Census in Pakistan

A national census is mandated by the Constitution of Pakistan to be held every ten years. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the first census took place in 1951 under Finance Minister Sir Malik Ghulam, serving under Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan. Since 1951, there have been 7 nationwide censuses (1961, 1972, 1981, 1998, 2017 and 2023). The censuses have often faced delays and postponements due to politicization. For example, the 6th national census after 1998 (which itself faced a delay of 7 years) was scheduled to take place in 2001, later being postponed to 2008, and then again to 2010. There were multiple census counts completed in April 2012, but were subsequently thrown out as being "unreliable". It was ultimately conducted in 2017. The most recent census in 2023 recorded a total population throughout the country of 241,499,431 (excluding Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir). ==Census==

1951 According to 1951 census, the Dominion of Pakistan (both West and East Pakistan) had a population of 75.7 million, in which West Pakistan had a population of 33.7 million and East Pakistan (today Bangladesh) had a population of 42 million. In 1951, minorities constituted 14.4% of the Pakistani population (this includes East Pakistan, today Bangladesh). Breaking down between East and West Pakistan, the population of West Pakistan was 3.44% non-Muslim (1.16 million out of 33.7 million), while East Pakistan (today Bangladesh) was 23.20% non-Muslim (9.744 million out of 42 million). Total non-Muslim population on both sides added up to 10.90 million. 1961 According to the 1961 census, the population of Pakistan was 93 million, with 42.8 million residing in West Pakistan and 50 million residing in East Pakistan. Hindus in East Pakistan were 18.4%. 1972 The scheduled 1971 census was postponed due to the political crisis of 1970 followed by the India-Pakistan war of 1971 and subsequent loss of East Pakistan through the independence of Bangladesh. In 1970, the population was 65 million in the East Pakistan (Bangladesh) and 58 million in West Pakistan. According to the 1972 census, the population of Pakistan was 65.3 million. After 1972, the Census Organization was merged into the Ministry of Interior. 1981 According to the 1981 census, the population of Pakistan was 83.783 million. 1998 A UN led census was to be conducted with staff training and GPS digitisation after 1998. As of 2015, the population of Pakistan was estimated at 191.71 million. As of 2016, the population of religious minorities in Pakistan was estimated to have increased to 3 million. 2017 2023 ==Notes==