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Religion in Pakistan

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Religion in Pakistan (2023 census)[1][2][3][4][5]

  Islam (96.35%)
  Hinduism (2.17%)
  Christianity (1.37%)
  Others (0.11%)
The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore was built during the Mughal Empire
Shiva Parvati Hindu Temple in Mithi
St. Patrick's Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi
The animistic Kalash people at Chilam Joshi festival in Chitral, whose religion resembles ancient Hinduism[6]

The official religion of Pakistan is Islam,[7] as enshrined by Article 2 of the Constitution, and is practised by an overwhelming majority of 96.35% of the country's population.[1][8] The remaining 3.65% practice Hinduism, Christianity, Ahmadiyya (considered a non-Muslim group as per Pakistani constitution[9]), Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and other religions.[7][10]

Muslims comprise a number of sects: the majority practice Sunni Islam (estimated at 90%), while a minority practice Shia Islam (estimated at 10%).[11][12][13] Most Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence,[7] which is represented by the Barelvi and Deobandi traditions. However, the Hanbali school is also gaining popularity due to Ahl-i Hadith and Wahhabi influence from the Middle East.[14] The majority of Pakistani Shia Muslims belong to the Twelver Islamic law school, with significant minority groups who practice Ismailism, which is composed of Nizari (Aga Khanis), Mustaali, Dawoodi Bohra, Sulaymani, and others.

Before the arrival of Islam beginning in the 8th century, the region comprising Pakistan was home to a diverse plethora of faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism.[15][16]

Equal rights

[edit]

Khawaja Nazimuddin, Pakistan's second Prime Minister, argued against equal rights for all citizens in an Islamic state.[17] However, The Constitution of Pakistan establishes Islam as the state religion,[18] and provides that all citizens have the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion subject to law, public order, and morality.[19] The Constitution also states that all laws are to conform with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Quran and Sunnah.[20]

The Constitution limits the political rights of Pakistan's non-Muslims. Only Muslims are allowed to become the President[21] or the Prime Minister.[22] Only Muslims are allowed to serve as judges in the Federal Shariat Court, which has the power to strike down any law deemed un-Islamic, though its judgments can be overruled by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.[23] However, non-Muslims have served as judges in the High Courts and Supreme Court.[24] 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.[25]

The main principles of Human rights in the Pakistani constitution were incorporated in its fundamental rights which were granted under various articles of 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 36 & 38 of the constitution[26] –

(a) Article 20 : Freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions.[27]

(b) Article 21 : Safeguard against taxation for purposes of any particular religion.[28]

(c) Article 22 : Safeguards as to educational institutions in respect of religion, etc.[29]

(d) Article 25 : Equality of citizens.[30]

(e) Article 26 : Non-discrimination in respect of access to public places.[31]

(f) Article 27 : Safeguard against discrimination in services.[32]

(g) Article 36 : Protection of Minorities.[33]

(h) Article 38 : Promotion of social and economic well-being of all the people.[34]

Demographics of religion in Pakistan

[edit]

Background

[edit]
Religious groups in Pakistan (1901–2023)
Religious
group 		1901 census[a] 1911 census[b] 1921 census[c] 1931 census[d] 1941 census[e] 1947 estimate[f] 1951 census[35][36] 1961 census [37][38] 1972 census[39] 1981 census[40][41] 1998 census[42] 2017 census[43] 2023 census[44]
Pop. % 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% 23,581,769 76.73% 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 [g] 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% 4,457,578 14.5% 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% 1,961,556 6.38% — — — — — — 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% 483,033 1.57% 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% 17,730 0.06% — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
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 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% 229,852[h] 0.75% 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% 30,731,518 100% 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%
Note1: 1901, 1911, 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.

Note2: 1947 figures (the year of partition and the accompanying mass population transfer) for Pakistan are estimates based on the annualized growth rates between the 1931 census[d] and 1941 census[e] for adherents of Islam (+1.86% p.a.), Hinduism (+1.90% p.a.), Sikhism (+2.69% p.a.), Christianity (+1.85% p.a.), Jainism (+5.02% p.a.), and others (+24.23% p.a.).

Note3: 1951 and 1961 figures taken from census data by combining the total population of the former administrative division of West Pakistan.

1901 census

[edit]
Further information: West Punjab § Religion, North-West Frontier Province § Religion, Baluchistan Agency § Religion, and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) § Religion

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 17,708,014 according to the 1901 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative 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 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Religious groups in Pakistan (1901)[a]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[b] Punjab[45][j] Sindh[46][k] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[47] 		Balochistan[48] AJK[49][l] Gilgit–
Baltistan[49][m]
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[n] 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[n] 100% 810,746 100% 872,915 100% 60,885 100%

1911 census

[edit]
Further information: West Punjab § Religion, North-West Frontier Province § Religion, Baluchistan Agency § Religion, and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) § Religion

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 20,428,473 according to the 1911 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative 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 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Religious groups in Pakistan (1911)[b]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[b] Punjab[50][o] Sindh[51][p] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[52] 		Balochistan[53] AJK[54][q] Gilgit–
Baltistan[54][r]
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[n] 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[n] 100% 834,703 100% 854,531 100% 78,404 100%

1921 census

[edit]
Further information: West Punjab § Religion, North-West Frontier Province § Religion, Baluchistan Agency § Religion, and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) § Religion

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 22,214,152 according to the 1921 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative 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 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Religious groups in Pakistan (1921)[c]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[c] Punjab[55][s] Sindh[56][t] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[57] 		Balochistan[58] AJK[60][u] Gilgit–
Baltistan[59][v]
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[n] 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[n] 100% 799,625 100% 886,861 100% 89,697 100%

1931 census

[edit]
Further information: West Punjab § Religion, North-West Frontier Province § Religion, Baluchistan Agency § Religion, and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) § Religion

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 24,774,056 according to the 1931 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative 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 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Religious groups in Pakistan (1931)[d]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[d] Punjab[61][w] Sindh[62][x] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[63] 		Balochistan[64] AJK[60][aa] Gilgit–
Baltistan[60][z]
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 [g] 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[n] 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[n] 100% 868,617 100% 969,578 100% 96,446 100%

1941 census

[edit]
Further information: West Punjab § Religion, North-West Frontier Province § Religion, Baluchistan Agency § Religion, and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) § Religion

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 the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative 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 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Religious groups in Pakistan (1941)[e]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[e] Punjab[65]: 42 [ab] Sindh[66]: 28 [ac] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[67]: 22  		Balochistan[68]: 13–18  AJK[69]: 337–352 [y] Gilgit–
Baltistan[69]: 337–352 [ad]
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 [g] 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[n] 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[n] 100% 857,835 100% 1,073,154 100% 116,047 100%

1951 census

[edit]
Refugees during Partition of India, 1947

Religion in Pakistan (1951 Official census)[35][36]

  Islam (97.1%)
  Hinduism (1.6%)
  Christianity (1.2%)
  Others (0.1%)

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;[70] 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 the 1947 Partition of India gave rise to bloody rioting and indiscriminate inter-communal killing of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs across the Indian subcontinent, especially in Punjab region. As a result, around 7.3 million Hindus and Sikhs moved to India and 7.2 million Muslims moved to Pakistan permanently, leading to demographic change of both the nations to a certain extent.[71][72]

Religious groups in Pakistan (1951)[35][36]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[35][36] Punjab[73] Sindh[ae] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[74] 		Balochistan[75] 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[af] 99.77% 20,636,702[ag] 99.93% 6,047,748[ah] 99.89% 5,864,550[ai] 99.4% 1,154,167[aj] 98.31% — — — —
Total population 33,779,555 100% 20,651,140 100% 6,054,474 100% 5,899,905 100% 1,174,036 100% — — — —

1961 census

[edit]
Religious groups in Pakistan (1961)[37][38]
Religious
group 		Pakistan 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[ak] 99.77% 25,581,643[al] 99.85% 8,559,538[am] 99.92% 7,578,186[an] 99.72% 1,161,011[ao] 97.34% — — — —
Total population 42,978,261 100% 25,619,437 100% 8,566,512 100% 7,599,627 100% 1,192,685 100% — — — —

1972 census

[edit]
Religious groups in Pakistan (1972)[39]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[39] Punjab[76] Sindh[77] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[78][79] 		Balochistan[80] ICT[81] 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[n] 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[n] 100% 2,428,678 100% 234,813 100% — — — —

1981 census

[edit]
Religious groups in Pakistan (1981)[40][41]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[40][41] Punjab[82] Sindh[83] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[84] 		Balochistan[85] 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% — — — —

1998 census

[edit]
Religious groups in Pakistan (1998)[42]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[42] 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% — — — —

2017 census

[edit]

As per 2017 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,[86] Pakistan has a population of 224,418,238 as of 2021.[87]

As of 2018, there are 3.63 million non-Muslim voters in Pakistan- 1.77 million were Hindus, 1.64 million Christians, 167,505 were Ahmadi Muslims, 31,543 were Baháʼís, 8,852 were Sikhs, 4,020 were Parsis, 1,884 were Buddhist and others such as Kalashas.[88] The NADRA makes it nearly impossible to declare and change the religion to anything from Islam making the statistics somewhat misleading.[89]

Religious groups in Pakistan (2017)[43]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[43] 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% — — — —

Details

[edit]

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released religious data of Pakistan Census 2017 on 19 May 2021.[90] 96.47% are Muslims, followed by 2.14% Hindus, 1.27% Christians, 0.09% Ahmadi Muslims and 0.02% others.

These are some maps of religious minority groups. The 2017 census showed an increasing share in Hinduism, mainly caused by a higher birth rate among the impoverished Hindus of Sindh province. This census also recorded Pakistan's first Hindu-majority district, called Umerkot 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.

The Ahmadiyya movement shrunk in size (both raw numbers and percentage) between 1998 and 2017, while remaining concentrated in Lalian Tehsil, Chiniot District, where approximately 13% of the population is Ahmadi Muslim.

Here are some maps of Pakistan's religious minority groups as of the 2017 census by district:

  • Hindu proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census
    Hindu proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census
  • Christian proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census
    Christian proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census
  • Ahmadiyya Muslim proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census
    Ahmadiyya Muslim proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census

2023 census

[edit]

Pakistan religious diversity as per 2023 census[91]

Religion Population %
Muslims () 231,686,709 96.35%
Hindus () 5,217,216 2.17%
Christians () 3,300,788 1.37%
Ahmadiyya Muslims 162,684 0.07%
Sikhs 15,992 0.01%
Zoroastrians 2,348 <0.01%
Others (inc. Kalashas,Baháʼís, Buddhists) 72,346 0.03%
Total 240,458,089 100%

Demographics of religion by province/territory

[edit]

Punjab

[edit]
Religion in Punjab, Pakistan (1881–2023)
Religious
group 		1881[92][93][94][95][ap] 1901[45][96][j] 1911[50][97][o] 1921[55][s] 1931[61][w] 1941[65][ab] 1951[35][36][73] 1998[42] 2017[43][4] 2023[44][98]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Islam 6,201,859 78.09% 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% 71,574,830 97.22% 107,541,602 97.77% 124,462,897 97.75%
Hinduism [aq] 1,449,913 18.26% 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% 116,410 0.16% 211,641 0.19% 249,716 0.2%
Sikhism 272,908 3.44% 483,999 4.64% 813,441 7.33% 863,091 7.26% 1,180,789 8.41% 1,530,112 8.82% — — — — — — 5,649 0.004%
Christianity 12,992 0.16% 42,371 0.41% 144,514 1.3% 247,030 2.08% 324,730 2.31% 395,311 2.28% 402,617 1.95% 1,699,843 2.31% 2,063,063 1.88% 2,458,924 1.93%
Jainism 4,352 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% 300 0.003% 377 0.003% 309 0.003% 413 0.003% 312 0.002% 195 0.001% — — — — 358 0.0003%
Buddhism 0 0% 6 0.0001% 168 0.002% 172 0.001% 32 0.0002% 87 0.001% 9 0% — — — — — —
Judaism — — 9 0.0001% 36 0.0003% 16 0.0001% 6 0% 7 0% — — — — — — — —
Ahmadiyya — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 181,428 0.25% 158,021 0.14% 140,512 0.11%
Others 21 0.0003% 0 0% 0 0% 8 0.0001% 0 0% 19,534 0.11% 35 0.0002% 48,779 0.07% 15,328 0.01% 15,249 0.01%
Total responses 7,942,399 100% 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% 73,621,290 100% 109,989,655 100% 127,333,305 99.72%
Total population 7,942,399 100% 10,427,765 100% 11,104,585 100% 11,888,985 100% 14,040,798 100% 17,350,103 100% 20,651,140 100% 73,621,290 100% 109,989,655 100% 127,688,922 100%

Sindh

[edit]
Religion in Sindh (1872−2023)
Religious
group 		1872[99][ar] 1881[100][as] 1891[101][at] 1901[46][k] 1911[51][p] 1921[56][t] 1931[62][x] 1941[66]: 28 [ac] 1951[35][36][ae] 1998[42] 2017[43][4] 2023[44][1]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Islam 1,712,221 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% 27,796,814 91.32% 43,234,107 90.34% 50,126,428 90.09%
Hinduism [au] 475,848 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% 2,280,842 7.49% 4,176,986 8.73% 4,901,407 8.81%
Christianity 3,329 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% 294,885 0.97% 408,301 0.85% 546,968 0.98%
Zoroastrianism 810 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% — — — — 1,763 0.003%
Judaism 35 0% 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% — — — — — — — —
Buddhism — — 9 0% 2 0% 0 0% 21 0.001% 41 0.001% 53 0.001% 111 0.002% 670 0.01% — — — — — —
Sikhism — — — — 720 0.02% —[av] — 12,339 0.33% 8,036 0.23% 19,172 0.47% 32,627 0.67% — — — — — — 5,182 0.01%
Tribal — — — — — — —[av] — 9,224 0.25% 8,186 0.24% 204 0% 37,598 0.78% — — — — — — — —
Ahmadiyya — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 43,524 0.14% 21,661 0.05% 18,266 0.03%
Others 172 0.01% 0 0% 3 0% 2,029 0.06% 298 0.01% 64 0.002% 1,510 0.04% 0 0% 1,226 0.02% 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% 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% 30,439,893 100% 47,854,510 100% 55,696,147 100%

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

[edit]
Religion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (1881–2023)
Religious
group 		1881[102] 1891[103] 1901[47] 1911[52] 1921[57] 1931[63] 1941[67] 1951[35][36][74] 1998[42] 2017[43][4] 2023[44][1]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Islam 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% 20,808,480 99.47% 35,428,857 99.79% 40,486,153 99.62%
Hinduism [aw] 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% 7,011 0.03% 6,373 0.02% 6,102 0.02%
Sikhism 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% — — — — — — 4,050 0.01%
Christianity 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% 38,974 0.19% 50,018 0.14% 134,884 0.33%
Jainism 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% — — — — — — 36 0.0001%
Buddhism 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 2 0.0001% 25 0.001% — — — — — — — —
Judaism — — 4 0.0002% 4 0.0002% 14 0.001% 0 0% 11 0.0005% 71 0.002% — — — — — — — —
Ahmadiyya — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 48,703 0.23% 7,204 0.02% 951 0.002%
Others 5 0.0003% 2 0.0001% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 215 0.004% 16,808 0.08% 9,512 0.03% 8,944 0.02%
Total Responses[ax] 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% 20,919,976 100% 35,501,964 100% 40,641,120 99.47%
Total Population[ax] 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% 20,919,976 100% 35,501,964 100% 40,856,097 100%
Note1: Pre-partition populations for religious data is for North-West Frontier Province only and excludes the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (both administrative divisions later merged to form Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018), as religious data was not collected in the latter region at the time.

Note2: 1951, 1998, and 2017 populations for religious data combine the North-West Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, both administrative divisions which later merged to form Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.

Balochistan

[edit]
Religion in Balochistan (1901–2023)
Religious
group 		1901[48] 1911[53] 1921[58] 1931[64] 1941[68] 1951[35][36][75] 1998[42] 2017[43][4] 2023[44][1]
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% 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% 39,146 0.6% 49,378 0.4% 59,107 0.41%
Sikhism 2,972 0.37% 8,390 1.01% 7,741 0.97% 8,425 0.97% 12,044 1.4% — — — — — — 1,057 0.007%
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% 26,462 0.4% 33,330 0.27% 62,731 0.43%
Zoroastrianism 166 0.02% 170 0.02% 165 0.02% 167 0.02% 76 0.01% 79 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% — — — — — —
Ahmadiyya — — — — — — — — — — — — 9,800 0.15% 2,469 0.02% 557 0.004%
Others 0 0% 1 0% 5 0.001% 75 0.009% 14 0.002% 0 0% 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 98.31% 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% 6,565,885 100% 12,344,408 100% 14,894,402 100%

Azad Jammu and Kashmir

[edit]
Religious groups in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (1891–1941)
Religious
group 		1891[104][ay] 1901[49][l] 1911[54][q] 1921[59][u] 1931[60][aa] 1941[69]: 337–352 [y]
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%

Gilgit–Baltistan

[edit]
Religious groups in Gilgit–Baltistan (1891–1941)
Religious
group 		1891[104][az] 1901[49][m] 1911[54][r] 1921[59][v] 1931[60][z] 1941[69]: 337–352 [ad]
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

[edit]
Main article: Islam in Pakistan
The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, which is the largest mosque of Pakistan and is also one of the largest in the world, was built by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.

Islam is the state religion of Pakistan, and about 96–98% of Pakistanis are Muslim.[7] Pakistan has the second largest number of Muslims in the world after Indonesia.[105] The majority are Sunni (estimated at 85-90%),[11][12] with an estimated 10–15% Shia.[11][12][13][106] A PEW survey in 2012 found that 6% of Pakistani Muslims were Shia.[107] There are a number of Islamic law schools called Madhab (schools of jurisprudence), which are called fiqh or 'Maktab-e-Fikr' in Urdu. Nearly all Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi Islamic school of thought, while a small number belong to the Hanbali school. The majority of Pakistani Shia Muslims belong to the Twelver (Ithna Asharia) branch, with significant minority who adhere to Ismailism branch that is composed of Nizari (Aga Khanis), Mustaali, Dawoodi Bohra, Sulaymani, and others.[108] Sufis and above mentioned Sunni and Shia sects are considered to be Muslims according to the Constitution of Pakistan; the Ahmadiyya (though self-described Muslims) are specifically declared not to be.

The mosque is an important religious as well as social institution in Pakistan.[109][110] Many rituals and ceremonies are celebrated according to Islamic calendar.

Sunni

[edit]

Barelvi and Deobandi Sunni Muslims

[edit]

There are two major Sunni sects in Pakistan, the Barelvi movement and Deobandi movement. Statistics regarding Pakistan's sects and sub-sects have been called "tenuous",[111] but estimates of the sizes of the two groups give a slight majority of Pakistan's population to followers of the Barelvi school, while 15–25% are thought to follow the Deobandi school of jurisprudence.[112][113][114]

However, the Hanbali school is also gaining popularity due to Ahl-i Hadith movement and also recent Wahhabi and Salafi movement influence from the Middle East.[115]

Sufi

[edit]
The shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar

Islam to some extent syncretized with pre-Islamic influences, resulting in a religion with some traditions distinct from those of the Arab world. Two Sufis whose shrines receive much national attention are Ali Hajweri in Lahore (ca. 11th century) and Shahbaz Qalander in Sehwan, Sindh (ca. 12th century).[citation needed] Sufism, a mystical Islamic tradition, promoted by Fariduddin Ganjshakar in Pakpatan, 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 the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his companions. There have been terrorist attacks directed at Sufi shrines and festivals, 5 in 2010 that killed 64 people.[116][117]

Ahmadiyya

[edit]
Main article: Ahmadiyya in Pakistan
Yadgar Mosque, the first mosque of Rabwah

According to the last Census 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.[118]

In 1974, the government of Pakistan amended the Constitution of Pakistan to define a Muslim according to Qu'ran 33:40,[119] as a person who believes in finality of Muhammad under the Ordinance XX. According to Ordinance XX, Ahmadi Muslims cannot call themselves Muslim or "pose as Muslims" which is punishable by three years in prison.[120] Ahmadi Muslims believe in Muhammad as the final law-bearing prophet, but also believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to be a prophet, the prophecised Mehdi and second coming of Jesus. Consequently, Ahmadi Muslims were declared non-Muslims by a parliamentary tribunal and are subject to persecution under Pakistani blasphemy laws.

Hinduism

[edit]
Main article: Hinduism in Pakistan
Shri Hinglaj Mata temple shakti peetha is the largest Hindu pilgrimage centre in Pakistan. The annual Hinglaj Yathra is attended by more than 250,000 people.[121]

Hinduism is the second largest religion affiliation in Pakistan after Islam.[122] As of 2020, Pakistan has the fourth largest Hindu population in the world after India, Nepal and Bangladesh.[123] 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.[86] Hindus are found in all provinces of Pakistan but are mostly concentrated in Sindh. About 93% of Hindus live in Sindh, 5% in Punjab and nearly 2% in Balochistan.[124] They speak a variety of languages such as Sindhi, Seraiki, Aer, Dhatki, Gera, Goaria, Gurgula, Jandavra, Kabutra, Koli, Loarki, Marwari, Sansi, Vaghri[125] and Gujarati.[126]

The Rig Veda, the oldest Hindu text, is believed to have been composed in the Punjab region in the Indian subcontinent around 1500 BCE[127] and spread from there across South and South East Asia slowly developing and evolving into the various forms of the faith we see today.[128]

Many ancient Hindu temples are located throughout Pakistan. A significant Hindu pilgrimage site known as Hinglaj Mata takes place in southern Balochistan, where over 250,000 people visit during spring as a pilgrimage.

Cases collected by Global Human Rights Defence show that underage Hindu (and Christian) girls are often targeted by Muslims for forced conversion to Islam.[129] According to the National Commission of Justice and Peace and the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) around 1,000 non-Muslim minority women are converted to Islam and then forcibly married off to their abductors or rapists.[130][131]

Christianity

[edit]
Main article: Christianity in Pakistan
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore

Christians (Urdu: مسيحى، عیسائی) make up 1.3% of Pakistan's population.[132] The majority of the Pakistani Christian community consists of Punjabis who converted during the British colonial era and their descendants. In British colonial India, there were waves of conversions to Christianity among the Chuhra and Chamar between the 1870s and 1930s in the Punjab Province and United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.[133] Christians mainly live in the urban centres of Punjab. There is also a Roman Catholic community in Karachi which was established by Goan and Tamil migrants when Karachi's infrastructure was being developed between the two World Wars. A few Protestant 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.[3]

There are a number of church-run schools in Pakistan that admit students of all religions, including Forman Christian College,[134][135] St. Patrick's Institute of Science & Technology and Saint Joseph's College for Women, Karachi.

Sikhism

[edit]
Main article: Sikhism in Pakistan
Gurdwara Janam Asthan, the birthplace of the founder of Sikhism in Nankana Sahib

In the 15th century, the Sikh faith was born in the Punjab region (of present day India and Pakistan) where Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak was born. Home to some of the world's most sacred gurdwaras, Sikhs have a become a crucial part in Pakistan's religious 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).[136] The results of the 2023 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.[137] Other sources, including the US Department of State, claim the Sikh population in Pakistan to be at 20,000.[138][139] 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):

  • 2013: 5,934 Sikh Voters [140]
  • 2018: 8,852 Sikh Voters[140]

In recent years, their numbers have increased with many Sikhs migrating from neighboring Afghanistan who have joined their co-religionists in Pakistan.[141]

Other religions

[edit]

Baháʼí

[edit]
Main article: Baháʼí Faith in Pakistan

The Baháʼí Faith in Pakistan begins previous to its independence when it was still under British colonial rule. The roots of the religion in the region go back to the first days of the Bábí religion in 1844,[142] with Shaykh Sa'id Hindi who was from Multan.[143] During Bahá'u'lláh's lifetime, as founder of the religion, he encouraged some of his followers to move to the area that is present day Pakistan.[144]

The Baháʼís in Pakistan have the right to hold public meetings, establish academic centers, teach their faith, and elect their administrative councils.[145] Bahá'í sources claim their population to be around 30,000.[146] Shoba Das of Minority Rights Group International reported around 200 Baháʼís in Islamabad and between 2,000 and 3,000 Baháʼís in Pakistan, in 2013.[147] 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.[148]

Zoroastrianism

[edit]
Further information: Parsi people
Bai Virbaiji Soparivala Parsi School, Karachi

There are at least 4,000 Pakistani citizen practicing the Zoroastrian religion.[149] The region of Balochistan is believed to be a stronghold of Zoroastrianism before the advent of Islam.[150][151] With the flight of Zoroastrians from Greater Iran into the Indian subcontinent, the Parsi 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.[152][153] Parsis have entered Pakistani public life as social workers, business folk, journalists and diplomats. The most prominent Parsis of Pakistan today include Ardeshir Cowasjee, Byram Dinshawji Avari, Jamsheed Marker, as well as Minocher Bhandara. The founding father of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, married Ratti Bai who belonged to a Parsi family before her conversion to Islam.[154]

Kalash

[edit]
Main article: Kalash people
Guardians of a Kalasha village in the valley of Mumuret (Bumburet)

The Kalash people practise a form of ancient Hinduism[155] mixed with animism.[156] Adherents of the Kalash religion number around 3,000 and inhabit three remote valleys in Chitral; Bumboret, Rumbur and Birir. Their religion has been compared to that of ancient Greece, but they are much closer to the Hindu traditions in other parts of the Indian subcontinent.[155] It is more similar to the historical Vedic religion, than later forms of Hinduism.[157]

Jainism

[edit]
Main article: Jainism in Pakistan
A Jain Temple at Sirkap, part of the Indo-Greek kingdom, near modern-day Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan

Several ancient Jain shrines are scattered across the country.[158] 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 in Pasrur, near the city of Sialkot in Punjab, Pakistan. Another prominent Jain monk of the region was Vijayanandsuri of Gujranwala, whose samadhi (memorial shrine) still stands in the city.[158]

Buddhism

[edit]
Main article: Buddhism in Pakistan
A statue of Buddha (at Jaulian, Taxila) with a hole in the navel is an odd artifact. It is called the "Healing Buddha". Buddhist pilgrims put their fings in the navel hole and pray for the ailment of the patients.

Buddhism has an ancient history in Pakistan; currently there is a small community of at least 1500 Pakistani Buddhist in the country.[149] 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 in Taxila, Punjab and Sindh.[159]

The number of Buddhist voters was 1,884 in 2017 and are mostly concentrated in Sindh and Punjab.[160]

Judaism

[edit]
Main article: Jews and Judaism in Pakistan

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 in Peshawar. 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 in Ramla, Israel.

One Pakistani, Faisal Khalid (a.k.a. Fishel Benkhald) of Karachi claims to be Pakistan's only Jew.[161][162] He claimed that his mother is Jewish (making him Jewish by Jewish 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.[163][164][165]

Irreligion

[edit]
Main article: Irreligion in Pakistan

Irreligion is present among a minority of mainly young people in Pakistan. There are people who do not profess any faith (such as atheists and agnostics) in Pakistan, but their numbers are not known.[166] They are particularly in the affluent areas of the larger cities. Some were born in secular families while others in religious ones. According to the 1998 census, people who did not state their religion accounted for 0.5% of the population, but social pressure against claiming no religion was strong.[141] A 2012 study by Gallup Pakistan found that people not affiliated to any religion account for 1% of the population.[167] 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.[168]

Freedom of religion in Pakistan

[edit]
Main article: Freedom of religion in Pakistan

A few aspects of secularism have also been adopted by Pakistani constitution from British colonial concept.[169][170][171][172]In 2022, Freedom House rated Pakistan’s religious freedom as 1 out of 4,[173] 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 and Shi’ite Muslims, and Hindus.[174][175]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b 1901 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[45][j] Sindh,[46][k] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[47] Balochistan,[48] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[49][l] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[49][m]
  2. ^ a b c d 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[50][o] Sindh,[51][p] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[52] Balochistan,[53] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[54][q] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[54][r]
  3. ^ a b c 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[55][s] Sindh,[56][t] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[57] Balochistan,[58] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[59][u] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[59][v]
  4. ^ a b c d e 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[61][w] Sindh,[62][x] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[63] Balochistan,[64] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[60][y] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[60][z]
  5. ^ a b c d e f g 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[65]: 42 [ab] Sindh,[66]: 28 [ac] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[67]: 22  Balochistan,[68]: 13–18  Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[69]: 337–352 [y] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[69]: 337–352 [ad]
  6. ^ 1947 figures (the year of partition and the accompanying mass population transfer) for Pakistan are estimates based on the annualized growth rates between the 1931 census[d] and 1941 census[e] for adherents of Islam (+1.86% p.a.), Hinduism (+1.90% p.a.), Sikhism (+2.69% p.a.), Christianity (+1.85% p.a.), Jainism (+5.02% p.a.), and others (+24.23% p.a.).
  7. ^ a b c Including Ad-Dharmis
  8. ^ Including Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Tribals, others, or not stated.
  9. ^ Includes Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Buddhism, Tribal Religion, Ahmadiyya, not stated, and others.
  10. ^ a b c 1901 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur (inscribed as the Chenab Colony on the 1901 census), Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1901 census data here: [45]
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  11. ^ a b c 1901 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Karachi, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1901 census data here: [46]
  12. ^ a b c 1901 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Bhimber and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1901 census data here:[49]
  13. ^ a b c 1901 figure taken from census data using the total population of Gilgit District in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1901 census data here:[49]
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Religious data only collected in North West Frontier Province, and not in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Total responses to religion includes North West Frontier Province, and total population includes both North West Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, both administrative divisions which later amalgamated to become Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
  15. ^ a b c 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1911 census data here: [50][97]
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  16. ^ a b c 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1911 census data here: [51]
  17. ^ a b c 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Mirpur and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1911 census data here:[54]
  18. ^ a b c 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of Gilgit District and the Frontier Ilaqas in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1911 census data here:[54]
  19. ^ a b c 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1921 census data here: [55]
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  20. ^ a b c 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1921 census data here: [56]
  21. ^ a b c 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Mirpur and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1921 census data here:[59]
  22. ^ a b c 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of Gilgit District and the Frontier Ilaqas in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1921 census data here:[59]
  23. ^ a b c 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1931 census data here: [61]
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  24. ^ a b c 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1931 census data here: [62]
  25. ^ a b c d 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Mirpur and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1941 census data here:[69]: 337–352 
  26. ^ a b c 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of Gilgit District and the Frontier Ilaqas in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1931 census data here:[60]
  27. ^ a b 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Mirpur and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1931 census data here:[60]
  28. ^ a b c 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1941 census data here:[65]
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  29. ^ a b c 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Dadu, Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1941 census data here: [66]
  30. ^ a b c 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of one district (Astore) and one agency (Gilgit) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1941 census data here:[69]: 337–352 
  31. ^ a b Including Federal Capital Territory (Karachi)
  32. ^ Excluding 76,388 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
  33. ^ Excluding 14,438 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
  34. ^ Sindh: Excluding 2,715 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.

    Karachi Federal Capital Territory: Excluding 4,011 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
  35. ^ Excluding 35,355 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
  36. ^ Excluding 19,869 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
  37. ^ Excluding 97,883 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
  38. ^ Excluding 37,794 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
  39. ^ Sindh: Excluding 6,974 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
  40. ^ Excluding 21,441 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
  41. ^ Excluding 31,674 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
  42. ^ 1881 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Montgomery, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), and one princely state (Bahawalpur) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1881 census data here:[92][93][94]
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  43. ^ 1931–1941 census: Including Ad-Dharmis
  44. ^ 1872 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Karachi, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. Religious affiliation was not enumerated in Khairpur. See 1872 census data here: [99]
  45. ^ 1881 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Karachi, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1881 census data here: [100]
  46. ^ 1891 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Karachi, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1891 census data here: [101]
  47. ^ 1872 census: Also includes Tribals, Jains, Buddhists, and Nanakpanthis (Sikhs).

    1881 census: Also includes Tribals and Nanakpanthis (Sikhs).

    1891 census: Also includes Tribals.

    1901 census: Also includes Tribals and Nanakpanthis (Sikhs).
  48. ^ a b 1901 census: Enumerated as Hindus.
  49. ^ 1951, 1998, 2017, 2023: Including Hindu (Jati) and Scheduled Castes.
  50. ^ a b Pre-partition populations for religious data is for North-West Frontier Province only and excludes the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (both administrative divisions later merged to form Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018), as religious data was not collected in the latter region at the time.

    1951, 1998, and 2017 populations for religious data combine the North-West Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, both administrative divisions which later merged to form Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.
  51. ^ 1891 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Bhimber and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1891 census data here:[104]
  52. ^ 1891 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of Skardu District and Gilgit District in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1891 census data here:[104]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Religious Demographics of Pakistan" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Religions in Pakistan | PEW-GRF". www.globalreligiousfutures.org.
  3. ^ a b "Refworld | World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Pakistan : Christians".
  4. ^ a b c d e Haq, Riazul; Rana, Shahbaz (27 May 2018). "Headcount finalised sans third-party audit". Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Population By Religion" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Government of Pakistan: 1.
    "Population Distribution by Religion, 1998 Census" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  6. ^ West, Barbara A. (19 May 2010). Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania. Infobase Publishing. p. 357. ISBN 9781438119137.
  7. ^ a b c d Esposito, John L., ed. (2003). "Pakistan, Islam in". The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. New York, New York: Oxford University Press. p. 242. ISBN 0-19-512558-4. 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.
  8. ^ "Part I: "Introductory"". www.pakistani.org.
  9. ^ "Surviving as an Ahmadi in Pakistan | Pulitzer Center".
  10. ^ "Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other". Pakistan (includes Christian and Hindu) 4%. The World Factbook. CIA. 2010. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  11. ^ a b c "Country Profile: Pakistan" (PDF). Library of Congress Country Studies on Pakistan. Library of Congress. February 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2010. About 97 percent of Pakistanis are Muslim, 85–90 percent of whom are Sunni and 10–15 percent Shia
  12. ^ a b c "Religions: Muslim (official) 96.4% (Sunni 85–90%, Shia 10–15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.6% (2020 est.)". The World Factbook. CIA. 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  13. ^ a b "The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity". Pew Research Center. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2016. 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.
  14. ^ "Pakistan must confront Wahhabism | Adrian Pabst". TheGuardian.com. 20 August 2009.
  15. ^ Stubbs, John H.; Thomson, Robert G. (10 November 2016). Architectural Conservation in Asia: National Experiences and Practice. Taylor & Francis. p. 427. ISBN 978-1-317-40619-8. 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.
  16. ^ Malik, Iftikhar Haider (2006). Culture and Customs of Pakistan. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-313-33126-8.
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  156. ^ Sheehan, Sean (1 October 1993). Pakistan. Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 978-1-85435-583-6. 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)...
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