Religion in Pakistan

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Religion in Pakistan (2023 census)[1]

1. Islam (96.35%)
2. Hinduism (2.17%)
3. Christianity (1.37%)
4. Others (0.11%)

The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore was built during the Mughal Empire

Prabhunath Hindu Temple in Mithi is dedicated to deities Shiva and Parvati

St. Patrick's Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi

The animistic Kalash people at Chilam Joshi festival in Chitral, whose religion resembles ancient Hinduism[2]

The official religion of Pakistan is Islam,[3] as enshrined by Article 2 of the Constitution,[4] and is practised by an overwhelming majority of 96.35% of the country's population. The remaining 3.65% practice Hinduism, Christianity, Ahmadiyya (considered a non-Muslim group as per Pakistani constitution[5]), Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and other religions.[1]

Muslims comprise a number of sects: the majority practice Sunni Islam (estimated at 80-85%), while a minority practice Shia Islam (estimated at 10-20%).[6][7][8] Most Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence,[3] which is represented by the Barelvi and Deobandi traditions. However, the Ahl-i Hadith movement has also gained popularity Wahhabi influence from the Middle East.[9] The majority of Pakistani Shia Muslims belong to the Twelver Islamic law school, with significant minority groups who practice Ismailism, which is composed of Nizari (Aga Khanis), Mustaali, Dawoodi Bohra, Sulaymani, and others.

Before the arrival of Islam beginning in the 8th century, the region comprising Pakistan was home to a diverse plethora of faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism.[10][11]

## Equal rights

[edit]

Khawaja Nazimuddin, Pakistan's second Prime Minister, argued against equal rights for all citizens in an Islamic state.[12] However, The Constitution of Pakistan establishes Islam as the state religion,[4] and provides that all citizens have the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion subject to law, public order, and morality.[13] The Constitution also states that all laws are to conform with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Quran and Sunnah.[14]

The Constitution limits the political rights of Pakistan's non-Muslims. Only Muslims are allowed to become the President[15] or the Prime Minister.[16] Only Muslims are allowed to serve as judges in the Federal Shariat Court, which has the power to strike down any law deemed un-Islamic, though its judgments can be overruled by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.[17] However, non-Muslims have served as judges in the High Courts and Supreme Court.[18] In 2019, Naveed Amir, a Christian member of the National Assembly moved a bill to amend the article 41 and 91 of the Constitution which would allow non-Muslims to become Prime Minister and President of Pakistan. However, Pakistan's parliament blocked the bill.[19]

The main principles of Human rights in the Pakistani constitution were incorporated in its fundamental rights which were granted under various articles of 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 36 & 38 of the constitution[20] –

(a) Article 20 : Freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions.[21]

(b) Article 21 : Safeguard against taxation for purposes of any particular religion.[22]

(c) Article 22 : Safeguards as to educational institutions in respect of religion, etc.[22]

(d) Article 25 : Equality of citizens.[23]

(e) Article 26 : Non-discrimination in respect of access to public places.[13]

(f) Article 27 : Safeguard against discrimination in services.[13]

(g) Article 36 : Protection of Minorities.[24]

(h) Article 38 : Promotion of social and economic well-being of all the people.[25]

## Demographics of religion in Pakistan

[edit]

### Background

[edit]

Religious groups in Pakistan (1901–2023)  Religious
group  | 1901 census[a] | 1911 census[b] | 1921 census[c] | 1931 census[d] | 1941 census[e] | 1951 census[26][27] | 1961 census [28][29] | 1972 census[30] | 1981 census[31][32] | 1998 census[33] | 2017 census[34] | 2023 census[1]

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Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 14,022,544  | 79.52%  | 14,966,846  | 79.58%  | 15,203,501  | 78.41%  | 17,557,877  | 77.98%  | 21,113,214  | 77.43%  | 32,731,582  | 97.12%  | 41,666,153  | 97.17%  | 60,434,659  | 96.75%  | 81,450,057  | 96.67%  | 127,433,409  | 96.28%  | 200,362,718  | 96.47%  | 231,686,709  | 96.35%
Hinduism [f] | 3,009,842  | 17.07%  | 2,766,581  | 14.71%  | 2,957,680  | 15.25%  | 3,298,570  | 14.65%  | 3,981,565  | 14.6%  | 531,131  | 1.58%  | 621,805  | 1.45%  | 900,206  | 1.44%  | 1,276,116  | 1.51%  | 2,443,614  | 1.85%  | 4,444,870  | 2.14%  | 5,217,216  | 2.17%
Sikhism | 529,910  | 3.01%  | 884,987  | 4.71%  | 931,489  | 4.8%  | 1,282,698  | 5.7%  | 1,672,753  | 6.13%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 2,146  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 15,998  | 0.01%
Christianity | 59,387  | 0.34%  | 167,178  | 0.89%  | 276,107  | 1.42%  | 360,371  | 1.6%  | 432,724  | 1.59%  | 432,978  | 1.28%  | 583,884  | 1.36%  | 907,861  | 1.45%  | 1,310,426  | 1.56%  | 2,092,902  | 1.58%  | 2,642,048  | 1.27%  | 3,300,788  | 1.37%
Jainism | 6,529  | 0.04%  | 7,348  | 0.04%  | 7,490  | 0.04%  | 8,096  | 0.04%  | 13,215  | 0.05%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Zoroastrianism | 2,512  | 0.01%  | 3,007  | 0.02%  | 3,407  | 0.02%  | 4,178  | 0.02%  | 4,253  | 0.02%  | 5,320  | 0.02%  | 5,219  | 0.01%  | 9,589  | 0.02%  | 7,007  | 0.01%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 2,348  | 0%
Judaism | 489  | 0%  | 702  | 0%  | 706  | 0%  | 1,019  | 0%  | 1,180  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Buddhism | 6  | 0%  | 207  | 0%  | 373  | 0%  | 155  | 0%  | 266  | 0%  | 680  | 0%  | 2,445  | 0.01%  | 4,318  | 0.01%  | 2,639  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Tribal  | —  | —  | 9,224  | 0.05%  | 8,186  | 0.04%  | 236  | 0%  | 37,603  | 0.14%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Ahmadiyya | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 104,244  | 0.12%  | 286,212  | 0.22%  | 191,737  | 0.09%  | 162,684  | 0.07%
Others  | 2,039  | 0.01%  | 299  | 0%  | 77  | 0%  | 1,553  | 0.01%  | 19,228  | 0.07%  | 1,476  | 0%  | 872  | 0%  | 205,250  | 0.33%  | 101,009  | 0.12%  | 96,142  | 0.07%  | 43,253  | 0.02%  | 72,346  | 0.03%
Total responses  | 17,633,258  | 99.58%  | 18,806,379  | 92.06%  | 19,389,016  | 87.28%  | 22,514,768  | 90.88%  | 27,266,001  | 91.98%  | 33,703,167  | 99.77%  | 42,880,378  | 99.77%  | 62,461,883  | 95.64%  | 84,253,644  | 100%  | 132,352,279  | 100%  | 207,684,626  | 100%  | 240,458,089  | 99.57%
Total population  | 17,708,014  | 100%  | 20,428,473  | 100%  | 22,214,152  | 100%  | 24,774,056  | 100%  | 29,643,600  | 100%  | 33,779,555  | 100%  | 42,978,261  | 100%  | 65,309,340  | 100%  | 84,253,644  | 100%  | 132,352,279  | 100%  | 207,684,626  | 100%  | 241,499,431  | 100%
Note1: 1901, 1911, 1931, and 1941 figures taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit–Baltistan.

Note2: 1947 figures (the year of partition and the accompanying mass population transfer) for Pakistan are estimates based on the annualized growth rates between the 1931 census[d] and 1941 census[e] for adherents of Islam (+1.86% p.a.), Hinduism (+1.90% p.a.), Sikhism (+2.69% p.a.), Christianity (+1.85% p.a.), Jainism (+5.02% p.a.), and others (+24.23% p.a.).

Note3: 1951 and 1961 figures taken from census data by combining the total population of the former administrative division of West Pakistan.

### 1901 census

[edit]

Further information: West Punjab § Religion, North-West Frontier Province § Religion, Baluchistan Agency § Religion, and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) § Religion

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 17,708,014 according to the 1901 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 17,633,258, for an overall response rate of 99.6 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Religious groups in Pakistan (1901)[a] Religious
group  | Pakistan[b] | Punjab[35][g] | Sindh[36][h] | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[37] | Balochistan[38] | AJK[39][i] | Gilgit–
Baltistan[39][j]

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Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 14,022,544  | 79.52%  | 7,951,155  | 76.25%  | 2,609,337  | 76.52%  | 1,890,479  | 92.19%  | 765,368  | 94.4%  | 747,426  | 85.62%  | 58,779  | 96.54%
Hinduism | 3,009,842  | 17.07%  | 1,944,363  | 18.65%  | 787,683  | 23.1%  | 129,306  | 6.31%  | 38,158  | 4.71%  | 108,331  | 12.41%  | 2,001  | 3.29%
Sikhism | 529,910  | 3.01%  | 483,999  | 4.64%  | —  | —  | 25,733  | 1.25%  | 2,972  | 0.37%  | 17,132  | 1.96%  | 74  | 0.12%
Christianity | 59,387  | 0.34%  | 42,371  | 0.41%  | 7,825  | 0.23%  | 5,119  | 0.25%  | 4,026  | 0.5%  | 18  | 0%  | 28  | 0.05%
Jainism | 6,529  | 0.04%  | 5,562  | 0.05%  | 921  | 0.03%  | 37  | 0%  | 8  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 1  | 0%
Zoroastrianism | 2,512  | 0.01%  | 300  | 0%  | 2,000  | 0.06%  | 46  | 0%  | 166  | 0.02%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Judaism | 489  | 0.003%  | 9  | 0%  | 428  | 0.01%  | 4  | 0%  | 48  | 0.01%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Buddhism | 6  | 0%  | 6  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Others  | 2,039  | 0.01%  | 0  | 0%  | 2,029  | 0.06%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 8  | 0%  | 2  | 0%
Total responses  | 17,633,258  | 99.58%  | 10,427,765  | 100%  | 3,410,223  | 100%  | 2,050,724[k] | 96.48%  | 810,746  | 100%  | 872,915  | 100%  | 60,885  | 100%
Total population  | 17,708,014  | 100%  | 10,427,765  | 100%  | 3,410,223  | 100%  | 2,125,480[k] | 100%  | 810,746  | 100%  | 872,915  | 100%  | 60,885  | 100%

### 1911 census

[edit]

Further information: West Punjab § Religion, North-West Frontier Province § Religion, Baluchistan Agency § Religion, and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) § Religion

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 20,428,473 according to the 1911 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 18,806,379, for an overall response rate of 92.1 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Religious groups in Pakistan (1911)[b] Religious
group  | Pakistan[b] | Punjab[40][l] | Sindh[41][m] | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[42] | Balochistan[43] | AJK[44][n] | Gilgit–
Baltistan[44][o]

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Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 14,966,846  | 79.58%  | 8,494,314  | 76.49%  | 2,822,756  | 75.53%  | 2,039,994  | 92.86%  | 782,648  | 93.76%  | 749,945  | 87.76%  | 77,189  | 98.45%
Hinduism | 2,766,581  | 14.71%  | 1,645,758  | 14.82%  | 877,313  | 23.47%  | 119,942  | 5.46%  | 38,326  | 4.59%  | 84,130  | 9.85%  | 1,112  | 1.42%
Sikhism | 884,987  | 4.71%  | 813,441  | 7.33%  | 12,339  | 0.33%  | 30,345  | 1.38%  | 8,390  | 1.01%  | 20,391  | 2.39%  | 81  | 0.1%
Christianity | 167,178  | 0.89%  | 144,514  | 1.3%  | 10,917  | 0.29%  | 6,585  | 0.3%  | 5,085  | 0.61%  | 55  | 0.01%  | 22  | 0.03%
Tribal | 9,224  | 0.05%  | —  | —  | 9,224  | 0.25%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Jainism | 7,348  | 0.04%  | 5,977  | 0.05%  | 1,349  | 0.04%  | 4  | 0%  | 10  | 0%  | 8  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Zoroastrianism | 3,007  | 0.02%  | 377  | 0%  | 2,411  | 0.06%  | 49  | 0%  | 170  | 0.02%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Judaism | 702  | 0.004%  | 36  | 0%  | 595  | 0.02%  | 14  | 0%  | 57  | 0.01%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Buddhism | 207  | 0.001%  | 168  | 0%  | 21  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 16  | 0%  | 2  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Others  | 299  | 0.002%  | 0  | 0%  | 298  | 0.01%  | 0  | 0%  | 1  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Total responses  | 18,806,379  | 92.06%  | 11,104,585  | 100%  | 3,737,223  | 100%  | 2,196,933[k] | 57.53%  | 834,703  | 100%  | 854,531  | 100%  | 78,404  | 100%
Total population  | 20,428,473  | 100%  | 11,104,585  | 100%  | 3,737,223  | 100%  | 3,819,027[k] | 100%  | 834,703  | 100%  | 854,531  | 100%  | 78,404  | 100%

### 1921 census

[edit]

Further information: West Punjab § Religion, North-West Frontier Province § Religion, Baluchistan Agency § Religion, and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) § Religion

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 22,214,152 according to the 1921 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 19,389,016, for an overall response rate of 87.3 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Religious groups in Pakistan (1921)[c] Religious
group  | Pakistan[c] | Punjab[45][p] | Sindh[46][q] | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[47] | Balochistan[48] | AJK[50][r] | Gilgit–
Baltistan[49][s]

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Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 15,203,501  | 78.41%  | 8,975,288  | 75.49%  | 2,562,700  | 73.8%  | 2,062,786  | 91.62%  | 733,477  | 91.73%  | 780,607  | 88.02%  | 88,643  | 98.82%
Hinduism | 2,957,680  | 15.25%  | 1,797,141  | 15.12%  | 876,629  | 25.24%  | 149,881  | 6.66%  | 51,348  | 6.42%  | 81,733  | 9.22%  | 948  | 1.06%
Sikhism | 931,489  | 4.8%  | 863,091  | 7.26%  | 8,036  | 0.23%  | 28,040  | 1.25%  | 7,741  | 0.97%  | 24,491  | 2.76%  | 90  | 0.1%
Christianity | 276,107  | 1.42%  | 247,030  | 2.08%  | 11,734  | 0.34%  | 10,610  | 0.47%  | 6,693  | 0.84%  | 24  | 0%  | 16  | 0.02%
Tribal | 8,186  | 0.04%  | —  | —  | 8,186  | 0.24%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Jainism | 7,490  | 0.04%  | 5,930  | 0.05%  | 1,534  | 0.04%  | 3  | 0%  | 17  | 0%  | 6  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Zoroastrianism | 3,407  | 0.02%  | 309  | 0%  | 2,913  | 0.08%  | 20  | 0%  | 165  | 0.02%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Judaism | 706  | 0.004%  | 16  | 0%  | 671  | 0.02%  | 0  | 0%  | 19  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Buddhism | 373  | 0.002%  | 172  | 0%  | 41  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 160  | 0.02%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Others  | 77  | 0.0004%  | 8  | 0%  | 64  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 5  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Total responses  | 19,389,016  | 87.28%  | 11,888,985  | 100%  | 3,472,508  | 100%  | 2,251,340[k] | 44.35%  | 799,625  | 100%  | 886,861  | 100%  | 89,697  | 100%
Total population  | 22,214,152  | 100%  | 11,888,985  | 100%  | 3,472,508  | 100%  | 5,076,476[k] | 100%  | 799,625  | 100%  | 886,861  | 100%  | 89,697  | 100%

### 1931 census

[edit]

Further information: West Punjab § Religion, North-West Frontier Province § Religion, Baluchistan Agency § Religion, and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) § Religion

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 24,774,056 according to the 1931 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 22,514,768, for an overall response rate of 90.9 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Religious groups in Pakistan (1931)[d] Religious
group  | Pakistan[d] | Punjab[51][t] | Sindh[52][u] | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[53] | Balochistan[54] | AJK[50][x] | Gilgit–
Baltistan[50][w]

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Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 17,557,877  | 77.98%  | 10,570,029  | 75.28%  | 3,017,377  | 73.34%  | 2,227,303  | 91.84%  | 798,093  | 91.88%  | 850,135  | 87.68%  | 94,940  | 98.44%
Hinduism [f] | 3,298,570  | 14.65%  | 1,957,878  | 13.94%  | 1,055,119  | 25.65%  | 142,977  | 5.9%  | 53,681  | 6.18%  | 87,554  | 9.03%  | 1,361  | 1.41%
Sikhism | 1,282,698  | 5.7%  | 1,180,789  | 8.41%  | 19,172  | 0.47%  | 42,510  | 1.75%  | 8,425  | 0.97%  | 31,709  | 3.27%  | 93  | 0.1%
Christianity | 360,371  | 1.6%  | 324,730  | 2.31%  | 15,152  | 0.37%  | 12,213  | 0.5%  | 8,059  | 0.93%  | 168  | 0.02%  | 49  | 0.05%
Jainism | 8,096  | 0.04%  | 6,921  | 0.05%  | 1,144  | 0.03%  | 0  | 0%  | 17  | 0%  | 11  | 0%  | 3  | 0%
Zoroastrianism | 4,178  | 0.02%  | 413  | 0%  | 3,537  | 0.09%  | 60  | 0%  | 167  | 0.02%  | 1  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Judaism | 1,019  | 0.005%  | 6  | 0%  | 985  | 0.02%  | 11  | 0%  | 17  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Tribal | 236  | 0.001%  | —  | —  | 204  | 0%  | —  | —  | 32  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Buddhism | 155  | 0.001%  | 32  | 0%  | 53  | 0%  | 2  | 0%  | 68  | 0.01%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Others  | 1,553  | 0.01%  | 0  | 0%  | 1,510  | 0.04%  | 0  | 0%  | 43  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Total responses  | 22,514,768  | 90.88%  | 14,040,798  | 100%  | 4,114,253  | 100%  | 2,425,076[k] | 51.77%  | 868,617  | 100%  | 969,578  | 100%  | 96,446  | 100%
Total population  | 24,774,056  | 100%  | 14,040,798  | 100%  | 4,114,253  | 100%  | 4,684,364[k] | 100%  | 868,617  | 100%  | 969,578  | 100%  | 96,446  | 100%

### 1941 census

[edit]

Further information: West Punjab § Religion, North-West Frontier Province § Religion, Baluchistan Agency § Religion, and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) § Religion

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 29,643,600 according to the final census prior to partition in 1941. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 27,266,001, for an overall response rate of 92.0 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Religious groups in Pakistan (1941)[e] Religious
group  | Pakistan[e] | Punjab[55]: 42 [y] | Sindh[56]: 28 [z] | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[57]: 22 | Balochistan[58]: 13–18 | AJK[59]: 337–352 [v] | Gilgit–
Baltistan[59]: 337–352 [aa]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 21,113,214  | 77.43%  | 13,022,160  | 75.06%  | 3,462,015  | 71.52%  | 2,788,797  | 91.8%  | 785,181  | 91.53%  | 939,460  | 87.54%  | 115,601  | 99.62%
Hinduism [f] | 3,981,565  | 14.6%  | 2,373,466  | 13.68%  | 1,279,530  | 26.43%  | 180,321  | 5.94%  | 54,394  | 6.34%  | 93,559  | 8.72%  | 295  | 0.25%
Sikhism | 1,672,753  | 6.13%  | 1,530,112  | 8.82%  | 32,627  | 0.67%  | 57,939  | 1.91%  | 12,044  | 1.4%  | 39,910  | 3.72%  | 121  | 0.1%
Christianity | 432,724  | 1.59%  | 395,311  | 2.28%  | 20,304  | 0.42%  | 10,889  | 0.36%  | 6,056  | 0.71%  | 136  | 0.01%  | 28  | 0.02%
Tribal | 37,603  | 0.14%  | —  | —  | 37,598  | 0.78%  | —  | —  | 3  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 2  | 0%
Jainism | 13,215  | 0.05%  | 9,520  | 0.05%  | 3,687  | 0.08%  | 1  | 0%  | 7  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Zoroastrianism | 4,253  | 0.02%  | 312  | 0%  | 3,841  | 0.08%  | 24  | 0%  | 76  | 0.01%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Judaism | 1,180  | 0.004%  | 7  | 0%  | 1,082  | 0.02%  | 71  | 0%  | 20  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Buddhism | 266  | 0.001%  | 87  | 0%  | 111  | 0%  | 25  | 0%  | 43  | 0.01%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Others  | 19,228  | 0.07%  | 19,128  | 0.11%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 11  | 0%  | 89  | 0.01%  | 0  | 0%
Total responses  | 27,266,001  | 91.98%  | 17,340,103  | 100%  | 4,840,795  | 100%  | 3,038,067[k] | 56.1%  | 857,835  | 100%  | 1,073,154  | 100%  | 116,047  | 100%
Total population  | 29,643,600  | 100%  | 17,340,103  | 100%  | 4,840,795  | 100%  | 5,415,666[k] | 100%  | 857,835  | 100%  | 1,073,154  | 100%  | 116,047  | 100%

### 1951 census

[edit]

Refugees during Partition of India, 1947

Religion in Pakistan (1951 Official census)[26][27]

1. Islam (97.1%)
2. Hinduism (1.6%)
3. Christianity (1.2%)
4. Others (0.1%)

After partition, when first census of Pakistan was conducted in the year 1951, It was found that the Muslim proportion in West Pakistan (contemporary Pakistan) increased from approximately 77.3 percent according to the 1941 census,[e] to 97.1 percent as per the 1951 census;[60] in contrast, the combined Hindu and Sikh proportion in West Pakistan (contemporary Pakistan) decreased from approximately 20.7 percent[e] to just 1.7 percent during the same timeframe, as the 1947 Partition of India gave rise to bloody rioting and indiscriminate inter-communal killing of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs across the Indian subcontinent, especially in Punjab region. As a result, around 7.3 million Hindus and Sikhs moved to India and 7.2 million Muslims moved to Pakistan permanently, leading to demographic change of both the nations to a certain extent.[61][62]

Religious groups in Pakistan (1951)[26][27] Religious
group  | Pakistan[26][27] | Punjab[63] | Sindh[ab] | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[64] | Balochistan[65] | AJK | Gilgit–
Baltistan

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 32,731,582  | 97.12%  | 20,200,794  | 97.89%  | 5,535,645  | 91.53%  | 5,858,080  | 99.89%  | 1,137,063  | 98.52%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Hinduism | 531,131  | 1.58%  | 33,052  | 0.16%  | 482,560  | 7.98%  | 2,432  | 0.04%  | 13,087  | 1.13%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Christianity | 432,978  | 1.28%  | 402,617  | 1.95%  | 22,601  | 0.37%  | 3,823  | 0.07%  | 3,937  | 0.34%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Zoroastrianism | 5,320  | 0.02%  | 195  | 0%  | 5,046  | 0.08%  | —  | —  | 79  | 0.01%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Buddhism | 680  | 0.002%  | 9  | 0%  | 670  | 0.01%  | —  | —  | 1  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Others  | 1,476  | 0.004%  | 35  | 0%  | 1,226  | 0.02%  | 215  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total responses  | 33,703,167[ac] | 99.77%  | 20,636,702[ad] | 99.93%  | 6,047,748[ae] | 99.89%  | 5,864,550[af] | 99.4%  | 1,154,167[ag] | 98.31%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total population  | 33,779,555  | 100%  | 20,651,140  | 100%  | 6,054,474  | 100%  | 5,899,905  | 100%  | 1,174,036  | 100%  | —  | —  | —  | —

### 1961 census

[edit]

Religious groups in Pakistan (1961)[28][29] Religious
group  | Pakistan | Punjab | Sindh | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa | Balochistan | AJK | Gilgit–
Baltistan

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 41,666,153  | 97.17%  | 25,013,796  | 97.78%  | 7,936,979  | 92.73%  | 7,569,026  | 99.88%  | 1,146,352  | 98.74%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Hinduism | 621,805  | 1.45%  | 41,965  | 0.16%  | 568,530  | 6.64%  | 1,474  | 0.02%  | 9,836  | 0.85%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Christianity | 583,884  | 1.36%  | 524,770  | 2.05%  | 46,931  | 0.55%  | 7,463  | 0.1%  | 4,720  | 0.41%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Zoroastrianism | 5,219  | 0.01%  | 251  | 0%  | 4,866  | 0.06%  | 10  | 0%  | 92  | 0.01%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Buddhism | 2,445  | 0.01%  | 757  | 0%  | 1,683  | 0.02%  | 4  | 0%  | 1  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Others  | 872  | 0.002%  | 104  | 0%  | 549  | 0.01%  | 209  | 0%  | 10  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total responses  | 42,880,378[ah] | 99.77%  | 25,581,643[ai] | 99.85%  | 8,559,538[aj] | 99.92%  | 7,578,186[ak] | 99.72%  | 1,161,011[al] | 97.34%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total population  | 42,978,261  | 100%  | 25,619,437  | 100%  | 8,566,512  | 100%  | 7,599,627  | 100%  | 1,192,685  | 100%  | —  | —  | —  | —

### 1972 census

[edit]

Religious groups in Pakistan (1972)[30] Religious
group  | Pakistan[30] | Punjab[66] | Sindh[67] | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[68][69] | Balochistan[70] | ICT[71] | AJK | Gilgit–
Baltistan

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 60,434,659  | 96.75%  | 36,610,508  | 97.34%  | 13,212,500  | 93.34%  | 7,998,232  | 99.58%  | 2,381,810  | 98.07%  | 231,609  | 98.64%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Christianity | 907,861  | 1.45%  | 786,494  | 2.09%  | 95,777  | 0.68%  | 12,828  | 0.16%  | 9,807  | 0.4%  | 2,955  | 1.26%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Hinduism | 900,206  | 1.44%  | 61,405  | 0.16%  | 815,452  | 5.76%  | 5,014  | 0.06%  | 18,223  | 0.75%  | 112  | 0.05%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Zoroastrianism | 9,589  | 0.02%  | 375  | 0%  | 8,923  | 0.06%  | 39  | 0%  | 173  | 0.01%  | 79  | 0.03%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Buddhism | 4,318  | 0.01%  | 1,386  | 0%  | 2,736  | 0.02%  | 77  | 0%  | 61  | 0%  | 58  | 0.02%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Others  | 205,250  | 0.33%  | 149,991  | 0.4%  | 20,521  | 0.14%  | 16,134  | 0.2%  | 18,604  | 0.77%  | 0  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total responses  | 62,461,883  | 95.64%  | 37,610,159  | 100%  | 14,155,909  | 100%  | 8,032,324[k] | 73.83%  | 2,428,678  | 100%  | 234,813  | 100%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total population  | 65,309,340  | 100%  | 37,610,159  | 100%  | 14,155,909  | 100%  | 10,879,781[k] | 100%  | 2,428,678  | 100%  | 234,813  | 100%  | —  | —  | —  | —

### 1981 census

[edit]

Religious groups in Pakistan (1981)[31][32] Religious
group  | Pakistan[31][32] | Punjab[72] | Sindh[73] | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[74] | Balochistan[75] | ICT | AJK | Gilgit–
Baltistan

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 81,450,057  | 96.67%  | 46,110,205  | 97.5%  | 17,556,712  | 92.26%  | 13,194,345  | 99.51%  | 4,257,628  | 98.27%  | 331,167  | 97.32%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Christianity | 1,310,426  | 1.56%  | 1,061,037  | 2.24%  | 176,898  | 0.93%  | 44,514  | 0.34%  | 20,131  | 0.46%  | 7,846  | 2.31%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Hinduism | 1,276,116  | 1.51%  | 29,268  | 0.06%  | 1,221,961  | 6.42%  | 5,253  | 0.04%  | 19,598  | 0.45%  | 36  | 0.01%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Ahmadiyya | 104,244  | 0.12%  | 63,694  | 0.13%  | 21,210  | 0.11%  | 12,333  | 0.09%  | 5,824  | 0.13%  | 1,183  | 0.35%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Zoroastrianism | 7,007  | 0.01%  | 1,766  | 0%  | 4,305  | 0.02%  | 462  | 0%  | 439  | 0.01%  | 35  | 0.01%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Buddhism | 2,639  | 0.003%  | 756  | 0%  | 1,714  | 0.01%  | 58  | 0%  | 106  | 0%  | 5  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Sikhism | 2,146  | 0.003%  | 832  | 0%  | 393  | 0%  | 729  | 0.01%  | 189  | 0%  | 3  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Others  | 101,009  | 0.12%  | 24,883  | 0.05%  | 45,473  | 0.24%  | 2,181  | 0.02%  | 28,461  | 0.66%  | 11  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total responses  | 84,253,644  | 100%  | 47,292,441  | 100%  | 19,028,666  | 100%  | 13,259,875  | 100%  | 4,332,376  | 100%  | 340,286  | 100%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total population  | 84,253,644  | 100%  | 47,292,441  | 100%  | 19,028,666  | 100%  | 13,259,875  | 100%  | 4,332,376  | 100%  | 340,286  | 100%  | —  | —  | —  | —

### 1998 census

[edit]

Religious groups in Pakistan (1998)[33] Religious
group  | Pakistan[33] | Punjab | Sindh | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa | Balochistan | ICT | AJK | Gilgit–
Baltistan

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 127,433,409  | 96.28%  | 71,574,830  | 97.22%  | 27,796,814  | 91.32%  | 20,808,480  | 99.47%  | 6,484,006  | 98.75%  | 769,279  | 95.53%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Hinduism | 2,443,614  | 1.85%  | 116,410  | 0.16%  | 2,280,842  | 7.49%  | 7,011  | 0.03%  | 39,146  | 0.6%  | 205  | 0.03%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Christianity | 2,092,902  | 1.58%  | 1,699,843  | 2.31%  | 294,885  | 0.97%  | 38,974  | 0.19%  | 26,462  | 0.4%  | 32,738  | 4.07%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Ahmadiyya | 286,212  | 0.22%  | 181,428  | 0.25%  | 43,524  | 0.14%  | 48,703  | 0.23%  | 9,800  | 0.15%  | 2,757  | 0.34%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Others  | 96,142  | 0.07%  | 48,779  | 0.07%  | 23,828  | 0.08%  | 16,808  | 0.08%  | 6,471  | 0.1%  | 256  | 0.03%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total responses  | 132,352,279  | 100%  | 73,621,290  | 100%  | 30,439,893  | 100%  | 20,919,976  | 100%  | 6,565,885  | 100%  | 805,235  | 100%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total population  | 132,352,279  | 100%  | 73,621,290  | 100%  | 30,439,893  | 100%  | 20,919,976  | 100%  | 6,565,885  | 100%  | 805,235  | 100%  | —  | —  | —  | —

### 2017 census

[edit]

As per 2017 Census of Pakistan, the country has a population of 207,684,000.The CCI approved the release of provisional population figures of 207.754 million people. The final results showed the total population of Pakistan to be 207.684 million, a reduction of 68,738 people or 0.033% against provisional results.[76]

As of 2018, there are 3.63 million non-Muslim voters in Pakistan- 1.77 million were Hindus, 1.64 million Christians, 167,505 were Ahmadi, 31,543 were Baháʼís, 8,852 were Sikhs, 4,020 were Parsis, 1,884 were Buddhist and others such as Kalashas.[77] The NADRA makes it nearly impossible to declare and change the religion to anything from Islam making the statistics somewhat misleading.[78]

Religious groups in Pakistan (2017)[34] Religious
group  | Pakistan[34] | Punjab | Sindh | Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa | Balochistan | ICT | AJK | Gilgit–
Baltistan

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Total
Population  | Percentage  | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 200,362,718  | 96.47%  | 107,541,602  | 97.77%  | 43,234,107  | 90.34%  | 35,428,857  | 99.79%  | 12,246,275  | 99.28%  | 1,911,877  | 95.43%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Hinduism | 4,444,870  | 2.14%  | 211,641  | 0.19%  | 4,176,986  | 8.73%  | 6,373  | 0.02%  | 49,133  | 0.4%  | 737  | 0.04%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Christianity | 2,642,048  | 1.27%  | 2,063,063  | 1.88%  | 408,301  | 0.85%  | 50,018  | 0.14%  | 33,819  | 0.27%  | 86,847  | 4.34%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Ahmadiyya | 191,737  | 0.09%  | 158,021  | 0.14%  | 21,661  | 0.05%  | 7,204  | 0.02%  | 2,113  | 0.02%  | 2,738  | 0.14%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Others  | 43,253  | 0.02%  | 15,328  | 0.01%  | 13,455  | 0.03%  | 9,512  | 0.03%  | 3,789  | 0.03%  | 1,169  | 0.06%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total responses  | 207,684,626  | 100%  | 109,989,655  | 100%  | 47,854,510  | 100%  | 35,501,964  | 100%  | 12,335,129  | 100%  | 2,003,368  | 100%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Total population  | 207,684,626  | 100%  | 109,989,655  | 100%  | 47,854,510  | 100%  | 35,501,964  | 100%  | 12,335,129  | 100%  | 2,003,368  | 100%  | —  | —  | —  | —

#### Details

[edit]

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released religious data of Pakistan Census 2017 on 19 May 2021.[79] 96.47% are Muslims, followed by 2.14% Hindus, 1.27% Christians, 0.09% Ahmadis and 0.02% others.

These are some maps of religious minority groups. The 2017 census showed an increasing share in Hinduism, mainly caused by a higher birth rate among the impoverished Hindus of Sindh province. This census also recorded Pakistan's first Hindu-majority district, called Umerkot District, where Muslims were previously the majority.

On the other hand, Christianity in Pakistan, while increasing in raw numbers, has fallen significantly in percentage terms since the last census. This is due to Pakistani Christians having a significantly lower fertility rate than Pakistani Muslims and Pakistani Hindus as well as them being concentrated in the most developed parts of Pakistan, Lahore District (over 5% Christian), Islamabad Capital Territory (over 4% Christian), and Northern Punjab.

The Ahmadiyya movement shrunk in size (both raw numbers and percentage) between 1998 and 2017, while remaining concentrated in Lalian Tehsil, Chiniot District, where approximately 13% of the population is Ahmadi.

Here are some maps of Pakistan's religious minority groups as of the 2017 census by district:

* Hindu proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census

* Christian proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census

* Ahmadiyya proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census

### Religious Demographics of Pakistan 2023[80]

[edit]

Religion  | Population  | %

|
|

Muslims ()  | 231,686,709  | 96.35%
Hindus ()  | 5,217,216  | 2.17%
Christians ()  | 3,300,788  | 1.37%
Ahmadiyya | 162,684  | 0.07%
Sikhs | 15,998  | 0.01%
Zoroastrians | 2,348  | <0.01%
Others (inc. Kalashas,Baháʼís, Buddhists, Jews)  | 72,346  | 0.03%
Total  | 240,458,089  | 100%

## Demographics of religion by province/territory

[edit]

### Punjab

[edit]

Religion in Punjab, Pakistan (1881–2023)  Religious
group  | 1881[81][82][83][84][am] | 1901[35][85][g] | 1911[40][86][l] | 1921[45][p] | 1931[51][t] | 1941[55][y] | 1951[26][27][63] | 1998[33] | 2017[34][87] | 2023[1][88]

|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|

Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 6,201,859  | 78.09%  | 7,951,155  | 76.25%  | 8,494,314  | 76.49%  | 8,975,288  | 75.49%  | 10,570,029  | 75.28%  | 13,022,160  | 75.06%  | 20,200,794  | 97.89%  | 71,574,830  | 97.22%  | 107,541,602  | 97.77%  | 124,462,897  | 97.75%
Hinduism [an] | 1,449,913  | 18.26%  | 1,944,363  | 18.65%  | 1,645,758  | 14.82%  | 1,797,141  | 15.12%  | 1,957,878  | 13.94%  | 2,373,466  | 13.68%  | 33,052  | 0.16%  | 116,410  | 0.16%  | 211,641  | 0.19%  | 249,716  | 0.2%
Sikhism | 272,908  | 3.44%  | 483,999  | 4.64%  | 813,441  | 7.33%  | 863,091  | 7.26%  | 1,180,789  | 8.41%  | 1,530,112  | 8.82%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 5,649  | 0.004%
Christianity | 12,992  | 0.16%  | 42,371  | 0.41%  | 144,514  | 1.3%  | 247,030  | 2.08%  | 324,730  | 2.31%  | 395,311  | 2.28%  | 402,617  | 1.95%  | 1,699,843  | 2.31%  | 2,063,063  | 1.88%  | 2,458,924  | 1.93%
Jainism | 4,352  | 0.05%  | 5,562  | 0.05%  | 5,977  | 0.05%  | 5,930  | 0.05%  | 6,921  | 0.05%  | 9,520  | 0.05%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Zoroastrianism | 354  | 0.004%  | 300  | 0.003%  | 377  | 0.003%  | 309  | 0.003%  | 413  | 0.003%  | 312  | 0.002%  | 195  | 0.001%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 358  | 0.0003%
Buddhism | 0  | 0%  | 6  | 0.0001%  | 168  | 0.002%  | 172  | 0.001%  | 32  | 0.0002%  | 87  | 0.001%  | 9  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Judaism | —  | —  | 9  | 0.0001%  | 36  | 0.0003%  | 16  | 0.0001%  | 6  | 0%  | 7  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Ahmadiyya | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 181,428  | 0.25%  | 158,021  | 0.14%  | 140,512  | 0.11%
Others  | 21  | 0.0003%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 8  | 0.0001%  | 0  | 0%  | 19,534  | 0.11%  | 35  | 0.0002%  | 48,779  | 0.07%  | 15,328  | 0.01%  | 15,249  | 0.01%
Total responses  | 7,942,399  | 100%  | 10,427,765  | 100%  | 11,104,585  | 100%  | 11,888,985  | 100%  | 14,040,798  | 100%  | 17,350,103  | 100%  | 20,636,702  | 99.93%  | 73,621,290  | 100%  | 109,989,655  | 100%  | 127,333,305  | 99.72%
Total population  | 7,942,399  | 100%  | 10,427,765  | 100%  | 11,104,585  | 100%  | 11,888,985  | 100%  | 14,040,798  | 100%  | 17,350,103  | 100%  | 20,651,140  | 100%  | 73,621,290  | 100%  | 109,989,655  | 100%  | 127,688,922  | 100%

### Sindh

[edit]

Religion in Sindh (1872−2023)  Religious
group  | 1872[89][ao] | 1881[90][ap] | 1891[91][aq] | 1901[36][h] | 1911[41][m] | 1921[46][q] | 1931[52][u] | 1941[56]: 28 [z] | 1951[26][27][ab] | 1998[33] | 2017[34][87] | 2023[1][92]

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Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 1,712,221  | 78.1%  | 1,989,630  | 78.24%  | 2,318,180  | 77.18%  | 2,609,337  | 76.52%  | 2,822,756  | 75.53%  | 2,562,700  | 73.8%  | 3,017,377  | 73.34%  | 3,462,015  | 71.52%  | 5,535,645  | 91.53%  | 27,796,814  | 91.32%  | 43,234,107  | 90.34%  | 50,126,428  | 90.09%
Hinduism [ar] | 475,848  | 21.7%  | 544,848  | 21.43%  | 674,371  | 22.45%  | 787,683  | 23.1%  | 877,313  | 23.47%  | 876,629  | 25.24%  | 1,055,119  | 25.65%  | 1,279,530  | 26.43%  | 482,560  | 7.98%  | 2,280,842  | 7.49%  | 4,176,986  | 8.73%  | 4,901,407  | 8.81%
Christianity | 3,329  | 0.15%  | 6,082  | 0.24%  | 7,768  | 0.26%  | 7,825  | 0.23%  | 10,917  | 0.29%  | 11,734  | 0.34%  | 15,152  | 0.37%  | 20,304  | 0.42%  | 22,601  | 0.37%  | 294,885  | 0.97%  | 408,301  | 0.85%  | 546,968  | 0.98%
Zoroastrianism | 810  | 0.04%  | 1,063  | 0.04%  | 1,534  | 0.05%  | 2,000  | 0.06%  | 2,411  | 0.06%  | 2,913  | 0.08%  | 3,537  | 0.09%  | 3,841  | 0.08%  | 5,046  | 0.08%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 1,763  | 0.003%
Judaism | 35  | 0%  | 153  | 0.01%  | 210  | 0.01%  | 428  | 0.01%  | 595  | 0.02%  | 671  | 0.02%  | 985  | 0.02%  | 1,082  | 0.02%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Jainism | —  | —  | 1,191  | 0.05%  | 923  | 0.03%  | 921  | 0.03%  | 1,349  | 0.04%  | 1,534  | 0.04%  | 1,144  | 0.03%  | 3,687  | 0.08%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Buddhism | —  | —  | 9  | 0%  | 2  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 21  | 0.001%  | 41  | 0.001%  | 53  | 0.001%  | 111  | 0.002%  | 670  | 0.01%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Sikhism | —  | —  | —  | —  | 720  | 0.02%  | —[as] | —  | 12,339  | 0.33%  | 8,036  | 0.23%  | 19,172  | 0.47%  | 32,627  | 0.67%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 5,182  | 0.01%
Tribal | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —[as] | —  | 9,224  | 0.25%  | 8,186  | 0.24%  | 204  | 0%  | 37,598  | 0.78%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Ahmadiyya | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 43,524  | 0.14%  | 21,661  | 0.05%  | 18,266  | 0.03%
Others  | 172  | 0.01%  | 0  | 0%  | 3  | 0%  | 2,029  | 0.06%  | 298  | 0.01%  | 64  | 0.002%  | 1,510  | 0.04%  | 0  | 0%  | 1,226  | 0.02%  | 23,828  | 0.08%  | 13,455  | 0.03%  | 38,395  | 0.07%
Total Responses  | 2,192,415  | 94.39%  | 2,542,976  | 100%  | 3,003,711  | 100%  | 3,410,223  | 100%  | 3,737,223  | 100%  | 3,472,508  | 100%  | 4,114,253  | 100%  | 4,840,795  | 100%  | 6,047,748  | 99.89%  | 30,439,893  | 100%  | 47,854,510  | 100%  | 55,638,409  | 99.9%
Total Population  | 2,322,765  | 100%  | 2,542,976  | 100%  | 3,003,711  | 100%  | 3,410,223  | 100%  | 3,737,223  | 100%  | 3,472,508  | 100%  | 4,114,253  | 100%  | 4,840,795  | 100%  | 6,054,474  | 100%  | 30,439,893  | 100%  | 47,854,510  | 100%  | 55,696,147  | 100%

### Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

[edit]

Religion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (1881–2023)  Religious
group  | 1881[93] | 1891[94] | 1901[37] | 1911[42] | 1921[47] | 1931[53] | 1941[57] | 1951[26][27][64] | 1998[33] | 2017[34][87] | 2023[1][92]

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Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 1,787,341  | 91.4%  | 2,088,015  | 91.51%  | 1,890,479  | 92.19%  | 2,039,994  | 92.86%  | 2,062,786  | 91.62%  | 2,227,303  | 91.84%  | 2,788,797  | 91.8%  | 5,858,080  | 99.89%  | 20,808,480  | 99.47%  | 35,428,857  | 99.79%  | 40,486,153  | 99.62%
Hinduism [at] | 154,081  | 7.88%  | 166,984  | 7.32%  | 129,306  | 6.31%  | 119,942  | 5.46%  | 149,881  | 6.66%  | 142,977  | 5.9%  | 180,321  | 5.94%  | 2,432  | 0.04%  | 7,011  | 0.03%  | 6,373  | 0.02%  | 6,102  | 0.02%
Sikhism | 9,205  | 0.47%  | 21,110  | 0.93%  | 25,733  | 1.25%  | 30,345  | 1.38%  | 28,040  | 1.25%  | 42,510  | 1.75%  | 57,939  | 1.91%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 4,050  | 0.01%
Christianity | 4,725  | 0.24%  | 5,437  | 0.24%  | 5,119  | 0.25%  | 6,585  | 0.3%  | 10,610  | 0.47%  | 12,213  | 0.5%  | 10,889  | 0.36%  | 3,823  | 0.07%  | 38,974  | 0.19%  | 50,018  | 0.14%  | 134,884  | 0.33%
Jainism | 106  | 0.01%  | 108  | 0.005%  | 37  | 0.002%  | 4  | 0.0002%  | 3  | 0.0001%  | 0  | 0%  | 1  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Zoroastrianism | 52  | 0.003%  | 48  | 0.002%  | 46  | 0.002%  | 49  | 0.002%  | 20  | 0.001%  | 60  | 0.002%  | 24  | 0.001%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 36  | 0.0001%
Buddhism | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 2  | 0.0001%  | 25  | 0.001%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Judaism | —  | —  | 4  | 0.0002%  | 4  | 0.0002%  | 14  | 0.001%  | 0  | 0%  | 11  | 0.0005%  | 71  | 0.002%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Ahmadiyya | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 48,703  | 0.23%  | 7,204  | 0.02%  | 951  | 0.002%
Others  | 5  | 0.0003%  | 2  | 0.0001%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 215  | 0.004%  | 16,808  | 0.08%  | 9,512  | 0.03%  | 8,944  | 0.02%
Total Responses[au] | 1,955,515  | 100%  | 2,281,708  | 100%  | 2,050,724  | 96.48%  | 2,196,933  | 57.53%  | 2,251,340  | 44.35%  | 2,425,076  | 51.77%  | 3,038,067  | 56.1%  | 5,864,550  | 99.4%  | 20,919,976  | 100%  | 35,501,964  | 100%  | 40,641,120  | 99.47%
Total Population[au] | 1,955,515  | 100%  | 2,281,708  | 100%  | 2,125,480  | 100%  | 3,819,027  | 100%  | 5,076,476  | 100%  | 4,684,364  | 100%  | 5,415,666  | 100%  | 5,899,905  | 100%  | 20,919,976  | 100%  | 35,501,964  | 100%  | 40,856,097  | 100%
Note1: Pre-partition populations for religious data is for North-West Frontier Province only and excludes the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (both administrative divisions later merged to form Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018), as religious data was not collected in the latter region at the time.

Note2: 1951, 1998, and 2017 populations for religious data combine the North-West Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, both administrative divisions which later merged to form Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.

### Balochistan

[edit]

Religion in Balochistan (1901–2023)  Religious
group  | 1901[38] | 1911[43] | 1921[48] | 1931[54] | 1941[58] | 1951[26][27][65] | 1998[33] | 2017[34][87] | 2023[1][92]

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Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 765,368  | 94.4%  | 782,648  | 93.76%  | 733,477  | 91.73%  | 798,093  | 91.88%  | 785,181  | 91.53%  | 1,137,063  | 98.52%  | 6,484,006  | 98.75%  | 12,255,528  | 99.28%  | 14,429,568  | 99.09%
Hinduism | 38,158  | 4.71%  | 38,326  | 4.59%  | 51,348  | 6.42%  | 53,681  | 6.18%  | 54,394  | 6.34%  | 13,087  | 1.13%  | 39,146  | 0.6%  | 49,378  | 0.4%  | 59,107  | 0.41%
Sikhism | 2,972  | 0.37%  | 8,390  | 1.01%  | 7,741  | 0.97%  | 8,425  | 0.97%  | 12,044  | 1.4%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 1,057  | 0.007%
Christianity | 4,026  | 0.5%  | 5,085  | 0.61%  | 6,693  | 0.84%  | 8,059  | 0.93%  | 6,056  | 0.71%  | 3,937  | 0.34%  | 26,462  | 0.4%  | 33,330  | 0.27%  | 62,731  | 0.43%
Zoroastrianism | 166  | 0.02%  | 170  | 0.02%  | 165  | 0.02%  | 167  | 0.02%  | 76  | 0.01%  | 79  | 0.01%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 181  | 0%
Judaism | 48  | 0.01%  | 57  | 0.01%  | 19  | 0.002%  | 17  | 0.002%  | 20  | 0.002%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Jainism | 8  | 0.001%  | 10  | 0.001%  | 17  | 0.002%  | 17  | 0.002%  | 7  | 0.001%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Buddhism | 0  | 0%  | 16  | 0.002%  | 160  | 0.02%  | 68  | 0.01%  | 43  | 0.01%  | 1  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Ahmadiyya | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 9,800  | 0.15%  | 2,469  | 0.02%  | 557  | 0.004%
Others  | 0  | 0%  | 1  | 0%  | 5  | 0.001%  | 75  | 0.009%  | 14  | 0.002%  | 0  | 0%  | 6,471  | 0.1%  | 3,703  | 0.03%  | 8,810  | 0.06%
Total responses  | 810,746  | 100%  | 834,703  | 100%  | 799,625  | 100%  | 868,617  | 100%  | 857,835  | 100%  | 1,154,167  | 98.31%  | 6,565,885  | 100%  | 12,344,408  | 100%  | 14,562,011  | 97.77%
Total population  | 810,746  | 100%  | 834,703  | 100%  | 799,625  | 100%  | 868,617  | 100%  | 857,835  | 100%  | 1,174,036  | 100%  | 6,565,885  | 100%  | 12,344,408  | 100%  | 14,894,402  | 100%

### Azad Jammu and Kashmir

[edit]

Religious groups in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (1891–1941)  Religious
group  | 1891[95][av] | 1901[39][i] | 1911[44][n] | 1921[49][r] | 1931[50][x] | 1941[59]: 337–352 [v]

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Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 659,265  | 86.87%  | 747,426  | 85.62%  | 749,945  | 87.76%  | 780,607  | 88.02%  | 850,135  | 87.68%  | 939,460  | 87.54%
Hinduism | 92,639  | 12.21%  | 108,331  | 12.41%  | 84,130  | 9.85%  | 81,733  | 9.22%  | 87,554  | 9.03%  | 93,559  | 8.72%
Sikhism | 6,918  | 0.91%  | 17,132  | 1.96%  | 20,391  | 2.39%  | 24,491  | 2.76%  | 31,709  | 3.27%  | 39,910  | 3.72%
Jainism | 64  | 0.01%  | 0  | 0%  | 8  | 0%  | 6  | 0%  | 11  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Christianity | 21  | 0%  | 18  | 0%  | 55  | 0.01%  | 24  | 0%  | 168  | 0.02%  | 136  | 0.01%
Buddhism | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 2  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Zoroastrianism | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 1  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Tribal  | 0  | 0%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Judaism | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 0  | 0%
Others  | 0  | 0%  | 8  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 89  | 0.01%
Total population  | 758,907  | 100%  | 872,915  | 100%  | 854,531  | 100%  | 886,861  | 100%  | 969,578  | 100%  | 1,073,154  | 100%

### Gilgit–Baltistan

[edit]

Religious groups in Gilgit–Baltistan (1891–1941)  Religious
group  | 1891[95][aw] | 1901[39][j] | 1911[44][o] | 1921[49][s] | 1931[50][w] | 1941[59]: 337–352 [aa]

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Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Islam | 110,161  | 86.68%  | 58,779  | 96.54%  | 77,189  | 98.45%  | 88,643  | 98.82%  | 94,940  | 98.44%  | 115,601  | 99.62%
Tribal | 16,615  | 13.07%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 0  | 0%  | 2  | 0%
Buddhism | 239  | 0.19%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Hinduism | 77  | 0.06%  | 2,001  | 3.29%  | 1,112  | 1.42%  | 948  | 1.06%  | 1,361  | 1.41%  | 295  | 0.25%
Christianity | 2  | 0%  | 28  | 0.05%  | 22  | 0.03%  | 16  | 0.02%  | 49  | 0.05%  | 28  | 0.02%
Sikhism | 0  | 0%  | 74  | 0.12%  | 81  | 0.1%  | 90  | 0.1%  | 93  | 0.1%  | 121  | 0.1%
Jainism | 0  | 0%  | 1  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 3  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Zoroastrianism | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Judaism | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 0  | 0%
Others  | 0  | 0%  | 2  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%  | 0  | 0%
Total population  | 127,094  | 100%  | 60,885  | 100%  | 78,404  | 100%  | 89,697  | 100%  | 96,446  | 100%  | 116,047  | 100%

## Islam

[edit]

Main article: Islam in Pakistan

The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, which is the largest mosque of Pakistan and is also one of the largest in the world, was built by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.

Islam is the state religion of Pakistan, and about 96–98% of Pakistanis are Muslim.[3] Pakistan has the second largest number of Muslims in the world after Indonesia.[96] The majority are Sunni (estimated at 80-90%),[6][7] with an estimated 10-20% Shia.[6][7][8][97] A PEW survey in 2012 found that 6% of Pakistani Muslims were Shia.[98] There are a number of Islamic law schools called Madhab (schools of jurisprudence), which are called fiqh or 'Maktab-e-Fikr' in Urdu. Nearly all Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi Islamic school of thought, while a small number belong to the Hanbali school. The majority of Pakistani Shia Muslims belong to the Twelver (Ithna Asharia) branch, with significant minority who adhere to Ismailism branch that is composed of Nizari (Aga Khanis), Mustaali, Dawoodi Bohra, Sulaymani, and others.[99] Sufis and above mentioned Sunni and Shia sects are considered to be Muslims according to the Constitution of Pakistan; the Ahmadiyya (though self-described Muslims) are specifically declared not to be.

The mosque is an important religious as well as social institution in Pakistan.[100][101] Many rituals and ceremonies are celebrated according to Islamic calendar.

### Sunni

[edit]

#### Barelvi and Deobandi Sunni Muslims

[edit]

There are two major Sunni sects in Pakistan, the Barelvi movement and Deobandi movement. Statistics regarding Pakistan's sects and sub-sects have been called "tenuous",[102] but estimates of the sizes of the two groups give a slight majority of Pakistan's population to followers of the Barelvi school, while 15–25% are thought to follow the Deobandi school of jurisprudence.[103][104][105]

However, the Hanbali school is also gaining popularity due to Ahl-i Hadith movement and also recent Wahhabi and Salafi movement influence from the Middle East.[9]

### Sufi

[edit]

The shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar

Islam to some extent syncretized with pre-Islamic influences, resulting in a religion with some traditions distinct from those of the Arab world. Two Sufis whose shrines receive much national attention are Ali Hajweri in Lahore (ca. 11th century) and Shahbaz Qalander in Sehwan, Sindh (ca. 12th century).[citation needed] Sufism, a mystical Islamic tradition, promoted by Fariduddin Ganjshakar in Pakpatan, has a long history and a large popular following in Pakistan. Popular Sufi culture is centered on Thursday night gatherings at shrines and annual festivals which feature Sufi music and dance. Contemporary Islamic fundamentalists criticize its popular character, which in their view, does not accurately reflect the teachings and practice of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his companions. There have been terrorist attacks directed at Sufi shrines and festivals, 5 in 2010 that killed 64 people.[106][107]

### Ahmadiyya

[edit]

Main article: Ahmadiyya in Pakistan

Yadgar Mosque, the first mosque of Rabwah

According to the last Census in Pakistan, Ahmadi Muslim made up 0.07% of the population; however, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community boycotted the census. Independent groups generally estimate the population to be somewhere between two and five million Ahmadi Muslims. In media reports, four million is the most commonly cited figure.[108]

In 1974, the government of Pakistan amended the Constitution of Pakistan to define a Muslim according to Qu'ran 33:40,[109] as a person who believes in finality of Muhammad under the Ordinance XX. According to Ordinance XX, Ahmadi Muslims cannot call themselves Muslim or "pose as Muslims" which is punishable by three years in prison.[110] Ahmadi Muslims believe in Muhammad as the final law-bearing prophet, but also believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to be a prophet, the prophecised Mehdi and second coming of Jesus. Consequently, Ahmadi Muslims were declared non-Muslims by a parliamentary tribunal and are subject to persecution under Pakistani blasphemy laws.

## Hinduism

[edit]

Main article: Hinduism in Pakistan

Shri Hinglaj Mata temple shakti peetha is the largest Hindu pilgrimage centre in Pakistan. The annual Hinglaj Yathra is attended by more than 250,000 people.[111]

Hinduism is the second largest religion affiliation in Pakistan after Islam.[112] As of 2020, Pakistan has the fourth largest Hindu population in the world after India, Nepal and Bangladesh.[113] According to the 1998 Census, the Hindu population was found to be 2,111,271 (including 332,343 scheduled castes Hindus). While according to latest census of 2017, There are 4.4 million Hindus in Pakistan out of 207.68 million total population comprising 2.14% of the country's population of both General and Schedule caste.[76] Hindus are found in all provinces of Pakistan but are mostly concentrated in Sindh. About 93% of Hindus live in Sindh, 5% in Punjab and nearly 2% in Balochistan.[114] They speak a variety of languages such as Sindhi, Seraiki, Aer, Dhatki, Gera, Goaria, Gurgula, Jandavra, Kabutra, Koli, Loarki, Marwari, Sansi, Vaghri[115] and Gujarati.[116]

The Rig Veda, the oldest Hindu text, is believed to have been composed in the Punjab region in the Indian subcontinent around 1500 BCE[117] and spread from there across South and South East Asia slowly developing and evolving into the various forms of the faith we see today.[118]

Many ancient Hindu temples are located throughout Pakistan. A significant Hindu pilgrimage site known as Hinglaj Mata takes place in southern Balochistan, where over 250,000 people visit during spring as a pilgrimage.

Cases collected by Global Human Rights Defence show that underage Hindu (and Christian) girls are often targeted by Muslims for forced conversion to Islam.[119] According to the National Commission of Justice and Peace and the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) around 1,000 non-Muslim minority women are converted to Islam and then forcibly married off to their abductors or rapists.[120][121]

## Christianity

[edit]

Main article: Christianity in Pakistan

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore

Christians (Urdu: مسيحى، عیسائی) make up 1.3% of Pakistan's population.[122] The majority of the Pakistani Christian community consists of Punjabis who converted during the British colonial era and their descendants. In British colonial India, there were waves of conversions to Christianity among the Chuhra and Chamar between the 1870s and 1930s in the Punjab Province and United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.[123] Christians mainly live in the urban centres of Punjab. There is also a Roman Catholic community in Karachi which was established by Goan and Tamil migrants when Karachi's infrastructure was being developed between the two World Wars. A few Protestant groups conduct missions in Pakistan. The present Christian population in Pakistan is ranged between 2 and 3 million as per as recent (2020–21) year estimation by various institution and NGOs of Pakistan.[124]

There are a number of church-run schools in Pakistan that admit students of all religions, including Forman Christian College,[125][126] St. Patrick's Institute of Science & Technology and Saint Joseph's College for Women, Karachi.

## Sikhism

[edit]

Main article: Sikhism in Pakistan

Gurdwara Janam Asthan, the birthplace of the founder of Sikhism in Nankana Sahib

In the 15th century, the Sikh faith was born in the Punjab region (of present day India and Pakistan) where Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak was born. Home to some of the world's most sacred gurdwaras, Sikhs have a become a crucial part in Pakistan's religious tourism with large numbers coming to the country particularly during festivals. Aside from religious tourists, estimates on the Sikh population permanently residing in Pakistan vary due to the community being excluded from the national census up until 2023 which marks the first inclusion of Sikhs in census data since partition (where almost 99% fled to India).[127] The results of the 2023 Census of Pakistan thus are significant in the first official Sikh count since the formation of Pakistan as a sovereign nation.

In a news article published in December 2022, there was an estimated 30,000–35,000 Sikhs in Pakistan according to Gurpal Singh.[128] Other sources, including the US Department of State, claim the Sikh population in Pakistan to be at 20,000.[129][130] Though full community counts have not yet been available, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) does provide the numbers of eligible voters belonging to minority religions (registered in electoral rolls):

* 2013: 5,934 Sikh Voters [131]
* 2018: 8,852 Sikh Voters[131]

In recent years, their numbers have increased with many Sikhs migrating from neighboring Afghanistan who have joined their co-religionists in Pakistan.[132]

## Other religions

[edit]

### Baháʼí

[edit]

Main article: Baháʼí Faith in Pakistan

The Baháʼí Faith in Pakistan was present when it was still under British colonial rule. The roots of the religion in the region go back to the first days of the Bábí religion in 1844,[133] with Shaykh Sa'id Hindi who was from Multan.[134] During Bahá'u'lláh's lifetime, as founder of the religion, he encouraged some of his followers to move to the area that is present day Pakistan.[135]

The Baháʼís in Pakistan have the right to hold public meetings, establish academic centers, teach their faith, and elect their administrative councils.[136] Bahá'í sources claim their population to be around 30,000.[137] Shoba Das of Minority Rights Group International reported around 200 Baháʼís in Islamabad and between 2,000 and 3,000 Baháʼís in Pakistan, in 2013.[138] One more PhD thesis says that "It is an assumption that the Bahá’ís do not want to declare their exact population, which is supposed to be more or less 3,000 in total". Most of these Bahá’ís have their roots in Iran.[139]

### Zoroastrianism

[edit]

Further information: Parsi people

Bai Virbaiji Soparivala Parsi School, Karachi

There are at least 4,000 Pakistani citizens practicing the Zoroastrian religion.[140] The region of Balochistan is believed to have been a stronghold of Zoroastrianism before the advent of Islam.[141][142] With the flight of Zoroastrians from Greater Iran into the Indian subcontinent, the Parsi communities were established. More recently, from the 15th century onwards, Zorastrians came to settle the coast of Sindh and have established thriving communities and commercial enterprises. At the time of independence of Pakistan in 1947, Karachi and Lahore were home to a thriving Parsi business community. Karachi had the most prominent population of Parsis in Pakistan, though their population is declining.[143][144] Parsis have entered Pakistani public life as social workers, business folk, journalists and diplomats. The most prominent Parsis of Pakistan today include Ardeshir Cowasjee, Byram Dinshawji Avari, Jamsheed Marker, as well as Minocher Bhandara. The founding father of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, married Ratti Bai who belonged to a Parsi family before her conversion to Islam.[145]

### Kalash

[edit]

Main article: Kalash people

Guardians of a Kalasha village in the valley of Mumuret (Bumburet)

The Kalash people practise a form of ancient Hinduism[146] mixed with animism.[147] Adherents of the Kalash religion number around 3,000 and inhabit three remote valleys in Chitral; Bumboret, Rumbur and Birir. Their religion has been compared to that of ancient Greece, but they are much closer to the Hindu traditions in other parts of the Indian subcontinent.[146] It is more similar to the historical Vedic religion, than later forms of Hinduism.[148]

### Jainism

[edit]

Main article: Jainism in Pakistan

A Jain Temple at Sirkap, part of the Indo-Greek kingdom, near modern-day Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan

Several ancient Jain shrines are scattered across the country.[149] Baba Dharam Dass was a holy man whose tomb is located near the bank of a creek called (Deoka or Deokay or Degh) near Chawinda Phatic, behind the agricultural main office in Pasrur, near the city of Sialkot in Punjab, Pakistan. Another prominent Jain monk of the region was Vijayanandsuri of Gujranwala, whose samadhi (memorial shrine) still stands in the city.[149]

### Buddhism

[edit]

Main article: Buddhism in Pakistan

A statue of Buddha (at Jaulian, Taxila) with a hole in the navel is an odd artifact. It is called the "Healing Buddha". Buddhist pilgrims put their fings in the navel hole and pray for the ailment of the patients.

Buddhism has an ancient history in Pakistan; currently there is a small community of at least 1,500 Pakistani Buddhists in the country.[140] The country is dotted with numerous ancient and disused Buddhist stupas along the entire breadth of the Indus River that courses through the heart of the country. Many Buddhist empires and city states existed, notably in Gandhara but also elsewhere in Taxila, Punjab and Sindh.[150]

The number of Buddhist voters was 1,884 in 2017 and are mostly concentrated in Sindh and Punjab.[151]

### Judaism

[edit]

Main article: Jews and Judaism in Pakistan

Various estimates suggest that there were about 1,500 Jews living in Pakistan at the time of its independence on 14 August 1947, with the majority living in Karachi and a few living in Peshawar. However, almost all emigrated to Israel after 1948. There are a few disused synagogues in both cities; while one Karachi synagogue was torn down for the construction of a shopping mall. The one in Peshawar still exists, although the building is not being used for any religious purpose. There is a small Jewish community of Pakistani origin settled in Ramla, Israel.

One Pakistani, Faisal Khalid (a.k.a. Fishel Benkhald) of Karachi claims to be Pakistan's only Jew.[152][153] He claimed that his mother is Jewish (making him Jewish by Jewish custom) but, his father is a Muslim. Pakistani authorities have issued him a passport which stated Judaism as his religion and have allowed him to travel to Israel.[154][155][156]

### Irreligion

[edit]

Main article: Irreligion in Pakistan

Irreligion is present among a minority of mainly young people in Pakistan. There are people who do not profess any faith (such as atheists and agnostics) in Pakistan, but their numbers are not known.[157] They are particularly in the affluent areas of the larger cities. Some were born in secular families while others in religious ones. According to the 1998 census, people who did not state their religion accounted for 0.5% of the population, but social pressure against claiming no religion was strong.[132] A 2012 study by Gallup Pakistan found that people not affiliated to any religion account for 1% of the population.[158] Many atheists in Pakistan have been lynched and imprisoned over unsubstantiated allegations of blasphemy. When the state initiated a full-fledged crackdown on atheism since 2017, it has become worse with secular bloggers being kidnapped and the government running advertisements urging people to identify blasphemers among them and the highest judges declaring such people to be terrorists.[159]

## Freedom of religion in Pakistan

[edit]

Main article: Freedom of religion in Pakistan

A few aspects of secularism have also been adopted by Pakistani constitution from British colonial concept.[160][161][162] In 2022, Freedom House rated Pakistan’s religious freedom as 1 out of 4,[163] noting that the blasphemy laws are often exploited by religious vigilantes and also curtail the freedom of expression by Christians and Muslims, especially Ahmadi Muslims. Hindus have spoken of vulnerability to kidnapping and forced conversions. Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country of about 220 million, is often under fire for crimes against members of its religious minorities, including Christians, Ahmadi and Shi’ite Muslims, and Hindus.[164][165]

## See also

[edit]

* Religion portal
* Pakistan portal

* Blasphemy law in Pakistan
* Demographics of Pakistan
* List of religious populations
* Major religious groups
* Religious Minorities in Pakistan
* Shamanism in Pakistan
* Freedom of religion in Pakistan
* Pakistan National Commission for Minorities
* Secularism in Pakistan

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b 1901 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[35][g] Sindh,[36][h] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[37] Balochistan,[38] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[39][i] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[39][j]
2. ^ a b c d 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[40][l] Sindh,[41][m] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[42] Balochistan,[43] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[44][n] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[44][o]
3. ^ a b c 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[45][p] Sindh,[46][q] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[47] Balochistan,[48] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[49][r] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[49][s]
4. ^ a b c d 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[51][t] Sindh,[52][u] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[53] Balochistan,[54] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[50][v] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[50][w]
5. ^ a b c d e f 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[55]: 42 [y] Sindh,[56]: 28 [z] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[57]: 22 Balochistan,[58]: 13–18 Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[59]: 337–352 [v] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[59]: 337–352 [aa]
6. ^ a b c Including Ad-Dharmis
7. ^ a b c 1901 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur (inscribed as the Chenab Colony on the 1901 census), Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1901 census data here: [35]
Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
8. ^ a b c 1901 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Karachi, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1901 census data here: [36]
9. ^ a b c 1901 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Bhimber and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1901 census data here:[39]
10. ^ a b c 1901 figure taken from census data using the total population of Gilgit District in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1901 census data here:[39]
11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Religious data only collected in North West Frontier Province, and not in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Total responses to religion includes North West Frontier Province, and total population includes both North West Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, both administrative divisions which later amalgamated to become Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
12. ^ a b c 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1911 census data here: [40][86]
Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
13. ^ a b c 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1911 census data here: [41]
14. ^ a b c 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Mirpur and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1911 census data here:[44]
15. ^ a b c 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of Gilgit District and the Frontier Ilaqas in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1911 census data here:[44]
16. ^ a b c 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1921 census data here: [45]
Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
17. ^ a b c 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1921 census data here: [46]
18. ^ a b c 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Mirpur and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1921 census data here:[49]
19. ^ a b c 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of Gilgit District and the Frontier Ilaqas in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1921 census data here:[49]
20. ^ a b c 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1931 census data here: [51]
Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
21. ^ a b c 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1931 census data here: [52]
22. ^ a b c d 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Mirpur and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1941 census data here:[59]: 337–352
23. ^ a b c 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of Gilgit District and the Frontier Ilaqas in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1931 census data here:[50]
24. ^ a b 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Mirpur and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1931 census data here:[50]
25. ^ a b c 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1941 census data here:[55]
Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
26. ^ a b c 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Dadu, Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1941 census data here: [56]
27. ^ a b c 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of one district (Astore) and one agency (Gilgit) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1941 census data here:[59]: 337–352
28. ^ a b Including Federal Capital Territory (Karachi)
29. ^ Excluding 76,388 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
30. ^ Excluding 14,438 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
31. ^ Sindh: Excluding 2,715 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.

Karachi Federal Capital Territory: Excluding 4,011 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
32. ^ Excluding 35,355 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
33. ^ Excluding 19,869 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
34. ^ Excluding 97,883 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
35. ^ Excluding 37,794 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
36. ^ Sindh: Excluding 6,974 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
37. ^ Excluding 21,441 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
38. ^ Excluding 31,674 persons claiming Nationalities other than Pakistani.
39. ^ 1881 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Montgomery, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), and one princely state (Bahawalpur) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1881 census data here:[81][82][83]
Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
40. ^ 1931–1941 census: Including Ad-Dharmis
41. ^ 1872 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Karachi, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. Religious affiliation was not enumerated in Khairpur. See 1872 census data here: [89]
42. ^ 1881 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Karachi, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1881 census data here: [90]
43. ^ 1891 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Karachi, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1891 census data here: [91]
44. ^ 1872 census: Also includes Tribals, Jains, Buddhists, and Nanakpanthis (Sikhs).

1881 census: Also includes Tribals and Nanakpanthis (Sikhs).

1891 census: Also includes Tribals.

1901 census: Also includes Tribals and Nanakpanthis (Sikhs).
45. ^ a b 1901 census: Enumerated as Hindus.
46. ^ 1951, 1998, 2017, 2023: Including Hindu (Jati) and Scheduled Castes.
47. ^ a b Pre-partition populations for religious data is for North-West Frontier Province only and excludes the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (both administrative divisions later merged to form Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018), as religious data was not collected in the latter region at the time.

1951, 1998, and 2017 populations for religious data combine the North-West Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, both administrative divisions which later merged to form Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.
48. ^ 1891 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Bhimber and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1891 census data here:[95]
49. ^ 1891 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of Skardu District and Gilgit District in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1891 census data here:[95]

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105. ^ International Crisis Group (2022). A New Era of Sectarian Violence in Pakistan. International Crisis Group. pp. Page 8–Page 14. Retrieved 20 July 2023. "Sunni Barelvis are believed to constitute a thin majority of the population"
106. ^ Buchen, Charlotte. "Sufism Under Attack in Pakistan". The New York Times. Archived from the original (video) on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
107. ^ Imtiaz, Huma; Buchen, Charlotte (6 January 2011). "The Islam That Hard-Liners Hate" (blog). The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
108. ^ The 1998 Pakistani census states that there are 291,000 (0.22%) Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan. However, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has boycotted the census since 1974 which renders official Pakistani figures to be inaccurate. Independent groups have estimated the Pakistani Ahmadiyya Muslim population to be somewhere between 2 million and 5 million Ahmadi Muslims. However, the 4 million figure is the most quoted figure and is approximately 2.2% of the country. See:
* over 2 million: "Pakistan: The situation of Ahmadi Muslims, including legal status and political, education and employment rights; societal attitudes toward Ahmadi Muslims (2006 – Nov. 2008)". 4 December 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
* 3 million: International Federation for Human Rights: International Fact-Finding Mission. Freedoms of Expression, of Association and of Assembly in Pakistan. Ausgabe 408/2, Januar 2005, S. 61 (PDF)
* 3–4 million: Commission on International Religious Freedom: Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. 2005, S. 130
* 4.910.000: James Minahan: Encyclopedia of the stateless nations. Ethnic and national groups around the world. Greenwood Press . Westport 2002, page 52
* "Pakistan: Situation of members of the Lahori Ahmadiyya Movement in Pakistan". Retrieved 20 March 2018.
109. ^ "Surah Al-Ahzab – 40".
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111. ^ Xafar, Ali (20 April 2016). "Mata Hinglaj Yatra: To Hingol, a pilgrimage to reincarnation". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
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113. ^ "Countries with the Largest Hindu Populations". 15 January 2019.
114. ^ "Population by religion". Archived from the original on 2 April 2014.
115. ^ "Pakistan". Ethnologue. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
116. ^ Rehman, Zia Ur (18 August 2015). "With a handful of subbers, two newspapers barely keeping Gujarati alive in Karachi". The News International. Retrieved 20 March 2018. "In Pakistan, the majority of Gujarati-speaking communities are in Karachi including Dawoodi Bohras, Ismaili Khojas, Memons, Kathiawaris, Katchhis, Parsis (Zoroastrians) and Hindus, said Gul Hasan Kalmati, a researcher who authored "Karachi, Sindh Jee Marvi", a book discussing the city and its indigenous communities. Although there are no official statistics available, community leaders claim that there are three million Gujarati-speakers in Karachi – roughly around 15 percent of the city's entire population."
117. ^ "Rigveda | Hindu literature". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
118. ^ Bronkhorst, Johannes (2016). How the Brahmins Won: From Alexander to the Guptas. Brill. pp. 9–10\. ISBN 978-90-04-31519-8.
119. ^ GHRD Human Rights Report 2019 (PDF) (Report). Global Human Rights Defence. 7 March 2019. Archived from the original on 19 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
120. ^ "Forced conversions of Pakistani Hindu girls". 19 September 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
121. ^ "Pakistan: Islamists angry at new law against forced conversions". FRANCE 24 English. 3 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
122. ^ "Country Profile: Pakistan" (PDF). Library of Congress Country Studies on Pakistan. Library of Congress. February 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
123. ^ Frykenberg, Robert Eric (26 June 2008). Christianity in India: From Beginnings to the Present. Oxford University Press. p. 240\. ISBN 978-0-19-826377-7.
124. ^ "Refworld | World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Pakistan : Christians".
125. ^ Najam, Adil (30 March 2008). "Forman Christian (F.C.) College's Political Clout". Pakistaniat. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
126. ^ Bangash, Yaqoob Khan. "FC College: an amazing transformation". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
127. ^ "Pakistan census to have column for Sikhs". The Times of India. 15 December 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
128. ^ Rana, Yudhvir (15 December 2022). "Pakistan census to have column for Sikhs | Amritsar News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 December 2022. "He said roughly there were around 30,000-35,000 Sikhs in Pakistan."
129. ^ "Pakistan's dwindling Sikh community wants improved security". Dawn.com. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
130. ^ "Pakistan". State.gov. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
131. ^ a b Khan, Iftikhar A. (28 May 2018). "Number of non-Muslim voters in Pakistan shows rise of over 30pc". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
132. ^ a b "Pakistan – International Religious Freedom Report 2008". United States Department of State. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
133. ^ "The Bahá'í Faith -Brief History". Official Website of the National Spiritual Assembly of India. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of India. 2003. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
134. ^ "History of the Bahá'í Faith in Pakistan". Official Webpage of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Pakistan. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Pakistan. 2008. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
135. ^ Momen, Moojan; Smith, Peter. "Bahá'í History". Draft A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith. Bahá'í Library Online. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
136. ^ Wardany, Youssef (2009). "The Right of Belief in Egypt: Case study of Baha'i minority". Al Waref Institute. Archived from the original on 15 March 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
137. ^ Wagner, Ralph D. "Pakistan". Synopsis of References to the Bahá'í Faith, in the US State Department's Reports on Human Rights 1991–2000. Bahá'í Academics Resource Library. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
138. ^ Das, Shobha (10 April 2013). "A Pakistani Baha'i's story". Blog. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
139. ^ Fareed, Abdul (2015). Religious and SOcial Life of Religious Minorities (Thesis thesis). Islamabad, Pakistan: International Islamic University.
140. ^ a b Ghauri, Irfan (2 September 2012). "Over 35,000 Buddhists, Baha'is call Pakistan home". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
141. ^ Zeb, Rizwan (12 December 2019). Ethno-political Conflict in Pakistan: The Baloch Movement. Routledge. p. 63\. ISBN 978-1-000-72992-4.
142. ^ Boyajian, Vahe S. (19 December 2016). "Is There an Ethno-religious Aspect in Balochi Identity?". Iran and the Caucasus. 20 (3–4): 397–405\. doi:10.1163/1573384X-20160309. Retrieved 21 April 2022.3–4&rft.pages=397-405&rft.date=2016-12-19&rft_id=info:doi/10.1163/1573384X-20160309&rft.aulast=Boyajian&rft.aufirst=Vahe+S.&rft_id=https://brill.com/view/journals/ic/20/3-4/article-p397_10.xml&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Religion+in+Pakistan" class="Z3988">
143. ^ "'Two decades from now, Pakistan will have no Parsis'". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
144. ^ "In a shrinking community, one Parsi family chooses Pakistan". The Express Tribune. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
145. ^ "Quaid i Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah: Early days". Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008.
146. ^ a b West, Barbara A. (19 May 2010). Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania. Infobase Publishing. p. 357\. ISBN 9781438119137. "The Kalasha are a unique people living in just three valleys near Chitral, Pakistan, the capital of North-West Frontier Province, which borders Afghanistan. Unlike their neighbors in the Hindu Kush Mountains on both the Afghani and Pakistani sides of the border the Kalasha have not converted to Islam. During the mid-20th century a few Kalasha villages in Pakistan were forcibly converted to this dominant religion, but the people fought the conversion and once official pressure was removed the vast majority continued to practice their own religion. Their religion is a form of Hinduism that recognizes many gods and spirits and has been related to the religion of the Ancient Greeks, who mythology says are the ancestors of the contemporary Kalash… However, it is much more likely, given their Indo-Aryan language, that the religion of the Kalasha is much more closely aligned to the Hinduism of their Indian neighbors that to the religion of Alexander the Great and his armies."
147. ^ Sheehan, Sean (1 October 1993). Pakistan. Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 978-1-85435-583-6. "The Kalash people are small in number, hardly exceeding 3,000, but they ... and as well as having their own language and costume, they practice animism (the worship of spirits in nature)..."
148. ^ Witzel, Michael (2004), "Kalash Religion (extract from 'The Ṛgvedic Religious System and its Central Asian and Hindukush Antecedents')" (PDF), in A. Griffiths; J. E. M. Houben (eds.), The Vedas: Texts, Language and Ritual, Groningen: Forsten, pp. 581–636
149. ^ a b Khalid, Haroon (4 September 2016). "Sacred geography: Why Hindus, Buddhist, Jains, Sikhs should object to Pakistan being called hell". Dawn. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
150. ^ Macdonell, Arthur Anthony (31 December 1997). A History of Sanskrit Literature. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 9788120800953.
151. ^ Ahmad, Imtiaz (28 May 2018). "Pakistan elections: Non-Muslim voters up by 30%, Hindus biggest minority". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
152. ^ "Brothers of Pakistani man claiming to be Jewish call him insane". Israel National News. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
153. ^ "Karachi, Pakistan – Brothers Of Pakistani Man Claiming Jewish Roots Call Him 'Insane'". VosIzNeias. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
154. ^ Caldwell, Simon (26 November 2015). "Pakistan's last Jew in battle to win 'empathy'". Retrieved 20 March 2018.
155. ^ "'Last Jew in Pakistan' beaten by mob, arrested". Express Tribune. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
156. ^ "Brothers of Pakistani man claiming Jewish roots call him 'insane'". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
157. ^ "Being Pakistani and atheist a dangerous combo, but some ready to brave it". Pakistan Today. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
158. ^ "Gallup Pakistan – Pakistan's Foremost Research Lab" (PDF).
159. ^ Shahid, Kunwar Khuldune (11 June 2020). "Pakistan's forced conversions shame Imran Khan". The Spectator. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
160. ^ Esposito, John L., ed. (2003). "Pakistan, Islam in". The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. New York, New York: Oxford University Press. p. 242\. ISBN 0-19-512558-4. "Approximately 97 percent of Pakistanis are Muslim. The majority are Sunnis following the Hanafi school of Islamic law. Between 10 and 15 percent are Shiis, mostly Twelvers."
161. ^ Information on other countries: http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_20072008_EN_Complete.pdf [page needed]
162. ^ "Population: 174,578,558 (July 2010 est.)". Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook on Pakistan. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
163. ^ Freedom House, Retrieved 2023-04-25
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* Law enforcement
* Police
* Counter Terrorism Department (CTD)
* Pakistani Intelligence community
* Capital punishment
* Terrorism

Military|

* History
* Army
* Navy
* Marines
* Air force
* Civil Armed Forces

Economy

| Infrastructure|

* Electricity
* Thermal
* Hydro
* Nuclear
* Solar
* Wind
* Foreign aid
* Fuel extraction
* Housing
* Planning Commission
* Post
* Poverty
* Tallest buildings
* Telecommunications
* Transportation
* Bridges
* Water management
* Water supply and sanitation

|

Industry|

* Aerospace
* Agriculture
* Defence
* Automotive
* Fishery
* Forestry
* Husbandry
* Labour
* Child
* Media
* Mining
* Pharmaceuticals
* Textiles
* Silk
* Tourism

Commerce|

* Banking
* Banks
* Companies
* Investment board
* Rupee (currency)
* Securities & Exchange Commission
* Stock markets
* Trading Corporation

Policy programmes|

* Corporatisation
* Directive investment
* Industrialisation
* Military economisation
* Nationalisation
* Privatisation
* Public-private partnering
* Redundant Islamic economisation

Society and Culture

| Society|

* Aurat March
* British heritage
* Crime
* Culture
* Divorce
* Education
* Institutions
* Feudalism
* Feminism
* Gender discrimination
* Healthcare
* Hospitals
* Human rights
* LGBT
* Marriage
* Media
* Me Too
* Naming
* Pakistanis (list)
* Prostitution
* Religion
* Time
* Urbanisation
* Women

|

Demographics|

* Diaspora
* Ethnicity
* Immigration
* Languages
* Urdu
* Youth

Arts|

* Architecture
* Cinema
* Films
* Dance
* Festivals
* Folklore
* Literature
* Mushaira
* Music
* Philosophy
* Textiles
* Theatre

Lifestyle|

* Clothing
* Shalwar kameez
* Mehndi
* Cuisine
* Etiquette
* Gun culture
* Nationalism
* Flags
* Public holidays
* Songs
* Symbols

Sports|

* Athletics
* Baseball
* Boxing
* Cricket
* Cycling
* Field hockey
* Football
* Gillidanda
* Golf
* Kabaddi
* Motorsport
* Marathon (Lahore)
* Olympics
* Paralympics
* Polo
* Rugby
* Squash
* Swimming
* Tennis

Places|

* Botanical gardens
* Cemeteries
* Churches
* Forts
* Gurdwaras
* Hindu temples
* Libraries
* Mausolea and shrines
* Mosques
* Museums
* Parks
* Stadiums
* World Heritage Sites
* Zoos

* Basic topics
* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Zoroastrianism

Primary topics|

* Ahura Mazda
* Zarathustra
* Asha
* Vohu Manah
* Persia/Iran
* Faravahar
* Avestan

Divine entities|

* Amesha Spentas
* Yazatas
* Ahuras
* Daevas
* Angra Mainyu

Scripture and worship|

* Avesta
* Gathas
* Ashem Vohu
* Ahuna Vairya
* Yenghe hatam
* Airyaman ishya
* Fire Temples
* 101 Names of Ahura Mazda
* Udvada Atash Behram
* Adur Burzen-Mihr
* Adur Farnbag
* Adur Gushnasp
* Cypress of Kashmar
* Yasna
* Vendidad
* Visperad
* Yashts
* Khordeh Avesta
* The Revayats
* Ab-Zohr
* Atash Behram
* Magi

Accounts and legends|

* Dēnkard
* Bundahišn
* Book of Arda Viraf
* Book of Jamasp
* Story of Sanjan
* Chinvat Bridge
* Frashokereti
* Xrafstar
* Hamistagan
* Duzakh

Cities|

* Balkh
* Kashmar
* Yazd

History and culture|

* Parsis
* Zurvanism
* Mazdakism
* Khurramites
* Three Persian religions
* Calendar
* Festivals
* Marriage
* Burial

Adherents|

* Persecution
* in Afghanistan
* in Armenia
* in Azerbaijan
* in China
* in Sichuan
* in India
* Irani
* Parsis
* in Iran
* in Iraq
* in Pakistan
* in Russia
* in United States
* in Uzbekistan

Lists|

* Fire temples in Iran
* Fire temples in India

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