The fertility rate of Pakistan went from six living births per woman in 1994 to 3.6 in 2024, according to the World Fertility Report 2024 of the United Nations.
Despite this drop, the country should become the third most populous nation in the world by 2050, exceeding the United States, Indonesia, Brazil and Russia.
The Pakistani population, which was 31 million at the time of its independence in 1947, reached 241 million according to the 2023 census.
The country addressed population growth thanks to various measures, including family planning programs, a distribution of contraceptives and rural education campaigns.
Collaboration with international organizations, such as the United Nations population, has also been part of the government’s strategy. However, cultural and religious barriers, associated with gender inequalities and limited access to education, continue to hinder progress.
The UN projects the population of Pakistan will exceed 380 million by 2050, the fertility rate should decrease more to 2.5 by 2054.
The report also stressed that countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Pakistan, will represent 43% of world births in 2024.
“Three other examples of countries … had levels of fertility even higher than six living births per woman in 1994, down 2024 to 3.6 in Pakistan, 3.9 in Ethiopia and 4.4 in Nigeria,” said the report of the United Nations, providing for an additional drop in fertility rates worldwide, but maintaining fertility over replacement levels in countries like Pakistan.
The UN highlighted the importance of reducing adolescent birth rates thanks to targeted interventions to alleviate social and economic pressures.
“The reduction in the growth in the number of living births in the future would allow governments and families to allocate resources more effectively to invest in children and the health and well-being of adolescents,” notes the report.
In addition, the UN has called to end children’s marriages, to improve access to sexual and reproductive health care and to improve maternal care for young mothers. “Governments should also strengthen the laws and application mechanisms to protect the rights of girls and women,” said the report.
As fertility rates decrease in countries like Pakistan, efforts to improve education, gender equality and access to health care is crucial to ensure a lasting future for these nations.
