Pakistan (Islamic Republic of Pakistan)

Pakistan Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	147th best
Capital	Islamabad
Land Area	770 880km21
Location	Asia
Population	212.2m2
Life Expectancy	66.10yrs (2017)3
GNI	$4 624 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	PK, PAK, 5865
Internet Domain	.pk6
Currency	Rupee (PKR)7
Telephone	+928

1. Overview
2. Pakistan National and Social Development
3. Pakistan's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Pakistan's Health
6. Pakistan's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Pakistan's Modernity and Learning
8. Religion and Beliefs
9. Links

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1. Overview

#afghanistan #bangladesh #hinduism #india #islam #turkey

“The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. India-Pakistan relations have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but both countries are taking small steps to put relations back on track. In February 2008, Pakistan held parliamentary elections and in September 2008, after the resignation of former President MUSHARRAF, elected Asif Ali ZARDARI to the presidency. Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control domestic insurgents, many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan. In January 2012, Pakistan assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Pakistan has been on the brink of being tourism´s `next big thing´ for more years than we care to remember. It´s a destination that has so much to offer visitors, from some of the highest and most spectacular mountains in the world to the architectural glories of the Mughal empire, and cultural riches ranging from ancient ruins to musical mystics. But would-be visitors are frequently scared off by Pakistan´s reputation for lawlessness and political instability.

Is this reputation deserved? Well, yes, and no. Parts of the country have problems with crime and insurgency, other parts are warm and welcoming; it all depends where you go. The challenge for travellers is knowing where one part ends and the other begins. Nevertheless, equipped with some local knowledge, it isn´t hard to avoid the troubles and immerse yourself in a mesmerising world of desert forts, carpet-weavers and djinns.

Although conservative, Pakistanis are by nature welcoming and hospitable, and visitors are met with genuine interest and enthusiasm. Travellers who see beyond the headlines and take time to explore almost always rate Pakistan as one of their top travel destinations.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Pakistan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #india #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
158	Mauritania	0.556
159	Ivory Coast	0.550
160	Tanzania	0.549
161	Pakistan	0.544
162	Togo	0.539
163=	Haiti	0.535
163=	Nigeria	0.535
165	Rwanda	0.534
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
140	Djibouti	$5 025
141	Venezuela	$4 811
142	Nigeria	$4 790
143	Pakistan	$4 624
144	Marshall Islands	$4 620
145	Kyrgyzstan	$4 566
146	Tajikistan	$4 548
147	Kenya	$4 474
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	27.0
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.8
	...
144	Tanzania	108.8
145	Sao Tome & Principe	109.3
146	Tajikistan	110.0
147	Pakistan	110.2
148	Gabon	111.1
149	Cambodia	111.2
150	Nigeria	111.6
151	Benin	111.7
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	88.6
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

“In a decade during which most of Asia has leapt ahead, Pakistan has lagged behind. Female literacy, crucial as both an indicator of development and a determinant of future prosperity, is stuck at 40%. In India, which was at a similar level 20 years ago, the figure is now over half. In East Asia it is more like nine out of ten.”

The Economist (2011)₁₃

3. Pakistan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Pakistan's population is predicted to rise to 234.43 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 3.41. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
4	Indonesia	267.7m
5	Pakistan	212.2m
6	Brazil	209.5m
7	Nigeria	195.9m
8	Bangladesh	161.4m
9	Russia	145.7m
10	Japan	127.2m
11	Mexico	126.2m
12	Ethiopia	109.2m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
139	Senegal	67.1
140	Eritrea	66.5
141	Tanzania	66.2
142	Pakistan	66.1
143	Rwanda	66.1
144	Palau	66.0
145	Gabon	65.8
146	Guyana	65.7
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
159	Kenya	3.30
160	Hong Kong	0.70
161	Uzbekistan	3.31
162	Pakistan	3.41
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
166	Nauru	3.46
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
55	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	08.2
56	Belize	08.3
57	Gabon	08.5
58	Pakistan	08.6
59	Bahrain	08.7
60	Syria	09.0
61=	Djibouti	09.1
61=	Tajikistan	09.1
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
133	Japan	1.8%
134	Sudan	1.8%
135	Albania	1.8%
136	Pakistan	1.7%
137	Nepal	1.7%
138	Poland	1.7%
139	Senegal	1.7%
140	Comoros	1.5%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
144	France	2.8%
145	Costa Rica	2.7%
146	Rwanda	2.6%
147	Pakistan	2.5%
148	Vietnam	2.5%
149	Niger	2.4%
150	Argentina	2.4%
151	Cambodia	2.3%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #islam #morals #pakistan #pakistan_women #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
174	Ethiopia	131.2
175	Brunei	132.7
176	Central African Rep.	133.1
177	Pakistan	133.7
178	Yemen	134.5
179	Burundi	134.8
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

Pakistan is amongst the very worst places in the world at ensuring any human rights and freedoms, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Pakistan does worse than average in its average Freedom in the World rating (still low for Asia), opposing gender inequality₂₀ (one of the highest in Asia), supporting press freedom₂₁ and in LGBT equality₂₂. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₃ (amongst the highest in Asia), commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₄ (amongst the lowest in Asia), supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₅, eliminating modern slavery₂₆ (one of the worst in Asia), its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₇ and in freethought₂₈ (amongst the worst in Asia). Women and girls face formiddable obstacles, with over 1000 killed each year in 'honour' killings for not adhering to social norms of suppression (especially arranged marriages)_29,30.₃₁. Religious minorities and LGBT folk also face terrible persecution, frequent violent attacks and government persecution "with authorities failing to provide adequate protection or hold perpetrators accountable"₂₉. Security forces are unaccountable for their own human rights violations₂₉. Decades of increasingly strict and conservative Islam has resulted in a situation of violent intolerance towards any other religion or belief_32,33. Pakistan has no freedom of religion nor freedom of belief. The law is used to prevent any criticism of Muhammad or those connected to him, including literary and historical criticism_34,35.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Pakistan

5. Pakistan's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #pakistan #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2025)36
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank36
1=	Japan	44.1
2	Hong Kong	48.2
3	Singapore	49.5
	...
42	Philippines	116.9
43	Tajikistan	118.2
44	Syria	122.2
45	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	124.4
46	Pakistan	127.9
47	Laos	135.6
48	Iraq	139.7
49=	Yemen	148.2
50	Afghanistan	155.0
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)36
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank36
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
157	Honduras	125.3
158	Vanuatu	125.3
159	Solomon Islands	125.5
160	Pakistan	127.9
161	Botswana	129.6
162	Eritrea	130.2
163	Haiti	130.5
164	Lesotho	131.8
	World Avg	96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₇. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria₃₇.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₃₇, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₇.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Pakistan has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Pakistan comes in the best 20 when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate₃₈. It does better than average for its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₉ and in its smoking rate₄₀. But, things could still be better. Pakistan does worse than average when it comes to its adolescent birth rate₄₁, its average life expectancy₁₁ (one of the worst in Asia), its fertility rate₁₅ (amongst the worst in Asia) and in its immunizations take-up₄₂. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Pakistan improved by +6.7yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Pakistan's peak fertility rate was 6.81 in 1975.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
139	Senegal	67.1
140	Eritrea	66.5
141	Tanzania	66.2
142	Pakistan	66.1
143	Rwanda	66.1
144	Palau	66.0
145	Gabon	65.8
146	Guyana	65.7
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better38
Pos.		2016 Per Capita38
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
7=	Afghanistan	0.2
7=	Saudi Arabia	0.2
9	Syria	0.3
10=	Pakistan	0.3
11	Kiribati	0.4
12=	Iraq	0.4
12=	Brunei	0.4
12=	Egypt	0.4
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
159	Kenya	3.30
160	Hong Kong	0.70
161	Uzbekistan	3.31
162	Pakistan	3.41
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
166	Nauru	3.46
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better40
Pos.		201440
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
81	Honduras	489
82	Brazil	492
83	Senegal	504
84	Pakistan	511
85	Cape Verde	515
86	Tajikistan	533
87	S. Africa	537
88	Iceland	551
	Asia Avg	1 035
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
35	India	35
36	Fiji	36
37	Thailand	37
38	Pakistan	38
39	Portugal	39
40	Brazil	40
41	Iceland	41
42	El Salvador	42
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better43
Pos.		2016 %43
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
37	Indonesia	28.2
38=	Somalia	28.4
38=	Senegal	28.4
38=	Pakistan	28.4
41	Sudan	28.9
42=	Nigeria	28.9
43	Benin	29.5
44	Guinea-Bissau	29.9
	Asia Avg	44.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better41
Pos.		2022 Per 100041
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
107	Bulgaria	38.2
108	Kiribati	39.6
109	Azerbaijan	40.1
110	Pakistan	41.2
111	Barbados	41.9
112	Palau	42.1
113	Palestine	42.9
114	Brazil	43.6
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better42
Pos.		2015 Avg %42
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
170	Mali	76.0
171	India	75.1
172	Ethiopia	73.9
173	Pakistan	73.0
174	Liberia	72.6
175	S. Africa	72.5
176=	Angola	71.9
176=	Madagascar	71.9
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Pakistan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #internationalism #japan #meat #over-exploitation #pakistan #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)44
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank44
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
12	Bangladesh	69.7
13	Maldives	70.5
14	Yemen	71.9
15	Pakistan	72.0
16	Turkey	75.0
17	China	75.2
18	Afghanistan	75.7
19	Syria	77.4
20	Iran	79.0
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)44
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank44
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
62	Sweden	71.8
63	Finland	71.9
64	Yemen	71.9
65	Pakistan	72.0
66	France	72.8
67	Congo, DR	73.0
68	Romania	73.8
69	Swaziland	74.2
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Pakistan comes 65th in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. Pakistan does better than average in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₅, energy to GDP efficiency₄₆ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. But, there's bad news too. Pakistan does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₇. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of its score on the Green Future Index₄₈, its environmental performance₄₉ (amongst the worst in Asia) and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₅₀.

Environmental Performance Higher is better49
Pos.		201849
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
166	Mauritania	39.2
167	Benin	38.2
168	Afghanistan	37.7
169	Pakistan	37.5
170	Angola	37.4
171	Central African Rep.	36.4
172	Niger	35.7
173	Lesotho	33.8
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better46
Pos.		2022 Avg46
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
44	El Salvador	0.79
45	Guinea	0.80
46	UK	0.80
47	Pakistan	0.81
48	Comoros	0.81
49	Costa Rica	0.81
50	Latvia	0.81
51	Ghana	0.83
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
46	France	67%
47	Nepal	67%
48	Niger	67%
49	Pakistan	67%
50	Liechtenstein	66%
51	Gambia	66%
52	Hungary	66%
53	Azerbaijan	66%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better47
Pos.		2011 %47
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
117	Afghanistan	23.6%
118	Russia	23.5%
119	Algeria	23.5%
120	Pakistan	23.2%
121	Liberia	23.1%
122	Netherlands	23.0%
123	Finland	22.9%
124	Congo, DR	22.8%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better45
Pos.		2021 kg45
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
35	Iraq	18.3
36	Zambia	18.3
37	Indonesia	18.6
38	Pakistan	18.6
39	Senegal	19.3
40	Sudan	19.9
41=	Myanmar (Burma)	20.0
41=	Angola	20.0
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

Green Future Index Higher is better48
Pos.		2023 Score48
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
64	Cameroon	3.8
65	Ghana	3.8
66	Uganda	3.7
67	Pakistan	3.7
68	Malaysia	3.7
69=	Guatemala	3.6
69=	Russia	3.6
71	Paraguay	3.6
	Asia Avg	4.3
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

The 2023 edition of the Green Futures Index noted that Pakistan's nuclear energy production has recently grown more than any of the 76-countries it reviewed (except Japan), helping its transition towards sustainability.₅₁

7. Pakistan's Modernity and Learning

#atheism #capitalism #charity #china #corruption #economics #education #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #indonesia #inequality #intelligence #it_security #life_expectancy #modernity #morals #pakistan #peace #politics #poverty #religion #religiosity #religious_violence #research #science #secularisation #social_development #technology #terrorism #the_internet #USA

Compared to Asia (2020)52
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank52
1	S. Korea	22.2
2	Japan	24.7
3	Israel	29.5
	...
35	Tajikistan	101.3
36	Maldives	102.1
37	Turkmenistan	114.0
38	Pakistan	116.1
39	Nepal	116.8
40	Bangladesh	121.2
41	Bhutan	123.9
42	Laos	124.4
43	Iraq	124.6
	Asia Avg	78.26
q=49.

Modernity & Learning (2020)52
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank52
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
131	Turkmenistan	114.0
132	Cameroon	114.2
133	Swaziland	115.9
134	Pakistan	116.1
135	Zambia	116.3
136	Nepal	116.8
137	Bangladesh	121.2
138	Nicaragua	121.4
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₅₃. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₅₃. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₄.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₅₅

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₃, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₃.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2956
2	Israel	4.1156
3	Japan	3.5856
	...
78	Iran	0.3157
79=	Nepal	0.3057
79=	Kuwait	0.3058
81	Pakistan	0.2958
82	Zambia	0.2859
83	Botswana	0.2560
84	Armenia	0.2458
85=	Sudan	0.2361
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better62
Pos.		201862
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
128	Laos	40.4%
129	Algeria	38.9%
130	Guatemala	37.8%
131	Pakistan	37.2%
132	Cameroon	37.2%
133	Gambia	36.8%
134	Nepal	35.9%
135	Kenya	35.2%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better63
Pos.		2021 Years63
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
182	Burkina Faso	9.1
183	Yemen	9.1
184	Senegal	9.0
185	Pakistan	8.7
186	Eritrea	8.1
187	Central African Rep.	8.0
188	Chad	8.0
189	Sudan	7.9
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
85	Tonga	85
86	Georgia	86
87	Benin	87
88	Pakistan	88
89	Seychelles	89
90	Iran	90
91	Antigua & Barbuda	91
92	Burkina Faso	92
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Religiosity Lower is better64
Pos.		2018 %64
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
99	Afghanistan	92
100=	Burkina Faso	93
100=	Tanzania	93
100=	Indonesia	93
103	Mali	94
104=	Pakistan	94
105	Ethiopia	98
106=	Senegal	98
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better65
Pos.		200665
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
79=	Afghanistan	84
79=	UAE	84
79=	Iran	84
79=	Pakistan	84
79=	Panama	84
79=	Paraguay	84
79=	Morocco	84
79=	Saudi Arabia	84
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

“In Pakistan and Indonesia, online groups have flourished even though organized atheism is impossible if not directly illegal, although in both countries atheists who have been caught criticizing religion online have been arrested and harrassed on seemingly spurious thought-crime type offences.”

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₆₆

Internet Users Higher is better67
Pos.		201667
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
156=	Zambia	19%
157	Tajikistan	19%
158	Cameroon	18%
159	Pakistan	18%
160	Nepal	17%
161=	Mauritania	17%
161=	S. Sudan	17%
163	Gambia	17%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better68
Pos.		201268
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
33	Kazakhstan	58
34	Egypt	59
35	Thailand	61
36	Pakistan	63
37	Belarus	69
38=	Bahrain	71
38=	Saudi Arabia	71
40	Vietnam	73
	Asia Avg	56.6
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better69
Pos.		201369
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
13	Hungary	0.27
14	Peru	0.30
15	Latvia	0.33
16	Pakistan	0.38
17	Taiwan	0.44
18	Sweden	0.44
19	Romania	0.52
20	Turkey	0.52
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better70
Pos.		2017 Ratio70
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
81=	Cyprus	0.0
82	Philippines	0.0
83=	Macedonia	0.0
83=	Pakistan	0.0
83=	Paraguay	0.0
83=	Chile	0.0
83=	US Virgin Islands	0.0
83=	Mauritius	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better71
Pos.		202471
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
92	Mongolia	34.6%
93	Senegal	34.4%
94	Ivory Coast	34.0%
95	Pakistan	33.5%
96	Algeria	33.2%
97	Bolivia	33.1%
98	Botswana	33.1%
99	Benin	32.8%
	Asia Avg	46.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

National Culture:

World Giving Index Higher is better72
Pos.		2022 %72
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
109=	Zimbabwe	31.0
110	Romania	30.0
111=	Algeria	30.0
112	Pakistan	29.0
113=	Latvia	29.0
113=	Italy	29.0
113=	Armenia	29.0
116	Tunisia	28.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better73
Pos.		2022 Points73
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
137	Paraguay	28.0
138=	Russia	28.0
138=	Mali	28.0
140	Pakistan	27.0
141=	Kyrgyzstan	27.0
142	Liberia	26.0
143=	Mozambique	26.0
143=	Madagascar	26.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

When the Corruption Perception Index was launched in 1995, Pakistan had the 3rd-worst score of the 50-or-so countries for which they initially gathered data, after Indonesia and China.

Happiness Higher is better74
Pos.		2024 Score74
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
106	Azerbaijan	4.9
107	Senegal	4.9
108	Palestine	4.8
109	Pakistan	4.8
110	Niger	4.7
111	Ukraine	4.7
112	Morocco	4.6
113	Tunisia	4.6
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
147	Equatorial Guinea	147
148	Angola	148
149	Zambia	149
150	Pakistan	150
151	Guinea-Bissau	151
152	Syria	152
153	Liberia	153
154	Venezuela	154
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
120	Congo, (Brazzaville)	120
121	Zambia	121
122	Nigeria	122
123	Pakistan	123
124	Lithuania	124
125	St Lucia	125
126	Chad	126
127	Bahamas	127
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Since 1988, Pakistan has seen an extended period of instability'; it had four failed governments in a row as different factions fought for control, including the army, the president, and party leaders. General Pervez Musharraf ruled for a while along pragmatic and modernist lines, and veered towards helping the international effort against terrorism after the 2001 attacks on the USA₇₅. This caused a backlash amongst the populace, so that the Islamist Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), ' a grouping of Islamic parties that gained their best-ever result in the 2002 elections and control of the provincial government in the NWFP', where they introduced Shariah law₇₅.

Global Peace Index Lower is better76
Pos.		2023 Score76
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
143	Israel	2.71
144	Nigeria	2.71
145	Myanmar (Burma)	2.74
146	Pakistan	2.75
147=	Iran	2.80
147=	Turkey	2.80
149	N. Korea	2.85
150	Burkina Faso	2.87
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
89	Namibia	89
90	Uganda	90
91	Congo, DR	91
92	Pakistan	92
93	Estonia	93
94	Bahamas	94
95	Mauritania	95
96	Nicaragua	96
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better39
Pos.		2017 Rank39
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
126	Madagascar	126
127	Benin	127
128	Yemen	128
129	Pakistan	129
130	Samoa	130
131	Antigua & Barbuda	131
132	Azerbaijan	132
133	Togo	133
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better77
Pos.		2019 Score77
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
143	Yemen	7.26
144	India	7.52
145	Somalia	7.80
146	Pakistan	7.89
147	Syria	8.01
148	Nigeria	8.60
149	Iraq	9.24
150	Afghanistan	9.60
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better78
Pos.		201978
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
160	Comoros	28.90
161=	Liberia	29.80
161=	Mozambique	29.80
163	Pakistan	29.90
164	Mauritania	30.00
165	Togo	30.50
166	Niger	30.90
167	Guinea	31.30
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better79
Pos.		2023 %79
1	Slovakia	24.1%80
2	Slovenia	24.3%80
3	Belarus	24.4%81
	...
28	Maldives	29.3%82
29	Albania	29.4%81
30	Iraq	29.5%83
31=	Pakistan	29.6%84
31=	Guinea	29.6%84
33	Sweden	29.8%80
34	Nepal	30.0%85
35	Ireland	30.1%80
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better86
Pos.		2018 Severity86
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
64	Kenya	.178
65	Comoros	.181
66	Bangladesh	.198
67	Pakistan	.198
68	Haiti	.200
69	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	.210
70	Ivory Coast	.236
71	Yemen	.241
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

8. Religion and Beliefs

#atheism #belief #buddhism #christianity #extremism #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #pakistan #religion #religion_in_pakistan #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)64
Pos.		Lower is better %64
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
91=	Honduras	90
91=	Cameroon	90
91=	Rwanda	90
91=	Liberia	90
95	Morocco	91
96=	Guinea-Bissau	91
96=	Philippines	91
96=	Zambia	91
99	Afghanistan	92
100=	Burkina Faso	93
100=	Tanzania	93
100=	Indonesia	93
103	Mali	94
104=	Pakistan	94
105	Ethiopia	98
106=	Senegal	98
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)87
Pos.		Higher is better %87
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
118=	Liberia	0
118=	Libya	0
118=	Ivory Coast	0
118=	Pakistan	0
118=	Niger	0
118=	Saudi Arabia	0
118=	Rwanda	0
118=	Cameroon	0
118=	Philippines	0
118=	Kuwait	0
118=	Madagascar	0
118=	Nigeria	0
118=	Malawi	0
118=	Chad	0
118=	Nepal	0
118=	Morocco	0
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₈₈:

Christian	1.6%
Muslim	96.4%
Hindu	1.9%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim (official) 96.4% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia 10-15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.6% (2010 est.)₈₉.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Decades of increasingly strict and conservative Sunni Islam has resulted in a situation of violent intolerance of anything else₃₂ with the worst possible scale of religious persecution₃₃. Pakistan has no freedom of religion or belief_33,90, and sees consistent violence and disproportionate judicial process against religious minorities, especially Shia Muslims₉₁, Hindus₉₂, Christians_91,92, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community_91,92 and atheists are victimized even more than Christians. It is impossible to apply for a passport or citizenship without choosing a religion - no religion is not a legal answer₉₀. Pakistan's infamously unjust blasphemy laws are used as the primary weapon of intolerance_34,90,29 and to prevent any criticism of Muhammad or those connected to him, including academic and historical analysis_34,35, with deadly consequences for those doing so.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?
• Human Rights and Freedom in Pakistan: 4.2. Freedom of Thought