Pakistan
Asia · Southern Asia
Lowest cost of living in the region; complex security, a young population, a difficult economy.
At a Glance
📈Pakistan's Human Development Index
0.540
Low human development#163 of 191 countries worldwide, #41 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 15% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Pakistan
Pakistan is a country of extraordinary geographic variety, from the world's highest mountain concentration in the Karakoram north, where K2 rises above glacier valleys, to the ancient Indus Valley civilisation sites, the Mughal architecture of Lahore, and the warm coastal culture of Karachi. The hospitality toward guests is legendary, and the food is among the most flavourful in South Asia. Those who research carefully and approach with openness will find it one of the most rewarding and genuinely surprising journeys in Asia.
- Fifth most populous country on earth.
- K2, the world's second-highest and hardest mountain to climb, is here.
- Exports more IT services per capita than India, almost entirely unnoticed abroad.
Quick Facts
Capital
Islamabad
Languages
English, Urdu
Currency
₨ PKR
Area
770,880 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
18Mbps
Mobile
24Mbps
GDP / Capita
$2K
PPP / Capita
$7K
Inflation
3.5%
Unemployment
5.4%
Innovation (GII)
22.1
GNI / Capita
$2K
FDI Inflows
0.5%
Education Spend
1.9%
Cost of Living
19.6
Price Level Index
95th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.394 → 0.540 (+0.146)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Pakistan for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
Pakistan head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Pakistan's Human Development Index?
Pakistan's Human Development Index is 0.540 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #163 of 191 countries.
Is Pakistan safe?
Pakistan scores 2.92 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #149 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Pakistan?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Pakistan at 19.6 (New York = 100); that is #3 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Pakistan?
Life expectancy at birth in Pakistan is 67.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #147 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Pakistan?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Pakistan at 98.3, ranked #76 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.