 1,563,061 | 90.97% | 1,787,341 | 91.4% | 2,088,015 | 91.51% | 1,890,479 | 92.19% | 2,039,994 | 92.86% | 2,062,786 | 91.62% | 2,227,303 | 91.84% | 2,788,797 | 91.8% | 5,858,080 | 99.89% | 7,569,026 | 99.88% | 7,998,232 | 99.58% | 13,194,345 | 99.51% | 20,808,480 | 99.47% | 35,428,857 | 99.79% | 40,486,153 | 99.62% | ||
| Hinduism[bd] | 110,602[as] | 9.14% | 141,441[at] | 8.23% | 154,081 | 7.88% | 166,984 | 7.32% | 129,306 | 6.31% | 119,942 | 5.46% | 149,881 | 6.66% | 142,977 | 5.9% | 180,321 | 5.94% | 2,432 | 0.04% | 1,474 | 0.02% | 5,014 | 0.06% | 5,253 | 0.04% | 7,011 | 0.03% | 6,373 | 0.02% | 6,102 | 0.02% | ||
| Sikhism | — | — | 6,904 | 0.4% | 9,205 | 0.47% | 21,110 | 0.93% | 25,733 | 1.25% | 30,345 | 1.38% | 28,040 | 1.25% | 42,510 | 1.75% | 57,939 | 1.91% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 729 | 0.01% | — | — | — | — | 4,050 | 0.01% | ||
| Christianity | — | — | 3,801 | 0.22% | 4,725 | 0.24% | 5,437 | 0.24% | 5,119 | 0.25% | 6,585 | 0.3% | 10,610 | 0.47% | 12,213 | 0.5% | 10,889 | 0.36% | 3,823 | 0.07% | 7,463 | 0.1% | 12,828 | 0.16% | 44,514 | 0.34% | 38,974 | 0.19% | 50,018 | 0.14% | 134,884 | 0.33% | ||
| Jainism | — | — | 52 | 0% | 106 | 0.01% | 108 | 0.005% | 37 | 0.002% | 4 | 0.0002% | 3 | 0.0001% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Zoroastrianism | — | — | — | — | 52 | 0.003% | 48 | 0.002% | 46 | 0.002% | 49 | 0.002% | 20 | 0.001% | 60 | 0.002% | 24 | 0.001% | — | — | 10 | 0% | 39 | 0% | 462 | 0% | — | — | — | — | 36 | 0.0001% | ||
| Buddhism | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 0.0001% | 25 | 0.001% | — | — | 4 | 0% | 77 | 0% | 58 | 0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Judaism | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0.0002% | 4 | 0.0002% | 14 | 0.001% | 0 | 0% | 11 | 0.0005% | 71 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Ahmadiyya | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12,333 | 0.09% | 48,703 | 0.23% | 7,204 | 0.02% | 951 | 0.002% | ||
| Others | — | — | 2,941 | 0.17% | 5 | 0.0003% | 2 | 0.0001% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 215 | 0.004% | 209 | 0% | 16,134 | 0.2% | 2,181 | 0.02% | 16,808 | 0.08% | 9,512 | 0.03% | 8,944 | 0.02% | ||
| Total Responses[be] | 1,209,736 | 100% | 1,718,200 | 100% | 1,955,515 | 100% | 2,281,708 | 100% | 2,050,724 | 96.48% | 2,196,933 | 57.53% | 2,251,340 | 44.35% | 2,425,076 | 51.77% | 3,038,067 | 56.1% | 5,864,550 | 99.4% | 7,578,186 | 99.72% | 8,032,324 | 73.83% | 13,259,875 | 100% | 20,919,976 | 100% | 35,501,964 | 100% | 40,641,120 | 99.47% | ||
| Total Population[be] | 1,209,736 | 100% | 1,718,200 | 100% | 1,955,515 | 100% | 2,281,708 | 100% | 2,125,480 | 100% | 3,819,027 | 100% | 5,076,476 | 100% | 4,684,364 | 100% | 5,415,666 | 100% | 5,899,905 | 100% | 7,599,627 | 100% | 10,879,781 | 100% | 13,259,875 | 100% | 20,919,976 | 100% | 35,501,964 | 100% | 40,856,097 | 100% | ||
| Note 1: Total responses during all colonial–era (1855, 1868, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921, 1931, and 1941) census counts are an amalgamation of all the districts of North–West Frontier Province at the time, includingHazara,Mardan,Peshawar,Kohat,Bannu, andDera Ismail Khan. Religious affiliation was not enumerated in theFederally Administered Tribal Areas and formerprincely states ofAmb,Chitral,Dir,Phulra andSwat during all colonial–era census counts. Note 2: Religious affiliation was not enumerated in theFederally Administered Tribal Areas during one modern–era census count (1972). Total responses in all other modern–era (1951, 1961, 1981, 1998, 2017, 2023) census counts are an amalgamation of theNorth-West Frontier Province andFederally Administered Tribal Areas. Both administrative divisions would ultimately merge to form Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religious group | 1901[39] | 1911[44] | 1921[49] | 1931[55] | 1941[59] | 1951[26][27][66] | 1961[28][29] | 1972[30][71] | 1981[31][32][76] | 1998[33] | 2017[34][94] | 2023[1][99] | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 765,368 | 94.4% | 782,648 | 93.76% | 733,477 | 91.73% | 798,093 | 91.88% | 785,181 | 91.53% | 1,137,063 | 98.52% | 1,146,352 | 98.74% | 2,381,810 | 98.07% | 4,257,628 | 98.27% | 6,484,006 | 98.75% | 12,255,528 | 99.28% | 14,429,568 | 99.09% |
| Hinduism | 38,158 | 4.71% | 38,326 | 4.59% | 51,348 | 6.42% | 53,681 | 6.18% | 54,394 | 6.34% | 13,087 | 1.13% | 9,836 | 0.85% | 18,223 | 0.75% | 19,598 | 0.45% | 39,146 | 0.6% | 49,378 | 0.4% | 59,107 | 0.41% |
| Christianity | 4,026 | 0.5% | 5,085 | 0.61% | 6,693 | 0.84% | 8,059 | 0.93% | 6,056 | 0.71% | 3,937 | 0.34% | 4,720 | 0.41% | 9,807 | 0.4% | 20,131 | 0.46% | 26,462 | 0.4% | 33,330 | 0.27% | 62,731 | 0.43% |
| Sikhism | 2,972 | 0.37% | 8,390 | 1.01% | 7,741 | 0.97% | 8,425 | 0.97% | 12,044 | 1.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 189 | 0.004% | — | — | — | — | 1,057 | 0.01% |
| Zoroastrianism | 166 | 0.02% | 170 | 0.02% | 165 | 0.02% | 167 | 0.02% | 76 | 0.01% | 79 | 0.01% | 92 | 0.01% | 173 | 0.01% | 439 | 0.01% | — | — | — | — | 181 | 0% |
| Judaism | 48 | 0.01% | 57 | 0.01% | 19 | 0.002% | 17 | 0.002% | 20 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jainism | 8 | 0.001% | 10 | 0.001% | 17 | 0.002% | 17 | 0.002% | 7 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Buddhism | 0 | 0% | 16 | 0.002% | 160 | 0.02% | 68 | 0.01% | 43 | 0.01% | 1 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 61 | 0.003% | 106 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ahmadiyya | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5,824 | 0.13% | 9,800 | 0.15% | 2,469 | 0.02% | 557 | 0.004% |
| Others | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 5 | 0.001% | 75 | 0.01% | 14 | 0.002% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0% | 18,604 | 0.77% | 28,461 | 0.66% | 6,471 | 0.1% | 3,703 | 0.03% | 8,810 | 0.06% |
| Total responses | 810,746 | 100% | 834,703 | 100% | 799,625 | 100% | 868,617 | 100% | 857,835 | 100% | 1,154,167[ag] | 98.31% | 1,161,011[al] | 97.34% | 2,428,678 | 100% | 4,332,376 | 100% | 6,565,885 | 100% | 12,344,408 | 100% | 14,562,011 | 97.77% |
| Total population | 810,746 | 100% | 834,703 | 100% | 799,625 | 100% | 868,617 | 100% | 857,835 | 100% | 1,174,036 | 100% | 1,192,685 | 100% | 2,428,678 | 100% | 4,332,376 | 100% | 6,565,885 | 100% | 12,344,408 | 100% | 14,894,402 | 100% |
| Religious group | 1891[105][bf] | 1901[40][i] | 1911[45][n] | 1921[50][r] | 1931[51][x] | 1941[60]: 337–352 [v] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 659,265 | 86.87% | 747,426 | 85.62% | 749,945 | 87.76% | 780,607 | 88.02% | 850,135 | 87.68% | 939,460 | 87.54% |
| Hinduism | 92,639 | 12.21% | 108,331 | 12.41% | 84,130 | 9.85% | 81,733 | 9.22% | 87,554 | 9.03% | 93,559 | 8.72% |
| Sikhism | 6,918 | 0.91% | 17,132 | 1.96% | 20,391 | 2.39% | 24,491 | 2.76% | 31,709 | 3.27% | 39,910 | 3.72% |
| Jainism | 64 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 8 | 0% | 6 | 0% | 11 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Christianity | 21 | 0% | 18 | 0% | 55 | 0.01% | 24 | 0% | 168 | 0.02% | 136 | 0.01% |
| Buddhism | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Zoroastrianism | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Tribal | 0 | 0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Judaism | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0% |
| Others | 0 | 0% | 8 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 89 | 0.01% |
| Total population | 758,907 | 100% | 872,915 | 100% | 854,531 | 100% | 886,861 | 100% | 969,578 | 100% | 1,073,154 | 100% |
| Religious group | 1891[105][bg] | 1901[40][j] | 1911[45][o] | 1921[50][s] | 1931[51][w] | 1941[60]: 337–352 [aa] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 110,161 | 86.68% | 58,779 | 96.54% | 77,189 | 98.45% | 88,643 | 98.82% | 94,940 | 98.44% | 115,601 | 99.62% |
| Tribal | 16,615 | 13.07% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0% | 2 | 0% |
| Buddhism | 239 | 0.19% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Hinduism | 77 | 0.06% | 2,001 | 3.29% | 1,112 | 1.42% | 948 | 1.06% | 1,361 | 1.41% | 295 | 0.25% |
| Christianity | 2 | 0% | 28 | 0.05% | 22 | 0.03% | 16 | 0.02% | 49 | 0.05% | 28 | 0.02% |
| Sikhism | 0 | 0% | 74 | 0.12% | 81 | 0.1% | 90 | 0.1% | 93 | 0.1% | 121 | 0.1% |
| Jainism | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Zoroastrianism | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Judaism | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0% |
| Others | 0 | 0% | 2 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Total population | 127,094 | 100% | 60,885 | 100% | 78,404 | 100% | 89,697 | 100% | 96,446 | 100% | 116,047 | 100% |
Islam is the state religion ofPakistan, and about 96–98% ofPakistanis are Muslim.[2] Pakistan has the second largest number ofMuslims in the world after Indonesia.[106] The majority areSunni (estimated at 80-90%),[5][6] with an estimated 10-20%Shia.[5][6][7][107] A PEW survey in 2012 found that 6% of Pakistani Muslims were Shia.[108] There are a number of Islamic law schools calledMadhab (schools ofjurisprudence), which are calledfiqh or 'Maktab-e-Fikr' inUrdu. Nearly all Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to theHanafi Islamic school of thought, while a small number belong to theHanbali school. The majority ofPakistani Shia Muslims belong to theTwelver (Ithna Asharia) branch, with significant minority who adhere toIsmailism branch that is composed ofNizari (Aga Khanis),Mustaali,Dawoodi Bohra,Sulaymani, and others.[109]Sufis and above mentioned Sunni and Shia sects are considered to beMuslims according to theConstitution of Pakistan; theAhmadiyya (though self-described Muslims) are specifically declared not to be.
The mosque is an important religious as well as social institution in Pakistan.[110][111] Many rituals and ceremonies are celebrated according to Islamic calendar.
The two majorSunni Islamic movements in Pakistan are the Barelvi and Deobandi schools of thought. While estimates of their respective populations vary, the Deobandi movement holds significant influence, particularly through its extensive network of madrasas. Approximately 65% of Pakistan's Islamic seminaries are affiliated with the Deobandi school, compared to 25% associated with the Barelvi tradition.[112][113][114] This widespread educational infrastructure has enabled the Deobandi movement to play a pivotal role in shaping religious education and discourse across the country.[115][116][117][118]
TheDeobandi movement is especially prominent in regions such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where it forms the majority among Sunni Muslims. Its influence extends beyond education into political spheres, with parties likeJamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) playing active roles in national politics.[119]
In contrast, theBarelvi movement, while representing a significant portion of Pakistan's Sunni population, has historically had less institutional influence. However, it has seen a resurgence in recent years, with increased political activism and the formation of parties likeTehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.[120]
Islam to some extent syncretized with pre-Islamic influences, resulting in a religion with some traditions distinct from those of theArab world. Two Sufis whose shrines receive much national attention areAli Hajweri inLahore (ca. 11th century) andShahbaz Qalander inSehwan,Sindh (ca. 12th century).[citation needed]Sufism, a mystical Islamic tradition, promoted byFariduddin Ganjshakar inPakpatan, has a long history and a large popular following in Pakistan. Popular Sufi culture is centered on Thursday night gatherings at shrines and annual festivals which feature Sufi music and dance. Contemporary Islamic fundamentalists criticize its popular character, which in their view, does not accurately reflect the teachings and practice of theIslamic prophetMuhammad and his companions. There have been terrorist attacks directed at Sufi shrines and festivals, 5 in 2010 that killed 64 people.[121][122]
According to the lastCensus in Pakistan, Ahmadi Muslim made up 0.07% of the population; however, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community boycotted the census. Independent groups generally estimate the population to be somewhere between two and five million Ahmadi Muslims. In media reports, four million is the most commonly cited figure.[123]
In 1974, thegovernment of Pakistan amended theConstitution of Pakistan to define aMuslim according to Qu'ran 33:40,[124] as a person who believes in finality of Muhammad under theOrdinance XX. According toOrdinance XX, Ahmadi Muslims cannot call themselves Muslim or "pose as Muslims" which is punishable by three years in prison.[125] Ahmadi Muslims believe in Muhammad as the final law-bearing prophet, but also believeMirza Ghulam Ahmad to be a prophet, the prophecised Mehdi and second coming of Jesus. Consequently, Ahmadi Muslims were declarednon-Muslims by aparliamentary tribunal and are subject to persecution underPakistani blasphemy laws.
_During_Yanglaj_Yatra_2017_Photo_by_Aliraza_Khatri.jpg)
Hinduism is the second largest religion affiliation inPakistan afterIslam.[127] As of 2020, Pakistan has the fourth largest Hindu population in the world afterIndia,Nepal andBangladesh.[128] According to the 1998 Census, the Hindu population was found to be 2,111,271 (including 332,343 scheduled castes Hindus). While according to latest census of 2017, There are 4.4 million Hindus in Pakistan out of 207.68 million total population comprising 2.14% of the country's population of both General and Schedule caste.[77] Hindus are found in all provinces of Pakistan but are mostly concentrated inSindh. About 93% of Hindus live inSindh, 5% inPunjab and nearly 2% inBalochistan.[129] They speak a variety of languages such asSindhi,Seraiki, Aer, Dhatki, Gera, Goaria, Gurgula, Jandavra, Kabutra,Koli, Loarki,Marwari, Sansi, Vaghri[130] andGujarati.[131]
TheRig Veda, the oldest Hindu text, is believed to have been composed in the Punjab region in the Indian subcontinent around 1500 BCE[132] and spread from there across South and South East Asia slowly developing and evolving into the various forms of the faith we see today.[133]
Many ancient Hindu temples are located throughout Pakistan. A significant Hindu pilgrimage site known asHinglaj Mata takes place in southernBalochistan, where over 250,000 people visit during spring as a pilgrimage.
Cases collected byGlobal Human Rights Defence show that underage Hindu (and Christian) girls are often targeted by Muslims for forced conversion to Islam.[134] According to the National Commission of Justice and Peace and the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) around 1,000non-Muslim minority women are converted to Islam and then forcibly married off to their abductors or rapists.[135][136]
Christians (Urdu:مسيحى، عیسائی) make up 1.3% of Pakistan's population.[137] The majority of the Pakistani Christian community consists ofPunjabis who converted during theBritish colonial era and their descendants. InBritish colonial India, there were waves ofconversions to Christianity among theChuhra andChamar between the 1870s and 1930s in thePunjab Province andUnited Provinces of Agra and Oudh.[138] Christians mainly live in the urban centres of Punjab. There is also aRoman Catholic community inKarachi which was established byGoan andTamil migrants when Karachi's infrastructure was being developed between the two World Wars. A fewProtestant groups conduct missions in Pakistan. The present Christian population in Pakistan is ranged between 2 and 3 million as per as recent (2020–21) year estimation by various institution and NGOs of Pakistan.[139]
There are a number of church-run schools in Pakistan that admit students of all religions, includingForman Christian College,[140][141] St. Patrick's Institute of Science & Technology andSaint Joseph's College for Women, Karachi.
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In the 15th century, the Sikh faith was born in the Punjab region (of present day India and Pakistan) whereSikhism's founderGuru Nanak was born. Home to some of the world's most sacredgurdwaras, Sikhs have a become a crucial part in Pakistan'sreligious tourism with large numbers coming to the country particularly during festivals. Aside from religious tourists, estimates on the Sikh population permanently residing in Pakistan vary due to the community being excluded from the national census up until 2023 which marks the first inclusion of Sikhs in census data since partition (where almost 99% fled to India).[142] The results of the2023 Census of Pakistan thus are significant in the first official Sikh count since the formation of Pakistan as a sovereign nation.
In a news article published in December 2022, there was an estimated 30,000–35,000 Sikhs in Pakistan according to Gurpal Singh.[143] Other sources, including the US Department of State, claim the Sikh population in Pakistan to be at 20,000.[144][145] Though full community counts have not yet been available, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) does provide the numbers of eligible voters belonging to minority religions (registered in electoral rolls):
In recent years, their numbers have increased with many Sikhs migrating from neighboring Afghanistan who have joined their co-religionists in Pakistan.[147]
TheBaháʼí Faith in Pakistan was present when it was still under British colonial rule. The roots of the religion in the region go back to the first days of theBábí religion in 1844,[148] with Shaykh Sa'id Hindi who was fromMultan.[149] DuringBahá'u'lláh's lifetime, as founder of the religion, he encouraged some of his followers to move to the area that is present dayPakistan.[150]
The Baháʼís in Pakistan have the right to hold public meetings, establish academic centers, teach their faith, and elect their administrative councils.[151] Bahá'í sources claim their population to be around 30,000.[152] Shoba Das ofMinority Rights Group International reported around 200 Baháʼís in Islamabad and between 2,000 and 3,000 Baháʼís in Pakistan, in 2013.[153] One more PhD thesis says that "It is an assumption that the Bahá’ís do not want to declare their exact population, which is supposed to be more or less 3,000 in total". Most of these Bahá’ís have their roots in Iran.[154]
There are at least 4,000 Pakistani citizens practicing the Zoroastrian religion.[155] The region ofBalochistan is believed to have been a stronghold of Zoroastrianism before the advent of Islam.[156][157] With the flight of Zoroastrians fromGreater Iran into theIndian subcontinent, theParsi communities were established. More recently, from the 15th century onwards, Zorastrians came to settle the coast of Sindh and have established thriving communities and commercial enterprises. At the time of independence of Pakistan in 1947, Karachi and Lahore were home to a thriving Parsi business community.Karachi had the most prominent population of Parsis in Pakistan, though their population is declining.[158][159] Parsis have entered Pakistani public life as social workers, business folk, journalists and diplomats. The most prominent Parsis of Pakistan today includeArdeshir Cowasjee,Byram Dinshawji Avari,Jamsheed Marker, as well asMinocher Bhandara. The founding father of Pakistan,Muhammad Ali Jinnah, marriedRatti Bai who belonged to a Parsi family before her conversion to Islam.[160]
TheKalash people practise a form ofancient Hinduism[161] mixed withanimism.[162] Adherents of the Kalash religion number around 3,000 and inhabit three remote valleys inChitral; Bumboret, Rumbur and Birir. Their religion has been compared to that ofancient Greece, but they are much closer to theHindu traditions in other parts of the Indian subcontinent.[161] It is more similar to thehistorical Vedic religion, than later forms of Hinduism.[163]
Several ancient Jain shrines are scattered across the country.[164]Baba Dharam Dass was a holy man whose tomb is located near the bank of a creek called (Deoka or Deokay or Degh) near Chawinda Phatic, behind the agricultural main office inPasrur, near the city ofSialkot inPunjab, Pakistan. Another prominent Jain monk of the region wasVijayanandsuri ofGujranwala, whosesamadhi (memorial shrine) still stands in the city.[164]
Buddhism has an ancient history in Pakistan; currently there is a small community of at least 1,500Pakistani Buddhists in the country.[155] The country is dotted with numerous ancient and disused Buddhist stupas along the entire breadth of the Indus River that courses through the heart of the country. Many Buddhist empires and city states existed, notably in Gandhara but also elsewhere inTaxila, Punjab and Sindh.[165]
The number of Buddhist voters was 1,884 in 2017 and are mostly concentrated in Sindh and Punjab.[166]
Various estimates suggest that there were about 1,500 Jews living in Pakistan at the time of its independence on 14 August 1947, with the majority living in Karachi and a few living inPeshawar. However, almost all emigrated to Israel after 1948. There are a few disused synagogues in both cities; while one Karachi synagogue was torn down for the construction of a shopping mall. The one in Peshawar still exists, although the building is not being used for any religious purpose. There is a small Jewish community of Pakistani origin settled inRamla, Israel.
One Pakistani, Faisal Khalid (a.k.a. Fishel Benkhald) of Karachi claims to be Pakistan's only Jew.[167][168] He claimed that his mother is Jewish (making him Jewish byJewish custom) but, his father is a Muslim. Pakistani authorities have issued him a passport which stated Judaism as his religion and have allowed him to travel to Israel.[169][170][171]
Irreligion is present among a minority of mainly young people inPakistan. There are people who do not profess any faith (such asatheists andagnostics) in Pakistan, but their numbers are not known.[172] They are particularly in the affluent areas of the larger cities. Some were born insecular families while others in religious ones. According to the1998 census, people who did not state their religion accounted for 0.5% of the population, but social pressure against claiming no religion was strong.[147] A 2012 study byGallup Pakistan found that people not affiliated to any religion account for 1% of the population.[173] Many atheists in Pakistan have been lynched and imprisoned over unsubstantiated allegations of blasphemy. When the state initiated a full-fledged crackdown on atheism since 2017, it has become worse with secular bloggers being kidnapped and the government running advertisements urging people to identify blasphemers among them and the highest judges declaring such people to be terrorists.[174]
A few aspects ofsecularism have also been adopted by Pakistani constitution from British colonial concept.[175][176][177] In 2022, Freedom House rated Pakistan’s religious freedom as 1 out of 4,[178] noting that the blasphemy laws are often exploited by religious vigilantes and also curtail the freedom of expression by Christians and Muslims, especially Ahmadi Muslims. Hindus have spoken of vulnerability to kidnapping and forced conversions. Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country of about 220 million, is often under fire for crimes against members of its religious minorities, including Christians, Ahmadi Shi’ite Muslims and wahabi Muslims and Hindus.[179][180]
Approximately 97 percent of Pakistanis are Muslim. The majority are Sunnis following the Hanafi school of Islamic law. Between 10 and 15 percent are Shiis, mostly Twelvers.
About 97 percent of Pakistanis are Muslim, 85–90 percent of whom are Sunni and 10–15 percent Shia
On the other hand, in Pakistan, where 6% of the survey respondents identify as Shia, Sunni attitudes are more mixed: 50% say Shias are Muslims, while 41% say they are not.
Perhaps best known as home to Asia's earliest cities, the Harappan sites of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, Pakistan's rich history includes contributions from prominent Buddhist, Hindu, Hellenistic, Jain and Zoroastrian civilizations, as well as those connected to its Islamic heritage.
Nazim-ud-Din favored an Islamic state not just out of political expediency but also because of his deep religious belief in its efficacy and practicality ... Nazim-ud-Din commented:'I do not agree that religion is a private affair of the individual nor do I agree that in an Islamic state every citizen has identical rights, no matter what his caste, creed or faith be'.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Pakistan has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia.
On the other hand, in Pakistan, where 6% of the survey respondents identify as Shia, Sunni attitudes are more mixed: 50% say Shias are Muslims, while 41% say they are not.
In Pakistan, the majority of Gujarati-speaking communities are in Karachi including Dawoodi Bohras, Ismaili Khojas, Memons, Kathiawaris, Katchhis, Parsis (Zoroastrians) and Hindus, said Gul Hasan Kalmati, a researcher who authored "Karachi, Sindh Jee Marvi", a book discussing the city and its indigenous communities. Although there are no official statistics available, community leaders claim that there are three million Gujarati-speakers in Karachi – roughly around 15 percent of the city's entire population.
He said roughly there were around 30,000-35,000 Sikhs in Pakistan.
The Kalasha are a unique people living in just three valleys near Chitral, Pakistan, the capital of North-West Frontier Province, which borders Afghanistan. Unlike their neighbors in the Hindu Kush Mountains on both the Afghani and Pakistani sides of the border the Kalasha have not converted toIslam. During the mid-20th century a few Kalasha villages in Pakistan were forcibly converted to this dominant religion, but the people fought the conversion and once official pressure was removed the vast majority continued to practice their own religion. Their religion is a form of Hinduism that recognizes many gods and spirits and has been related to the religion of the Ancient Greeks, who mythology says are the ancestors of the contemporary Kalash… However, it is much more likely, given their Indo-Aryan language, that the religion of the Kalasha is much more closely aligned to the Hinduism of their Indian neighbors that to the religion of Alexander the Great and his armies.
The Kalash people are small in number, hardly exceeding 3,000, but they ... and as well as having their own language and costume, they practice animism (the worship of spirits in nature)...
Approximately 97 percent of Pakistanis are Muslim. The majority are Sunnis following the Hanafi school of Islamic law. Between 10 and 20 percent are Shiis, mostly Twelvers.
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