MigrantoImmigrants in Pakistan
3.5M foreign-born residents — the #18 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 100% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 1923453 |
| India | 1597134 |
| China | 3568 |
| Myanmar | 2297 |
| Iran | 2148 |
| Sri Lanka | 539 |
| Indonesia | 380 |
| Iraq | 233 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 100%
3.5M
233
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Pakistan.
Afghanistan is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Afghanistan accounts for 54% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 45%.
Pakistan is a primary destination for emigrants from Afghanistan
Pakistan attracts 26% of all emigrants from Afghanistan, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 6203799 |
| 1995 | 3665602 |
| 2000 | 4178579 |
| 2005 | 3171399 |
| 2010 | 3940511 |
| 2015 | 3425927 |
| 2020 | 3201265 |
| 2024 | 3529752 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Afghanistan | India | China | Myanmar | Iran |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3374973 | 2818248 | 490 | 3598 | 4108 |
| 1995 | 1291867 | 2365884 | 410 | 3000 | 3060 |
| 2000 | 2069977 | 2101039 | 363 | 2662 | 2940 |
| 2005 | 1166210 | 1998814 | 347 | 2551 | 2381 |
| 2010 | 1990641 | 1943345 | 338 | 2479 | 2345 |
| 2015 | 1710378 | 1709217 | 334 | 2460 | 2301 |
| 2020 | 1598223 | 1597134 | 311 | 2297 | 2148 |
| 2024 | 1923453 | 1597134 | 3568 | 2297 | 2148 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Pakistan as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Pakistan
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Pakistan?
Around 3.5M foreign-born residents live in Pakistan, making it the #18-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Pakistan come from?
Most immigrants in Pakistan come from Afghanistan, India and China — these three countries account for about 100% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Pakistan are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 1% of the population of Pakistan — that's 3.5M out of a total population of 251.3M.
How has immigration to Pakistan changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Pakistan has changed from 3.4M to 3.5M people, a change of about 3%.
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