Islamabad, Pakistan Population 2024

Islamabad's 2024 population is now estimated at 1,266,790In 1950, the population of Islamabad was 36,466Islamabad has grown by 34,340 in the last year, which represents a 2.79% annual change.These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Islamabad, which typically includes Islamabad's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan and is located within the federal Islamabad Capital Territory. The population makeup of the city makes it the most diverse and cosmopolitan area in Pakistan, which has contributed to its steady growth over the years. As of 2016, the population is 1.433 million.

Islamabad is not just known for being the capital of Pakistan, but it is known for embracing modern ideas while remaining true to its rich cultural heritage. The dynamic city has attracted residents from all over Pakistan, making it one of the most diverse and urbanized cities in the country.

City Size and Population Density

The city of Islamabad covers a total surface area of 906.5 square kilometers (approximately 350.0 square miles). In combination with the current estimated number of residents, the population density comes to about 2,089 people residing per square kilometer (5,410 living per square mile).

Islamabad Demographics

The city of Islamabad has a population of 1,433,000 as of 2016. Islamabad and its neighbor Rawalpindi form the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area, which has a population of over 4.5 million. Islamabad has become known for its diverse population, its higher education system for being home to the largest mosque in South Asia.

The city is mostly comprised of people in the 15-64 year age bracket, making up over 59% of the population. Over 37% of residents are under the age of 15, while the older population is quite small at just 2.73%. Islam is the most practiced religion in the city, with over 95% of Muslims making up the population. The second largest religion is Christianity, which accounts for just over 4% of the population.

Islamabad has the highest literacy rate in the country at 88%. Over 10% of the population has a bachelor’s degree, and 5.2% have a master’s degree, in part because of the higher education system which consists of 16 recognized universities. Punjabis make up 65% of the population, followed by Urdu-speaking Muhajirs (14%), Pashtuns (10.51%) and others – including Sindhi, Balochi, and Kashmiris) making up the remaining 7%.

Islamabad History

The country of Pakistan was formed in 1947 and after its formation, it was determined that the country needed a capital. In 1958, a commission went to work to find a new location based on climate, location, beauty, and other criteria. After planning and research, the area around Rawalpindi was selected, and Islamabad was created with the initial goal that Islamabad would eventually encompass Rawalpindi.

Before the development of Islamabad, the area had been settled before, with the earliest history dating back to 5000 BC. In modern times, Islamabad – which reached completion of development in 1966 – is one of the most diverse cities in the country, attracting settlers from all over Pakistan. It is also a popular tourist destination for hikers and mountaineers that want to enjoy the beautiful outdoor aesthetics that the city has to offer. A moderate climate, outdoor scenery, and basic infrastructure isn’t the only appeal that the city has, though, as it also houses the country’s embassies, Foreign Office and other government buildings.

Islamabad Population Growth

Despite development that was completed in the 1960s, Islamabad has shown steady population growth over the years. Its high percentage of youthful residents, combined with its climate, scenery, and jobs in sectors including information and communications technology makes it an area that should see continued growth well into the future. Estimates place the 2020 population at almost 1.7 million, and it’s expected to exceed 2.2 million in 2030.

Country
Pakistan
Growth Rate
2.79%

86 Rows

Year
Population
20351,672,380
20341,631,330
20331,591,330
20321,552,340
20311,514,320
20301,477,160
20291,440,830
20281,405,220
20271,370,190
20261,335,550
20251,301,130
20241,266,790
20231,232,450
20221,198,040
20211,163,580
20201,129,200
20191,095,060
20181,061,410
20171,025,290
2016990,397
2015956,599
2014923,999
2013892,510
2012862,136
2011832,715
2010804,337
2009776,926
2008750,485
2007724,875
2006700,172
2005676,311
2004653,294
2003631,000
2002609,496
2001588,725
2000568,689
1999549,283
1998530,564
1997505,419
1996478,200
1995452,378
1994427,983
1993404,903
1992383,098
1991362,411
1990342,868
1989324,378
1988306,909
1987290,336
1986274,680
1985259,867
1984245,872
1983232,596
1982220,053
1981208,186
1980189,335
1979168,745
1978150,417
1977134,081
1976119,537
1975106,538
197494,967
197384,652
197276,594
197173,242
197070,041
196966,980
196864,057
196761,253
196658,576
196556,016
196453,571
196351,227
196248,988
196146,847
196045,408
195944,422
195843,459
195742,516
195641,595
195540,692
195439,809
195338,946
195238,102
195137,274
195036,466

86 Rows

Year
Population
Change
Growth
195036,4660%0
195137,2742.22%808
195238,1022.22%828
195338,9462.22%844
195439,8092.22%863
195540,6922.22%883
195641,5952.22%903
195742,5162.21%921
195843,4592.22%943
195944,4222.22%963
196045,4082.22%986
196146,8473.17%1,439
196248,9884.57%2,141
196351,2274.57%2,239
196453,5714.58%2,344
196556,0164.56%2,445
196658,5764.57%2,560
196761,2534.57%2,677
196864,0574.58%2,804
196966,9804.56%2,923
197070,0414.57%3,061
197173,2424.57%3,201
197276,5944.58%3,352
197384,65210.52%8,058
197494,96712.19%10,315
1975106,53812.18%11,571
1976119,53712.2%12,999
1977134,08112.17%14,544
1978150,41712.18%16,336
1979168,74512.18%18,328
1980189,33512.2%20,590
1981208,1869.96%18,851
1982220,0535.7%11,867
1983232,5965.7%12,543
1984245,8725.71%13,276
1985259,8675.69%13,995
1986274,6805.7%14,813
1987290,3365.7%15,656
1988306,9095.71%16,573
1989324,3785.69%17,469
1990342,8685.7%18,490
1991362,4115.7%19,543
1992383,0985.71%20,687
1993404,9035.69%21,805
1994427,9835.7%23,080
1995452,3785.7%24,395
1996478,2005.71%25,822
1997505,4195.69%27,219
1998530,5644.98%25,145
1999549,2833.53%18,719
2000568,6893.53%19,406
2001588,7253.52%20,036
2002609,4963.53%20,771
2003631,0003.53%21,504
2004653,2943.53%22,294
2005676,3113.52%23,017
2006700,1723.53%23,861
2007724,8753.53%24,703
2008750,4853.53%25,610
2009776,9263.52%26,441
2010804,3373.53%27,411
2011832,7153.53%28,378
2012862,1363.53%29,421
2013892,5103.52%30,374
2014923,9993.53%31,489
2015956,5993.53%32,600
2016990,3973.53%33,798
20171,025,2903.52%34,893
20181,061,4103.52%36,120
20191,095,0603.17%33,650
20201,129,2003.12%34,140
20211,163,5803.04%34,380
20221,198,0402.96%34,460
20231,232,4502.87%34,410
20241,266,7902.79%34,340
20251,301,1302.71%34,340
20261,335,5502.65%34,420
20271,370,1902.59%34,640
20281,405,2202.56%35,030
20291,440,8302.53%35,610
20301,477,1602.52%36,330
20311,514,3202.52%37,160
20321,552,3402.51%38,020
20331,591,3302.51%38,990
20341,631,3302.51%40,000
20351,672,3802.52%41,050

Islamabad Population Data (Urban Area)

Name
2024 Pop.
2024 Growth
Karachi17,648,6002.39%
Lahore14,407,1003.06%
Faisalabad3,800,1902.41%
Peshawar2,480,5502.85%
Gujranwala2,479,0602.63%
Rawalpindi2,430,3902.23%
Multan2,205,4102.36%
Hyderabad2,011,9602.25%
Islamabad1,266,7902.79%
Quetta1,221,5002.62%
Bahawalpur944,8122.74%
Sialkot770,9622.34%
Sargodha757,9152.17%
Larkana594,0042.63%
Sukkur581,9772.27%
Sheikhupura572,8502.56%
Rahim Yar Khan517,2722.68%
Dera Ghazikhan511,5002.98%
Sahiwal482,2242.72%
Wah473,1102.77%

Other Cities in Pakistan

  1. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics - Islamabad population census

Sources