Pakistan

Pakistan is a country in Southern Asia, classified by the United Nations under the M49 standard with code 586, ISO alpha-2 PK, and ISO alpha-3 PAK. The UN lists Pakistan in the region of Asia and the subregion of Southern Asia, and it is a UN member state. The World Bank capital field for Pakistan is Islamabad. These classification facts are stable and come from the UN M49 overview and the World Bank country API ( They describe statistical and administrative categories, not political or territorial claims.

Country basics

Attribute	Value
UN M49 code	586
ISO alpha-2	PK
ISO alpha-3	PAK
UN region	Asia
UN subregion	Southern Asia
UN member state	Yes (joined 1947)
World Bank capital	Islamabad

The M49 standard assigns codes to countries and areas for statistical purposes. It is a statistical classification, not a political or territorial endorsement. For example, the UN lists Pakistan under Southern Asia; this is a geographic grouping for data collection and does not constitute a position on borders or sovereignty. The World Bank capital field is used here as the data standard for “capital city” because the UN M49 overview does not list capitals.

How to verify current Pakistan data without freezing volatile figures

Country statistics change frequently. Instead of memorizing numbers, learn the official sources and the reference year for each figure. The UN M49 overview is the standard reference for classification codes and regional groupings. The World Bank country API provides current economic and development indicators with explicit reference years. For population, the UN Population Division publishes official estimates and projections; for national statistics, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics is the primary source. Always note the reference year when you cite a number, and check whether the figure is an estimate, projection, or census count.

Stable classification identifiers

These identifiers are assigned by international standards bodies and change rarely.

• UN M49 code: 586
• ISO alpha-2: PK
• ISO alpha-3: PAK
• UN region: Asia
• UN subregion: Southern Asia
• UN member state: Yes (joined 1947)
• World Bank capital field: Islamabad

Source: UN Statistics Division M49 overview and ISO 3166-1 alpha-2/alpha-3 codes. These are statistical identifiers, not political endorsements or territorial claims. Pakistan’s status as a UN member state is a legal fact of UN membership, not a statement about disputed borders.

Population and census data

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) publishes annual population estimates and projections in the World Population Prospects. The reference year is stated on each data table. The UN M49 overview defines the statistical grouping of Pakistan (code 586) but does not contain population counts. For population figures, use the UN World Population Prospects or the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Census data is typically conducted every 5-10 years; Pakistan’s last full census was completed in 2023, and figures between censuses are estimates.

Population figures change continuously. The United Nations Population Division publishes annual estimates, while Pakistan’s census is conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The 2023 Digital Census counted the inhabitants of Pakistan (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2023). The UN’s World Population Prospects revision provides comparable estimates for the same reference year; the two sources can differ by a few million because of different coverage, for example whether Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir are included, and different projection methods. For cross-country comparisons, use the UN World Population Prospects, which is the standard source for figures across all nations. For domestic administrative purposes, use the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics census release and note the reference year.

Language, currency and government

Urdu is the national language and English is the official language used in government, education, and many legal contexts. Regional languages include Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, and Balochi. For language data, use Ethnologue or the CIA World Factbook, and note that official-language counts vary by source.

The currency is the Pakistani rupee (PKR), issued by the State Bank of Pakistan. Exchange rates change daily; for a current value, check the State Bank of Pakistan or a major financial data provider and note the date of the rate you cite. For the IANA time zone database and UTC offset, consult the issuing authority.

For government structure, use the official constitution or a named current edition of a reference work. The World Bank lists Pakistan with the capital field Islamabad; you can verify the current entry through the World Bank country API ( The API returns the capital, region, income level, and lending category as of the reference year shown in the data.

Economy and development indicators

For economy figures, use World Bank and IMF data with the reference year. The World Bank country API provides economic and development indicators with explicit reference years. GDP, inflation, literacy, and other indicators change annually and are revised; never treat a single number as a permanent fact. For monetary and financial statistics, the State Bank of Pakistan is the authoritative domestic source.

Travel requirements and safety

For travel and visa requirements, direct readers to their own government’s foreign ministry and the IATA Travel Centre. Travel advice and entry rules change frequently and without notice. Always check the issuing authority closest to your departure date and note the date you checked.

Data sources and caveats

Statistical grouping versus political claims: The UN M49 classification is a statistical geography, not a political statement. In that scheme, Pakistan sits in the UN region Asia, subregion Southern Asia. The classification does not resolve territorial disputes; those are legal and political questions, not statistical ones. The UN M49 overview is the reference for these codes.

For current population figures, use the World Bank country API ( or the UN Population Division; name the reference year with every figure. The World Bank, UN DESA, and the CIA World Factbook each publish their own estimates; they differ because of census timing, projection methods, and adjustments for undercount. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics is the authoritative national source, and the most recent census was the 2023 Digital Census.

Always name the reference year and the exact source when citing a figure. Do not rely on a static profile for anything time-sensitive. For current data, use these primary sources and note the reference year for each figure you cite:

• United Nations (UN) M49 overview, the standard classification for countries and regions:
• World Bank country API, economic and development indicators:
• Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, official census and survey data
• State Bank of Pakistan, monetary and financial statistics
• Your own government’s foreign ministry, current travel advice and entry requirements