GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

A tranquil tree-lined road in Islamabad, offering a picturesque outdoor scene.Captured from above, Islamabad's Faisal Mosque silhouetted against a vibrant sunset sky.

Pakistan

Asia · Southern Asia

Very low safetyVery affordable cost of livingLow development

It is among the least peaceful countries.

vs Indiavs Bangladeshvs United Arab Emirates
Safety

150th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.919lower is more peacefulVery low safety
#150 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
4.3per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
57.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,500national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
3.4New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
18.7years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 77% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 34% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$4.0K$8.0K$6,573 PPP$1,596Inflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $901 a person, $3,515 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2007, $998 a person, $3,672 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2008, $1,067 a person, $3,721 at PPP, inflation 20.3%2009, $964 a person, $3,777 at PPP, inflation 13.6%2010, $987 a person, $3,786 at PPP, inflation 12.9%2011, $1,132 a person, $3,880 at PPP, inflation 11.9%2012, $1,204 a person, $4,047 at PPP, inflation 9.7%2013, $1,225 a person, $4,174 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2014, $1,267 a person, $4,313 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2015, $1,380 a person, $4,480 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2016, $1,425 a person, $4,631 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2017, $1,519 a person, $4,790 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2018, $1,569 a person, $4,979 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2019, $1,390 a person, $5,038 at PPP, inflation 10.6%2020, $1,278 a person, $5,048 at PPP, inflation 9.7%2021, $1,455 a person, $5,367 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2022, $1,538 a person, $5,919 at PPP, inflation 19.9%2023, $1,360 a person, $6,019 at PPP, inflation 30.8%2024, $1,479 a person, $6,263 at PPP, inflation 12.6%2025, $1,596 a person, $6,573 at PPP, inflation 3.5%$0$4.0K$8.0KInflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $901 a person, $3,515 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2007, $998 a person, $3,672 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2008, $1,067 a person, $3,721 at PPP, inflation 20.3%2009, $964 a person, $3,777 at PPP, inflation 13.6%2010, $987 a person, $3,786 at PPP, inflation 12.9%2011, $1,132 a person, $3,880 at PPP, inflation 11.9%2012, $1,204 a person, $4,047 at PPP, inflation 9.7%2013, $1,225 a person, $4,174 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2014, $1,267 a person, $4,313 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2015, $1,380 a person, $4,480 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2016, $1,425 a person, $4,631 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2017, $1,519 a person, $4,790 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2018, $1,569 a person, $4,979 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2019, $1,390 a person, $5,038 at PPP, inflation 10.6%2020, $1,278 a person, $5,048 at PPP, inflation 9.7%2021, $1,455 a person, $5,367 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2022, $1,538 a person, $5,919 at PPP, inflation 19.9%2023, $1,360 a person, $6,019 at PPP, inflation 30.8%2024, $1,479 a person, $6,263 at PPP, inflation 12.6%2025, $1,596 a person, $6,573 at PPP, inflation 3.5%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
67.8years, at birthLow
#147 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
56WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
42.9PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Slow home internet

Unemployment rate
5.4%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
18 Mbpsmedian download speedSlowOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
493EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet18 MbpsSlow
Mobile24 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Captured from above, Islamabad's Faisal Mosque silhouetted against a vibrant sunset sky.
How it changed

Pakistan's Human Development Index

0.544Low human development

168th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 41st of 43 in Asia.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #166Haiti0.554
  2. #167Lesotho0.550
  3. #168Pakistan0.544
  4. #169Senegal0.530
  5. #170Gambia0.524
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.396 in 1990 to 0.544 in 2023.

0.350.470.600.54419902000201020231990: 0.3961991: 0.4001992: 0.4051993: 0.4081994: 0.4121995: 0.4151996: 0.4201997: 0.4221998: 0.4261999: 0.4312000: 0.4362001: 0.4432002: 0.4502003: 0.4582004: 0.4722005: 0.4802006: 0.4892007: 0.4952008: 0.4962009: 0.4972010: 0.5002011: 0.5042012: 0.5082013: 0.5122014: 0.5222015: 0.5272016: 0.5352017: 0.5372018: 0.5382019: 0.5402020: 0.5362021: 0.5372022: 0.5442023: 0.5440.350.470.6019902000201020231990: 0.3961991: 0.4001992: 0.4051993: 0.4081994: 0.4121995: 0.4151996: 0.4201997: 0.4221998: 0.4261999: 0.4312000: 0.4362001: 0.4432002: 0.4502003: 0.4582004: 0.4722005: 0.4802006: 0.4892007: 0.4952008: 0.4962009: 0.4972010: 0.5002011: 0.5042012: 0.5082013: 0.5122014: 0.5222015: 0.5272016: 0.5352017: 0.5372018: 0.5382019: 0.5402020: 0.5362021: 0.5372022: 0.5442023: 0.544

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
67.8 years2024at birthUp 5.4 years from 62.4 years in 2005
Internet users
57%2024of people onlineUp 51 points from 7% in 2006
Urban population
40%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 5 points from 34% in 2006
Births per woman
3.552024births per womanDown 1.05 from 4.60 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
42%2021of energy usedDown 6 points from 48% in 2004
Access to electricity
96%2024of people with electricityUp 18 points from 78% in 2005
Infant mortality
482024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 32 from 80 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.8 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 0.8 t in 2005
Forest area
5%2023of land under forestDown 1 point from 6% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Lowest cost of living in the region; complex security, a young population, a difficult economy. The case against is a low peace ranking, low incomes and polluted air.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalIslamabad
  • LanguagesEnglish, Urdu
  • CurrencyPakistani rupee (PKR)
  • Area770,880 km²
  • Plug typeType C/D
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Pakistan's Human Development Index?

Pakistan's Human Development Index is 0.544 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #168 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Pakistan safe?

Pakistan scores 2.92 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #150 of 161 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.