Wikipedia

Religion in Pakistan

(Redirected from Religions in Pakistan)

The official religion of Pakistan is Islam, as enshrined by Article 2 of the Constitution, and is practised by an overwhelming majority of 96.35% of the country's population.[1][7] The remaining 3.65% practice Hinduism, Christianity, Ahmadiyya (considered a non-Muslim group as per Pakistani constitution[8]), Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and other religions.[9][10]

Religion in Pakistan (2023 census)[1][2][3][4][5]

  Islam (96.35%)
  Hinduism (2.17%)
  Christianity (1.37%)
  Others (0.11%)
The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore was built during the Mughal Empire
Shiva Parvati Hindu Temple in Mithi
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[6]

A few aspects of secularism have also been adopted by Pakistani constitution from British colonial concept.[9][11][12][13][14] However, religious minorities in Pakistan often face significant discrimination, subject to issues such as violence and the blasphemy laws.[15][16]

Muslims comprise a number of sects: the majority practice Sunni Islam (estimated at 90%), while a minority practice Shia Islam (estimated at 10%).[17][18][19] Most Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence,[9] which is represented by the Barelvi and Deobandi traditions. However, the Hanbali school is also gaining popularity due to Ahl-i Hadith and Wahhabi influence from the Middle East.[20] 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.[21][22]

Equal rights

Khawaja Nazimuddin, Pakistan's second Prime Minister, argued against equal rights for all citizens in an Islamic state.[23] However, The Constitution of Pakistan establishes Islam as the state religion,[24] and provides that all citizens have the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion subject to law, public order, and morality.[25] The Constitution also states that all laws are to conform with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Quran and Sunnah.[26]

The Constitution limits the political rights of Pakistan's non-Muslims. Only Muslims are allowed to become the President[27] or the Prime Minister.[28] 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.[29] However, non-Muslims have served as judges in the High Courts and Supreme Court.[30] 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.[31]

Secularism

Main articles: Secularism in Pakistan, Freedom of religion in Pakistan, and Demography of Pakistan

Aspects & Practices of secularism

There was a petition in Supreme Court of Pakistan in the year of 2015 by 17 judges to declare the nation as a "Secular state" officially.[32] Muhammad Ali Jinnah (the founder of Pakistan) wanted Pakistan to be a secular, democratic, and a liberal republic.[33] Its predecessor, the Dominion of Pakistan, was secular from 1947 to 1955 and after that, Pakistan adopted a constitution in 1956, becoming an Islamic republic with Islam as its state religion.[34]

The main principles of Secularism 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[35] –

(a) Article 20 : Freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions.[36]

(b) Article 21 : Safeguard against taxation for purposes of any particular religion.[37]

(c) Article 22 : Safeguards as to educational institutions in respect of religion, etc.[38]

(d) Article 25 : Equality of citizens.[39]

(e) Article 26 : Non-discrimination in respect of access to public places.[40]

(f) Article 27 : Safeguard against discrimination in services.[41]

(g) Article 36 : Protection of Minorities.[42]

(h) Article 38 : Promotion of social and economic well-being of all the people.[43]

Demographics of religion in Pakistan

Background

Religious groups in Pakistan (1901–2023)
Religious
group 		1901[a] 1911[b] 1921[c] 1931[d] 1941[e] 1951[44][45] 1961[46][47] 1972[48] 1981[49][50] 1998[51] 2017[52] 2023[53]
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: 1951 and 1961 figures taken from census data by combining the total population of the former administrative division of West Pakistan.

1901 census

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[54][g] Sindh[55][h] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[56] 		Balochistan[57] AJK[58][i] Gilgit–
Baltistan[58][j]
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

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[59][l] Sindh[60][m] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[61] 		Balochistan[62] AJK[63][n] Gilgit–
Baltistan[63][o]
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

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[64][p] Sindh[65][q] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[66] 		Balochistan[67] AJK[69][r] Gilgit–
Baltistan[68][s]
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

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[70][t] Sindh[71][u] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[72] 		Balochistan[73] AJK[69][x] Gilgit–
Baltistan[69][w]
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

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[74]: 42 [y] Sindh[75]: 28 [z] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[76]: 22  		Balochistan[77]: 13–18  AJK[78]: 337–352 [v] Gilgit–
Baltistan[78]: 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

 
Refugees during Partition of India, 1947

Religion in Pakistan (1951 Official census)[44][45]

  Islam (97.1%)
  Hinduism (1.6%)
  Christianity (1.2%)
  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;[79] 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.[80][81]

Religious groups in Pakistan (1951)[44][45]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[44][45] Punjab[82] Sindh[ab] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[83] 		Balochistan[84] 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

Religious groups in Pakistan (1961)[46][47]
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

Religious groups in Pakistan (1972)[48]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[48] Punjab[85] Sindh[86] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[87][88] 		Balochistan[89] ICT[90] 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

Religious groups in Pakistan (1981)[49][50]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[49][50] Punjab[91] Sindh[92] Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa[93] 		Balochistan[94] 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

Religious groups in Pakistan (1998)[51]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[51] 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

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,[95] Pakistan has a population of 224,418,238 as of 2021.[96]

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 Muslims, 31,543 were Baháʼís, 8,852 were Sikhs, 4,020 were Parsis, 1,884 were Buddhist and others such as Kalashas.[97] The NADRA makes it nearly impossible to declare and change the religion to anything from Islam making the statistics somewhat misleading.[98]

Religious groups in Pakistan (2017)[52]
Religious
group 		Pakistan[52] 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

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released religious data of Pakistan Census 2017 on 19 May 2021.[99] 96.47% are Muslims, followed by 2.14% Hindus, 1.27% Christians, 0.09% Ahmadi Muslims 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 Muslim.

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 Muslim proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census

2023 census

Pakistan religious diversity as per 2023 census[100]

Religion Population %
Muslims ( ) 231,686,709 96.35%
Hindus ( ) 5,217,216 2.17%
Christians ( ) 3,300,788 1.37%
Ahmadiyya Muslims 162,684 0.07%
Sikhs 15,992 0.01%
Zoroastrians 2,348 <0.01%
Others (inc. Kalashas,Baháʼís, Buddhists) 72,346 0.03%
Total 240,458,089 100%

Demographics of religion by province/territory

Punjab

Religion in Punjab, Pakistan (1881–2023)
Religious
group 		1881[101][102][103][104][am] 1901[54][105][g] 1911[59][106][l] 1921[64][p] 1931[70][t] 1941[74][y] 1951[44][45][82] 1998[51] 2017[52][4] 2023[53][107]
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

Religion in Sindh (1872−2023)
Religious
group 		1872[108][ao] 1881[109][ap] 1891[110][aq] 1901[55][h] 1911[60][m] 1921[65][q] 1931[71][u] 1941[75]: 28 [z] 1951[44][45][ab] 1998[51] 2017[52][4] 2023[53][1]
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

Religion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (1881–2023)
Religious
group 		1881[111] 1891[112] 1901[56] 1911[61] 1921[66] 1931[72] 1941[76] 1951[44][45][83] 1998[51] 2017[52][4] 2023[53][1]
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

Religion in Balochistan (1901–2023)
Religious
group 		1901[57] 1911[62] 1921[67] 1931[73] 1941[77] 1951[44][45][84] 1998[51] 2017[52][4] 2023[53][1]
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

Religious groups in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (1901–1941)
Religious
group 		1901[58][i] 1911[63][n] 1921[68][r] 1931[69][x] 1941[78]: 337–352 [v]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Islam   747,426 85.62% 749,945 87.76% 780,607 88.02% 850,135 87.68% 939,460 87.54%
Hinduism   108,331 12.41% 84,130 9.85% 81,733 9.22% 87,554 9.03% 93,559 8.72%
Sikhism   17,132 1.96% 20,391 2.39% 24,491 2.76% 31,709 3.27% 39,910 3.72%
Christianity   18 0% 55 0.01% 24 0% 168 0.02% 136 0.01%
Jainism   0 0% 8 0% 6 0% 11 0% 0 0%
Buddhism   0 0% 2 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Zoroastrianism   0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 0% 0 0%
Tribal — — — — — — 0 0% 0 0%
Judaism   — — — — — — — — 0 0%
Others 8 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 89 0.01%
Total population 872,915 100% 854,531 100% 886,861 100% 969,578 100% 1,073,154 100%

Gilgit–Baltistan

Religious groups in Gilgit–Baltistan (1901–1941)
Religious
group 		1901[58][j] 1911[63][o] 1921[68][s] 1931[69][w] 1941[78]: 337–352 [aa]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Islam   58,779 96.54% 77,189 98.45% 88,643 98.82% 94,940 98.44% 115,601 99.62%
Hinduism   2,001 3.29% 1,112 1.42% 948 1.06% 1,361 1.41% 295 0.25%
Sikhism   74 0.12% 81 0.1% 90 0.1% 93 0.1% 121 0.1%
Christianity   28 0.05% 22 0.03% 16 0.02% 49 0.05% 28 0.02%
Jainism   1 0% 0 0% 0 0% 3 0% 0 0%
Buddhism   0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Zoroastrianism   0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Tribal — — — — — — 0 0% 2 0%
Judaism   — — — — — — — — 0 0%
Others 2 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Total population 60,885 100% 78,404 100% 89,697 100% 96,446 100% 116,047 100%

Islam

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.[9] Pakistan has the second largest number of Muslims in the world after Indonesia.[113] The majority are Sunni (estimated at 85-90%),[17][18] with an estimated 10–15% Shia.[17][18][19][114] A PEW survey in 2012 found that 6% of Pakistani Muslims were Shia.[115] 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.[116] 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.[117][118] Many rituals and ceremonies are celebrated according to Islamic calendar.

Sunni

Barelvi and Deobandi Sunni Muslims

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",[119] 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.[120][121][122]

Sufi

 
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.[123][124]

Ahmadiyya

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.[125]

In 1974, the government of Pakistan amended the Constitution of Pakistan to define a Muslim according to Qu'ran 33:40,[126] 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.[127] 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

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.[128]

Hinduism is the second largest religion affiliation in Pakistan after Islam.[129] As of 2020, Pakistan has the fourth largest Hindu population in the world after India, Nepal and Bangladesh.[130] 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.[95] 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.[131] They speak a variety of languages such as Sindhi, Seraiki, Aer, Dhatki, Gera, Goaria, Gurgula, Jandavra, Kabutra, Koli, Loarki, Marwari, Sansi, Vaghri[132] and Gujarati.[133]

The Rig Veda, the oldest Hindu text, is believed to have been composed in the Punjab region in the Indian subcontinent around 1500 BCE[134] and spread from there across South and South East Asia slowly developing and evolving into the various forms of the faith we see today.[135]

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.[15] 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.[136][16]

Christianity

Main article: Christianity in Pakistan
 
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore

Christians (Urdu: مسيحى، عیسائی) make up 1.3% of Pakistan's population.[137] The majority of the Pakistani Christian community consists of Punjabis who converted during the British colonial era and their descendants.[dubious – discuss][citation needed] Pakistani Christians mainly live in Punjab and in urban centres. 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.[3] There is a small myth that Christianity has been existent in Pakistan ever since a few decades after the crucifixion of Jesus. This myth became more popular after the finding of a structure looking like a giant cross in Northern Pakistan, but there is almost no evidence that this cross is related to Christianity.

There are a number of church-run schools in Pakistan that admit students of all religions, including Forman Christian College,[138][139] St. Patrick's Institute of Science & Technology and Saint Joseph's College for Women, Karachi.

Pakistan is number eight on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List, an annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.[140] Cases collected by Global Human Rights Defence show that young underage Christian (and Hindu) girls are sometimes targeted by Muslims for forced conversion to Islam.[15][16] Christians also often face abuses of Pakistani blasphemy laws, notably in the case of Asia Bibi.

Sikhism

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).[141] 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.[142] Other sources, including the US Department of State, claim the Sikh population in Pakistan to be at 20,000.[143][144] 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 [145]
  • 2018: 8,852 Sikh Voters[145]

In recent years, their numbers have increased with many Sikhs migrating from neighboring Afghanistan who have joined their co-religionists in Pakistan.[146]

Other religions

Baháʼí

Main article: Baháʼí Faith in Pakistan

The Baháʼí Faith in Pakistan begins previous to its independence 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,[147] with Shaykh Sa'id Hindi who was from Multan.[148] 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.[149]

The Baháʼís in Pakistan have the right to hold public meetings, establish academic centers, teach their faith, and elect their administrative councils.[150] Bahá'í sources claim their population to be around 30,000.[151] 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.[152] 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.[153]

Zoroastrianism

Further information: Parsi people
 
Bai Virbaiji Soparivala Parsi School, Karachi

There are at least 4,000 Pakistani citizen practicing the Zoroastrian religion.[154] The region of Balochistan is believed to be a stronghold of Zoroastrianism before the advent of Islam.[155][156] 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.[157][158] 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.[159]

Kalash

Main article: Kalash people
 
Guardians of a Kalasha village in the valley of Mumuret (Bumburet)

The Kalash people practise a form of ancient Hinduism[160] mixed with animism.[161] 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.[160] It is more similar to the historical Vedic religion, than later forms of Hinduism.[162]

Jainism

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.[163] 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.[163]

Buddhism

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 1500 Pakistani Buddhist in the country.[154] 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.[164]

The number of Buddhist voters was 1,884 in 2017 and are mostly concentrated in Sindh and Punjab.[165]

Judaism

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.[166][167] 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.[168][169][170]

Irreligion

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.[171] 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.[146] A 2012 study by Gallup Pakistan found that people not affiliated to any religion account for 1% of the population.[172] 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.[173]

Freedom of religion in Pakistan

Main article: Freedom of religion in Pakistan

In 2022, Freedom House rated Pakistan’s religious freedom as 1 out of 4,[174] 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.[175][176]

See also

Notes

  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,[54][g] Sindh,[55][h] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[56] Balochistan,[57] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[58][i] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[58][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,[59][l] Sindh,[60][m] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[61] Balochistan,[62] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[63][n] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[63][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,[64][p] Sindh,[65][q] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[66] Balochistan,[67] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[68][r] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[68][s]
  4. ^ a b c 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[70][t] Sindh,[71][u] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[72] Balochistan,[73] Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[69][v] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[69][w]
  5. ^ a b c d e 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[74]: 42 [y] Sindh,[75]: 28 [z] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[76]: 22  Balochistan,[77]: 13–18  Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[78]: 337–352 [v] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[78]: 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: [54]
    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: [55]
  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:[58]
  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:[58]
  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: [59][106]
    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: [60]
  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:[63]
  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:[63]
  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: [64]
    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: [65]
  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:[68]
  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:[68]
  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: [70]
    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: [71]
  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:[78]: 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:[69]
  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:[69]
  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:[74]
    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: [75]
  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:[78]: 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:[101][102][103]
    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: [108]
  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: [109]
  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: [110]
  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.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Religious Demographics of Pakistan" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Religions in Pakistan | PEW-GRF". www.globalreligiousfutures.org.
  3. ^ a b "Refworld | World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Pakistan : Christians".
  4. ^ a b c d e Haq, Riazul; Rana, Shahbaz (27 May 2018). "Headcount finalised sans third-party audit". Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Population By Religion" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Government of Pakistan: 1.
    "Population Distribution by Religion, 1998 Census" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  6. ^ West, Barbara A. (19 May 2010). Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania. Infobase Publishing. p. 357. ISBN 9781438119137.
  7. ^ "Part I: "Introductory"". www.pakistani.org.
  8. ^ "Surviving as an Ahmadi in Pakistan | Pulitzer Center".
  9. ^ a b c d 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.
  10. ^ "Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other". Pakistan (includes Christian and Hindu) 4%. The World Factbook. CIA. 2010. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  11. ^ 2014 World Population Data Sheet (PDF). Population Reference Bureau (Report). August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  12. ^ Information on other countries: http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_20072008_EN_Complete.pdf [page needed]
  13. ^ "Country Profile: Pakistan" (PDF). Library of Congress Country Studies on Pakistan. Library of Congress. February 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2010. Religion: About 97% of Pakistanis are Muslim, 64% of whom are Sunni and 33% Shia; the remaining 3% of population divided equally among Christian, Hindu, and other religions
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ a b c 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.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ a b c "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.
  17. ^ a b c "Country Profile: Pakistan" (PDF). Library of Congress Country Studies on Pakistan. Library of Congress. February 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2010. About 97 percent of Pakistanis are Muslim, 85–90 percent of whom are Sunni and 10–15 percent Shia
  18. ^ a b c "Religions: Muslim (official) 96.4% (Sunni 85–90%, Shia 10–15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.6% (2020 est.)". The World Factbook. CIA. 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  19. ^ a b "The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity". Pew Research Center. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2016. On the other hand, in Pakistan, where 6% of the survey respondents identify as Shia, Sunni attitudes are more mixed: 50% say Shias are Muslims, while 41% say they are not.
  20. ^ "Pakistan must confront Wahhabism | Adrian Pabst". TheGuardian.com. 20 August 2009.
  21. ^ Stubbs, John H.; Thomson, Robert G. (10 November 2016). Architectural Conservation in Asia: National Experiences and Practice. Taylor & Francis. p. 427. ISBN 978-1-317-40619-8. Perhaps best known as home to Asia's earliest cities, the Harappan sites of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, Pakistan's rich history includes contributions from prominent Buddhist, Hindu, Hellenistic, Jain and Zoroastrian civilizations, as well as those connected to its Islamic heritage.
  22. ^ Malik, Iftikhar Haider (2006). Culture and Customs of Pakistan. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-313-33126-8.
  23. ^ Qasmi, Ali Usman (2015). The Ahmadis and the Politics of Religious Exclusion in Pakistan. Anthem Press. p. 149. ISBN 978-1-78308-425-8. Nazim-ud-Din favored an Islamic state not just out of political expediency but also because of his deep religious belief in its efficacy and practicality ... Nazim-ud-Din commented:'I do not agree that religion is a private affair of the individual nor do I agree that in an Islamic state every citizen has identical rights, no matter what his caste, creed or faith be'.
  24. ^ "The Constitution of Pakistan, Part I: Introductory". Pakistani.org. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  25. ^ "The Constitution of Pakistan, Part II: Chapter 1: Fundamental Rights". Pakistani.org. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  26. ^ Iqbal, Khurshid (2009). The Right to Development in International Law: The Case of Pakistan. Routledge. p. 189. ISBN 9781134019991.
  27. ^ "The Constitution of Pakistan, Part III: Chapter 1: The President". Pakistani.org. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  28. ^ "The Constitution of Pakistan, Notes for Part III, Chapter 3". Archived from the original on 10 November 2009.
  29. ^ "The Constitution of Pakistan, Part VII: Chapter 3A: Federal Shariat Court". Pakistani.org. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  30. ^ Shah, Sabir. "Justice Bhagwandas and some other non-Muslim Pak luminaries". The News International. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  31. ^ "Pakistan's parliament blocks bill allowing non-Muslims to become country's PM, President". City: Delhi. The Hindu. TNN. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  32. ^ "Can Islamic Republic of Pakistan be a secular state?". The Hindu. 5 May 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  33. ^ "Jinnah's Pakistan: Islamic state or secular democracy?". The Nation. 25 December 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  34. ^ Nasir, Abbas (15 August 2017). "Opinion | How Pakistan Abandoned Jinnah's Ideals (Published 2017)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  35. ^ "Fundamental Rights in Pakistan – PHRO".
  36. ^ "Article 20 freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions – the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 Developed by Zain Sheikh | Fake Rolex Replica Watches, Advocates & Corporate Consultants". 19 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 - Part II".
  38. ^ "Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 – Part II". www.commonlii.org.
  39. ^ "Article: 25 Equality of citizens – the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 Developed by Zain Sheikh | Fake Rolex Replica Watches, Advocates & Corporate Consultants". 13 April 2021.
  40. ^ "Chapter 1: "Fundamental Rights" of Part II: "Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy"".
  41. ^ "Chapter 1: "Fundamental Rights" of Part II: "Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy"".
  42. ^ "FAOLEX".
  43. ^ "Chapter 2: "Principles of Policy" of Part II: "Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy"".
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h "CENSUS OF PAKISTAN, 1951 POPULATION ACCORDING TO RELIGION (TABLE 6)" (PDF). 1951. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2023.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h "Census of Pakistan, 1951 Population According to Religion Table 6". Census Digital Library. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  46. ^ a b "Population, Vol-3, Pakistan - Census 1961 TABLE 5-POPULATION BY RELIGIOUS GROUPS, 1951 AND 1961". Census Digital Library. p. 224. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  47. ^ a b "Population, Vol-3, Pakistan - Census 1961 TABLE 7-POPULATION BY RELIGIOUS GROUPS AND SEX". Census Digital Library. p. 280. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  48. ^ a b c Population Census Organization Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan Islamabad. "Statistical Report of Pakistan 1972". p. 20. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  49. ^ a b c Population Census Organisation Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. "1981 Census Report of Pakistan". p. 68. Retrieved 11 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  50. ^ a b c Population Census Organisation Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. "Handbook of Population Census Data, 1981". p. 13. Retrieved 11 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ a b c d e f g "Population Distribution by Religion, 1998 Census" (PDF). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  52. ^ a b c d e f g "Final Results of Census-2017 Table-9 Population by sex, religion and rural/urban". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  53. ^ a b c d e "7th Population and Housing Census - Detailed Results Table-9 Population by sex, religion and rural/urban". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  54. ^ a b c d "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. p. 34. JSTOR saoa.crl.25363739. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  55. ^ a b c d India Census Commissioner (1901). "Census of India 1901. Vols. 9-11, Bombay". JSTOR saoa.crl.25366895. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  56. ^ a b c "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. pp. 34–36. JSTOR saoa.crl.25363739. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  57. ^ a b c India Census Commissioner (1901). "Census of India 1901. Vol. 5A, Baluchistan. Pt. 2, Imperial tables". p. 5. JSTOR saoa.crl.25352844. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  58. ^ a b c d e f g h "Census of India 1901. Vol. 23A, Kashmir. Pt. 2, Tables". 1901. p. 20. JSTOR saoa.crl.25366883. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  59. ^ a b c d "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. p. 27. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393788. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  60. ^ a b c d India Census Commissioner (1911). "Census of India 1911. Vol. 7, Bombay. Pt. 2, Imperial tables". JSTOR saoa.crl.25393770. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  61. ^ a b c "Census of India, 1911 Volume XII North-West Frontier Province" (PDF). pp. 307–308. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  62. ^ a b c India Census Commissioner (1911). "Census of India 1911. Vol. 4, Baluchistan : pt. 1, Report; pt. 2, Tables". pp. 9–13. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393764. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  63. ^ a b c d e f g h "Census of India 1911. Vol. 20, Kashmir. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. p. 17. JSTOR saoa.crl.25394111. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  64. ^ a b c d "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. p. 29. JSTOR saoa.crl.25430165. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  65. ^ a b c d India Census Commissioner (1921). "Census of India 1921. Vol. 8, Bombay Presidency. Pt. 2, Tables : imperial and provincial". JSTOR saoa.crl.25394131. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  66. ^ a b c "Census of India 1921. Vol. 14, North-west Frontier Province : Part I, Report; part II, Tables". 1922. pp. 345–346. JSTOR saoa.crl.25430163. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  67. ^ a b c India Census Commissioner (1921). "Census of India 1921. Vol. 4, Baluchistan : part I, Report; part II, Tables". pp. 47–52. JSTOR saoa.crl.25394124. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  68. ^ a b c d e f g "Census of India 1921. Vol. 22, Kashmir. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. p. 15. JSTOR saoa.crl.25430177. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  69. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Census of India 1931. Vol. 24, Jammu & Kashmir State. Pt. 2, Imperial & state tables". 1931. p. 267. JSTOR saoa.crl.25797120. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  70. ^ a b c d "Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1931. p. 277. JSTOR saoa.crl.25793242. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  71. ^ a b c d India Census Commissioner (1931). "Census of India 1931. Vol. 8, Bombay. Pt. 2, Statistical tables". JSTOR saoa.crl.25797128. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  72. ^ a b c Mallam, G. L.; Dundas, A. D. F. (1933). "Census of India, 1931, vol. XV. North-west frontier province. Part I-Report. Part II-Tables". Peshawar, Printed by the manager, Government stationery and printing, 1933. pp. 373–375. JSTOR saoa.crl.25793233. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  73. ^ a b c India Census Commissioner (1931). "Census of India 1931. Vol. 4, Baluchistan. Pts. 1 & 2, Report [and] Imperial and provincial tables". p. 149. JSTOR saoa.crl.25797115. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  74. ^ a b c d India Census Commissioner (1941). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab". p. 42. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215541. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  75. ^ a b c d India Census Commissioner (1941). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 12, Sind". p. 28. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215545. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  76. ^ a b c India Census Commissioner (1941). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 10, North-West Frontier Province". p. 22. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215543. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  77. ^ a b c India Census Commissioner (1942). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 14, Baluchistan". pp. 13–18. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215993. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  78. ^ a b c d e f g h India Census Commissioner (1941). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 22, Jammu & Kashmir". JSTOR saoa.crl.28215644. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  79. ^ D'Costa, Bina (2011), Nationbuilding, Gender and War Crimes in South Asia, Routledge, pp. 100–, ISBN 978-0-415-56566-0
  80. ^ Population Redistribution and Development in South Asia. Springer Science & Business Media. 2012. p. 6. ISBN 978-9400953093. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  81. ^ Talbot, Ian; Singh, Gurharpal (23 July 2009). The Partition of India. Cambridge University Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-521-85661-4.
  82. ^ a b "Punjab & Bahawalpur State, Vol-5, Pakistan - Census 1951". Census Digital Library. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  83. ^ a b "North-West Frontier Province, Report & Tables, Vol-4 Pakistan - Census 1951". Census Digital Library. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  84. ^ a b "Baluchistan, Report & Tables, Vol-2, Pakistan - Census 1951". Census Digital Library. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  85. ^ Population Census Organization Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan Islamabad. "Statistical Report of Punjab 1972". p. 42. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  86. ^ Population Census Organization Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan Islamabad. "Statistical Report of Sindh 1972". p. 28. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  87. ^ Ministry of States and Frontier Regions Islamabad. "Statistical Report of N.W.P 1972". p. 26. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  88. ^ Population Census Organization Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan Islamabad. "Census Reports of Federally Administered Tribal Area". p. 57. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  89. ^ Population Census Organization Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan Islamabad. "Statistical Report of Baluchistan 1972". p. 21. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  90. ^ Ministry of States and Frontier Regions Islamabad. "District Census Report Islamabad Federal Capital". p. 33. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  91. ^ Population Census Organisation Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. "1981 Census Report of Punjab Province". p. 38. Retrieved 11 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  92. ^ Population Census Organisation Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. "1981 Census Report of Sindh Province". p. 35. Retrieved 11 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  93. ^ Population Census Organisation Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. "1981 Census Report of North West Frontier Province". p. 33. Retrieved 11 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  94. ^ Population Census Organisation Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. "1981 Census Report of Baluchistan Province". p. 33. Retrieved 11 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  95. ^ a b "Headcount finalised sans third-party audit". The Express Tribune. 26 May 2018.
  96. ^ "Pakistan Population (2021) – Worldometer".
  97. ^ Khan, Iftikhar A. (28 May 2018). "Number of non-Muslim voters in Pakistan shows rise of over 30pc". Dawn. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  98. ^ "Losing your religion?: 'NADRA should not be deciding people's faith'". The Express Tribune. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  99. ^ "Pakistan's population is 207.68m, shows 2017 census result". 19 May 2021.
  100. ^ "Religious Demographics of Pakistan 2023" (PDF).
  101. ^ a b "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I." 1881. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057656. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  102. ^ a b "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II". 1881. p. 14. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057657. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  103. ^ a b "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. III". 1881. p. 14. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057658. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  104. ^ "Gazetteers Of Gurdaspur District, 1883-84". 1884. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  105. ^ "Punjab District Gazetteers Gurdaspur District Vol.21 Statistical Tables". 1913. p. 62. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  106. ^ a b Kaul, Harikishan (1911). "Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II". p. 27. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  107. ^ "Religious Demographics of Pakistan 2023" (PDF).
  108. ^ a b "Census of the Bombay Presidency, taken on the 21. February 1872". Bombay, 1875. 1872. p. 76. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057641. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  109. ^ a b "Census of India, 1891. Operations and results in the Presidency of Bombay, including Sind". 1881. p. 3. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057678. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  110. ^ a b India Census Commissioner (1891). "Census of India, 1891. Vol. VIII, Bombay and its feudatories. Part II, Imperial tables". JSTOR saoa.crl.25352815. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  111. ^ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II". 1881. pp. 17–18. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057657. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  112. ^ Edward Maclagan, Sir (1891). "The Punjab and its feudatories, part II--Imperial Tables and Supplementary Returns for the British Territory". pp. 14–15. JSTOR saoa.crl.25318669. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  113. ^ Singh, Y P (2016). Islam in India and Pakistan – A Religious History. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. ISBN 9789385505638. Pakistan has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia.
  114. ^ "Country Profile: Pakistan" (PDF). Library of Congress. 2005. pp. 2, 3, 6, 8. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  115. ^ "The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity". Pew Research Center. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2018. On the other hand, in Pakistan, where 6% of the survey respondents identify as Shia, Sunni attitudes are more mixed: 50% say Shias are Muslims, while 41% say they are not.
  116. ^ "Heart of darkness: Shia resistance and revival in Pakistan". Herald. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  117. ^ Malik, Jamal. Islam in South Asia: A Short History. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2008.
  118. ^ Mughal, Muhammad Aurang Zeb (2015). "An anthropological perspective on the mosque in Pakistan" (PDF). Asian Anthropology. 14 (2): 166–181. doi:10.1080/1683478X.2015.1055543. S2CID 54051524.
  119. ^ Group, International Crisis (2022). A New Era of Sectarian Violence in Pakistan. International Crisis Group. pp. Page 8–Page 14. Retrieved 20 July 2023. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  120. ^ Curtis, Lisa; Mullick, Haider (4 May 2009). "Reviving Pakistan's Pluralist Traditions to Fight Extremism". The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  121. ^ Pike, John (5 July 2011). "Barelvi Islam". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 8 December 2003. Retrieved 25 September 2020. By one estimate, in Pakistan, the Shias are 18%, Ismailis 2%, Ahmediyas 2%, Barelvis 50%, Deobandis 20%, Ahle Hadith 4%, and other minorities 4%. [...] By another estimate some 15% of Pakistan's Sunni Muslims would consider themselves Deobandi, and some 60% are in the Barelvi tradition based mostly in the province of Punjab. But some 64% of the total seminaries are run by Deobandis, 25% by the Barelvis, 6% by the Ahle Hadith and 3% by various Shiite organisations.
  122. ^ Group, International Crisis (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 {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  123. ^ Buchen, Charlotte. "Sufism Under Attack in Pakistan". The New York Times. Archived from the original (video) on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  124. ^ Imtiaz, Huma; Buchen, Charlotte (6 January 2011). "The Islam That Hard-Liners Hate" (blog). The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  125. ^ 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:
  126. ^ "Surah Al-Ahzab – 40".
  127. ^ "Ordinance No. XX of 1984". The Persecution. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  128. ^ Xafar, Ali (20 April 2016). "Mata Hinglaj Yatra: To Hingol, a pilgrimage to reincarnation". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  129. ^ "Population Distribution by Religion, 1998 Census" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  130. ^ "Countries with the Largest Hindu Populations". 15 January 2019.
  131. ^ "Population by religion". Archived from the original on 2 April 2014.
  132. ^ "Pakistan". Ethnologue. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  133. ^ 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.
  134. ^ "Rigveda | Hindu literature". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  135. ^ Bronkhorst, Johannes (2016). How the Brahmins Won: From Alexander to the Guptas. Brill. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-90-04-31519-8.
  136. ^ "Forced conversions of Pakistani Hindu girls". 19 September 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  137. ^ "Country Profile: Pakistan" (PDF). Library of Congress Country Studies on Pakistan. Library of Congress. February 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  138. ^ Najam, Adil (30 March 2008). "Forman Christian (F.C.) College's Political Clout". Pakistaniat. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  139. ^ Bangash, Yaqoob Khan. "FC College: an amazing transformation". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  140. ^ "Pakistan is number 8 on the World Watch List".
  141. ^ "Pakistan census to have column for Sikhs". The Times of India. 15 December 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  142. ^ 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.
  143. ^ "Pakistan's dwindling Sikh community wants improved security". Dawn.com. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  144. ^ "Pakistan". State.gov. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  145. ^ 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.
  146. ^ a b "Pakistan – International Religious Freedom Report 2008". United States Department of State. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  147. ^ "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.
  148. ^ "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.
  149. ^ Momen, Moojan; Smith, Peter. "Bahá'í History". Draft A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith. Bahá'í Library Online. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  150. ^ 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.
  151. ^ 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.
  152. ^ Das, Shobha (10 April 2013). "A Pakistani Baha'i's story". Blog. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  153. ^ Fareed, Abdul (2015). Religious and SOcial Life of Religious Minorities (Thesis thesis). Islamabad, Pakistan: International Islamic University.
  154. ^ a b Ghauri, Irfan (2 September 2012). "Over 35,000 Buddhists, Baha'is call Pakistan home". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  155. ^ Zeb, Rizwan (12 December 2019). Ethno-political Conflict in Pakistan: The Baloch Movement. Routledge. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-000-72992-4.
  156. ^ 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.
  157. ^ "'Two decades from now, Pakistan will have no Parsis'". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  158. ^ "In a shrinking community, one Parsi family chooses Pakistan". The Express Tribune. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  159. ^ "Quaid i Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah: Early days". Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008.
  160. ^ 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.
  161. ^ 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)...
  162. ^ 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
  163. ^ 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.
  164. ^ Macdonell, Arthur Anthony (31 December 1997). A History of Sanskrit Literature. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 9788120800953.
  165. ^ Ahmad, Imtiaz (28 May 2018). "Pakistan elections: Non-Muslim voters up by 30%, Hindus biggest minority". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  166. ^ "Brothers of Pakistani man claiming to be Jewish call him insane". Israel National News. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  167. ^ "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.
  168. ^ Caldwell, Simon (26 November 2015). "Pakistan's last Jew in battle to win 'empathy'". Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  169. ^ "'Last Jew in Pakistan' beaten by mob, arrested". Express Tribune. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  170. ^ "Brothers of Pakistani man claiming Jewish roots call him 'insane'". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  171. ^ "Being Pakistani and atheist a dangerous combo, but some ready to brave it". Pakistan Today. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  172. ^ "Gallup Pakistan – Pakistan's Foremost Research Lab" (PDF).
  173. ^ Shahid, Kunwar Khuldune (11 June 2020). "Pakistan's forced conversions shame Imran Khan". The Spectator. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  174. ^ Freedom House, Retrieved 2023-04-25
  175. ^ "Pakistan: How real is freedom of religion? | Special Report | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  176. ^ "Pakistan and religious freedom". Daily Times. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
 
Wikiquote has quotations related to Religion in Pakistan.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religion_in_Pakistan&oldid=1258075138"