Net migration in Pakistan
Pakistan: Net migration was -1.24 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Pakistan, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Pakistan stood at -1.24 million.
The figure is up 11.8% on the previous year and up 43.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Pakistan peaked at 1.08 million in 1980 and was at its lowest, -2.29 million, in 2016.
That places Pakistan 218th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1961 | -66,991 | — |
| 1962 | -65,780 | -1.8% |
| 1963 | -64,552 | -1.9% |
| 1964 | -63,298 | -1.9% |
| 1965 | -62,070 | -1.9% |
| 1966 | -61,025 | -1.7% |
| 1967 | -59,932 | -1.8% |
| 1968 | -58,721 | -2.0% |
| 1969 | -57,406 | -2.2% |
| 1970 | -58,281 | +1.5% |
| 1971 | -68,357 | +17.3% |
| 1972 | -69,209 | +1.2% |
| 1973 | -58,012 | -16.2% |
| 1974 | -34,785 | -40.0% |
| 1975 | -1,710 | -95.1% |
| 1976 | 48,238 | -2920.9% |
| 1977 | 85,250 | +76.7% |
| 1978 | 111,386 | +30.7% |
| 1979 | 450,003 | +304.0% |
| 1980 | 1.08 million | +139.6% |
| 1981 | 555,032 | -48.5% |
| 1982 | 294,252 | -47.0% |
| 1983 | -4,753 | -101.6% |
| 1984 | -319,242 | +6616.6% |
| 1985 | 68,860 | -121.6% |
| 1986 | 111,045 | +61.3% |
| 1987 | 146,364 | +31.8% |
| 1988 | 38,139 | -73.9% |
| 1989 | -17,164 | -145.0% |
| 1990 | 275,242 | -1703.6% |
| 1991 | -19,668 | -107.1% |
| 1992 | -718,387 | +3552.6% |
| 1993 | -139,493 | -80.6% |
| 1994 | -277,100 | +98.6% |
| 1995 | 11,534 | -104.2% |
| 1996 | -60,855 | -627.6% |
| 1997 | -55,539 | -8.7% |
| 1998 | -112,191 | +102.0% |
| 1999 | -134,510 | +19.9% |
| 2000 | 252,869 | -288.0% |
| 2001 | -54,727 | -121.6% |
| 2002 | -653,758 | +1094.6% |
| 2003 | -219,118 | -66.5% |
| 2004 | -64,669 | -70.5% |
| 2005 | -189,899 | +193.6% |
| 2006 | -183,933 | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 576,349 | -413.3% |
| 2008 | -140,746 | -124.4% |
| 2009 | -18,298 | -87.0% |
| 2010 | -431,902 | +2260.4% |
| 2011 | -890,633 | +106.2% |
| 2012 | -1.65 million | +85.0% |
| 2013 | -1.91 million | +15.7% |
| 2014 | -2.04 million | +6.9% |
| 2015 | -2.17 million | +6.6% |
| 2016 | -2.29 million | +5.4% |
| 2017 | -1.57 million | -31.3% |
| 2018 | -1.31 million | -16.8% |
| 2019 | -1.18 million | -10.1% |
| 2020 | -559,291 | -52.5% |
| 2021 | -565,673 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | -1.32 million | +133.8% |
| 2023 | -1.62 million | +22.5% |
| 2024 | -1.40 million | -13.5% |
| 2025 | -1.24 million | -11.8% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's -1.24 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 120.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's -1.24 million is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -581, 2126.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | -6616.6% | -4,753 | -319,242 |
| 1992 | -3552.6% | -19,668 | -718,387 |
| 1976 | +2920.9% | -1,710 | 48,238 |
| 2010 | -2260.4% | -18,298 | -431,902 |
| 1990 | +1703.6% | -17,164 | 275,242 |
| 2002 | -1094.6% | -54,727 | -653,758 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -55,978 | -66,991 | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | 40,452 | -69,209 | 450,003 | 10 |
| 1980s | 195,076 | -319,242 | 1.08 million | 10 |
| 1990s | -123,097 | -718,387 | 275,242 | 10 |
| 2000s | -69,593 | -653,758 | 576,349 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.54 million | -2.29 million | -431,902 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.12 million | -1.62 million | -559,291 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More financial sector data for Pakistan
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0006 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0005 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0006 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Pakistan?
- Net migration in Pakistan was -1.24 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.08 million in 1980.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.29 million in 2016.
- How does Pakistan rank for net migration?
- Pakistan ranks 218th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.