Key facts

Population: 160 million (Pakistan Population Census Organisation (PPCO), 2007-08).
Average life expectancy: 65 years (PPCO, 2007-08). UK: 78 years (UN Statistics Division (UNSD), 2007).
Average per capita income: US$1,085 (Pakistan Economic Survey (PES), 2007-08). UK: US$44,696 (£22,285) (World Development data, 2005).
Gross national income (GNI) : US$383 billion (purchasing power parity (PPP) rate) (World Development Indicators (WDI), 2006).
Average annual growth rate: 5.8% (PES, 2007-08).
Percentage of people not meeting daily food needs: 22.3% living below national poverty line (Pakistan Federal Bureau of Statistics/WDI, 2005-06).
Women dying in childbirth: 276 per 100,000 live births (Demographic and Health Survey, 2006-07). UK: 13 per 100,000 (UNSD, 2007).
Children dying before age 5: 94 per 1,000 live births (Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLSMS), 2006-07). UK: 6 per 1,000 (UNSD, 2005).
Percentage of children receiving primary school education: 56% (PSLSMS, 2006-07).
Percentage of people aged 15-49 living with HIV/AIDS: 0.1% (WDI, 2005). UK: 0.2% (UNSD, 2005).
Percentage of people with access to safe, clean water: 66% (PSLSMS, 2006-07).
Total UK aid received (2008/09): £129.7m (Source: Statistics for International Development 2009)

Progress towards Millennium Development Goals

Steady progress has been made towards most of the MDGs in Pakistan since 2000, but a low starting point and slow progress during the 1990s mean that many of the targets will be difficult to reach. On the positive side, Pakistan is on track to halve the number of people without access to improved water and sanitation by 2015.

MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Income poverty has decreased rapidly - from 34.5% in 2001 to 22% in 2004-05. However the global economic crisis, including increases in food and fuel prices, has adversely affected poverty levels.

MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
Primary school enrolment rates have improved – there are now 3 million more children in primary school than there were in 2001. In 2006/07 56% of 5-9 year olds were in primary school, up from 42% in 2001.

MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Gender inequality remains high. However, the number of seats held by women in the National Assembly has increased from 10% in 1990 to 22.2% in 2008.

MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
Pakistan has the fifth highest number deaths of children under five years in the world. However, under-five child mortality rates have reduced from 130 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 94 per 1,000 in 2007.

MDG 5: Improve maternal health
Pakistan has the sixth highest number of maternal deaths in the world. However the proportion of deliveries that take place in a health facility has increased from 28% in 2004/5 to 34% in 2006/7.

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Polio cases have fallen from more than 5,000 in 1993 to 118 in 2008. Some 2.4 million cases of TB have been prevented as well as 450,000 malaria cases.

MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
In 2006-07, 66% of the population had access to a tap or hand water-pump and 58% had access to a flush toilet.

MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development
Pakistan’s relationships with its international partners have varied over the past decade. During the last few years, however, development assistance has increased and development agencies are strengthening their presence in the country.

Last updated: 19 Mar 2009

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