Although the official language of Pakistan is Urdu, it is spoken as a first language by only 9% of the population; 65% speak Punjabi, 11% Sindhi, and 24% speak other languages (Pushtu, Saraiki, Baloch, Brahui). Urdu, Punjabi, Pushtu, and Baloch are Indo-European languages; Brahui is believed to have Dravidian (pre-Indo-European) origins. English is widely used within the government, the officer ranks of the military, and in many institutions of higher learning.
Population: 141,553,775 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
41% (male 29,880,574; female 28,145,247)
15-64 years:
55% (male 39,751,222; female 37,981,378)
65 years and over:
4% (male 2,856,305; female 2,939,049) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.17% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 32.11 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 9.51 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.97 male(s)/female
total population:
1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 82.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
61.07 years
male:
60.27 years
female:
61.91 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.56 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Pakistani(s)
adjective:
Pakistani
Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants)
Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shiite 20%), Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and other 3%
Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
37.8%
male:
50%
female:
24.4% (1995 est.)