Flag of Pakistan
Asia 255.2M people Capital: Islamabad Currency: Pakistani rupee (₨) Language: English, Urdu Time: UTC+05:00

Moving to PakistanShare

With a very high English proficiency score of 493, daily communication and business integration are seamless. It hosts a vibrant and diverse expat community, notably drawing a significant number of residents from Afghanistan.

Lifestyle & Vibe

Pakistan has a rapidly growing tech sector - particularly in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad - with a large pool of software developers and freelancers, improving coworking infrastructure, and a very low cost of living. However, the security situation varies significantly by region, with serious risks in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and tribal areas, while major cities are generally operational but require vigilance. Internet speeds and reliability have improved but remain inconsistent, and the political climate is volatile with frequent civil unrest, internet shutdowns, and social media restrictions. Foreign remote workers face significant bureaucratic hurdles, and Pakistan is best suited for those with existing ties to the country rather than first-time nomads.

Unbiased Relocation & Lifestyle Assessment

Digital Freedom & Remote Work

Censorship and network interference data is currently being collected for Pakistan.

Society & Demographics

In Pakistan, the society reflects a gendered demographic with 50.72% male population and 49.28% female population, indicating a relatively balanced sex ratio. With an impressive 57.25% internet usage, digital connectivity is widespread, facilitating socio-economic activities. However, there's a notable gap in English proficiency as measured by the EF English Proficiency Score of 493.00, reflecting challenges in global communication and education. The country faces issues of income inequality with a GINI Index of 33.50, despite efforts to improve through educational spending which constitutes 9.76% of GDP.

Gender Distribution

Male 50.7%
Female 49.3%

Connectivity

57.3 %

Internet Users

🏆 Top: 100.0% (Bahrain)

Language

493 / 800

EF English Proficiency

🏆 Top: 624 (Netherlands)

Inequality

33.5 / 100

GINI Index (Lower = more equal)

🏆 Top: 23.8 (Slovakia)

Equality

17.0 %

Women in Parliament

🏆 Top: 63.8% (Rwanda)

Aging Society

4.4 %

Population over 65 years old

Urbanization

39.5 %

People living in cities

🏆 Top: 100.0% (Bahrain)

Migration

-1,235,336

Net Migration (5-yr total)

🏆 Top: +1,702,358 (Ukraine)

Education Spending

9.8% of GDP

UNESCO Data. Indicates focus on public schooling.

🏆 Top: 31.9% (Mauritania)
Insights based on World Bank and UNESCO Data

Quality of Life

Pakistan's quality of life is multifaceted, with a life expectancy of 65.99 years, reflecting moderate health outcomes for its population. The country faces challenges with healthcare delivery, as indicated by the ratio of only 12.84 medical doctors per 10,000 people and an average working week of 46.96 hours, potentially impacting overall well-being. While the Universal Health Coverage Index scores at 56.00, indicating partial coverage, other factors like obesity rates (24.52%) and air quality levels (PM2.5 at 43.00 µg/m³) raise concerns. Safety is relatively better with a homicide rate of 4.33 per 100,000 people, but the happiness score of 4.86 on a scale of 0 to 10 suggests room for improvement in general satisfaction.

Life Expectancy
66.0 yrs
🏆 Top: 84.5 yrs (Japan)
Care Access
12.8 / 10k
🏆 Top: 86.1 (Monaco)
Health Coverage
56.0 / 100

Universal Health Coverage Index

🏆 Top: 92.0 (Canada)
Obesity Rate
24.5 %
🏆 Top: 2.4% (Vietnam)
Happiness Score
4.87 / 10
🏆 Top: 7.76 (Finland)
Working Hours
47.0 hrs/wk
🏆 Top: 24.4 hrs (Vanuatu)
Paid Annual Leave
20 days
🏆 Top: 31 days (Andorra)
Public Holidays
15 days
🏆 Top: 27 days (Cambodia)
Air Quality
58.4 µg/m³
🏆 Top: 1.6 µg/m³ (Greenland)

Safety - Homicides

4.3per 100k

World Bank Crime Data. Lower is safer.

🏆 Top: 0.1 (Qatar)
Insights based on World Happiness Report, ILOSTAT, Wikipedia, and World Bank Data.

Economic Freedom & Business Climate

The economy of Pakistan is currently navigating a complex landscape characterized by moderate inflation at 12.63%, though it faces challenges with high government spending at 88.50% and a fiscal health score of only 10.10%. The overall Economic Freedom Score stands at 48.90, reflecting areas of improvement needed in property rights (25.70), judicial effectiveness (27.60), and political integrity (26.30). Despite these challenges, certain sectors like trade (70.40) and investment (60.00) show potential, contributing to a business climate that scores 51.70 in labor freedom and 54.40 in business freedom.

GDP per Capita (PPP)

6,573.4USD

Adjusts for purchasing power parity.

🏆 Top: $163,354 (Singapore)

Inflation Rate

3.5%

Annual CPI. Indicates recent price stability.

🏆 Optimal (2%): 2.0% (Saint Lucia)

Unemployment

5.4%

ILO Estimate. Indicates job market health.

🏆 Top: 0.1% (Qatar)
Overall Economic Freedom
48.9 / 100
🏆 Top: 89.1 (Hong Kong)
Property Rights
25.7 / 100
🏆 Top: 99.9 (Denmark)
Judicial Effectiveness
27.6 / 100
🏆 Top: 99.1 (Luxembourg)
Government Integrity
26.3 / 100
🏆 Top: 98.0 (Denmark)
Tax Burden Score
78.2 / 100
🏆 Top: 99.9 (Bahrain)
Government Spending
88.5 / 100
🏆 Top: 98.7 (Haiti)
Fiscal Health
10.1 / 100
🏆 Top: 99.9 (Kuwait)
Business Freedom
54.4 / 100
🏆 Top: 92.3 (Australia)
Labor Freedom
51.7 / 100
🏆 Top: 81.6 (Austria)
Monetary Freedom
54.1 / 100
🏆 Top: 88.8 (Bahrain)
Trade Freedom
70.4 / 100
🏆 Top: 95.0 (Singapore)
Investment Freedom
60.0 / 100
🏆 Top: 95.0 (Luxembourg)
Financial Freedom
40.0 / 100
🏆 Top: 80.0 (Australia)

Evaluated across 12 quantitative factors. Scores span 0-100, where higher scores indicate greater economic liberty, lighter tax burdens, and stronger property rights.

Insights based on Heritage Foundation, World Bank, & ILO Data

Climate Profile (Islamabad)

Pakistan's climate is characterized by a predominantly hot and arid weather pattern, with temperatures soaring to an average maximum of 35.89°C in June, making it one of the hottest months of the year. The monsoon season peaks between July and August, bringing rainfall that can last up to 25 rainy days in July alone, turning parts of the country into a lush green landscape for just a few weeks. For those seeking more temperate conditions, the best time to relocate or visit would be from March to May when temperatures are moderate, ranging from 18.20°C to 33.08°C, and rainfall is minimal, making it ideal for comfortable exploration of Pakistan's diverse landscapes.

Jan
16 °C
min 6°8 rain days233h sun
Feb
19 °C
min 9°6 rain days248h sun
Mar
23 °C
min 13°10 rain days285h sun
Apr
29 °C
min 17°9 rain days313h sun
May
34 °C
min 22°7 rain days353h sun
Jun
36 °C
min 25°7 rain days356h sun
Jul
33 °C
min 25°20 rain days315h sun
Aug
32 °C
min 24°19 rain days318h sun
Sep
32 °C
min 23°10 rain days337h sun
Oct
29 °C
min 18°4 rain days312h sun
Nov
22 °C
min 12°4 rain days268h sun
Dec
18 °C
min 7°3 rain days274h sun
Powered by Open-Meteo Data

Political Stability & Governance

Navigating the landscape of Pakistan as an expat or digital nomad can be both thrilling and challenging. The country's political stability has been a cause for concern, with scores reflecting ongoing issues that could affect safety and security. However, the strength in rule of law and control of corruption, though lacking, provides a structured framework that supports business operations. This balance offers a semblance of peace of mind, making it possible to pursue ventures and live comfortably amidst the country's cultural diversity.
Stability & Violence
-2.06
🏆 Top: +1.58 (Liechtenstein)
Rule of Law
-1.02
🏆 Top: +2.02 (Finland)
Control of Corruption
-1.07
🏆 Top: +2.29 (Denmark)

Evaluated across Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI). Scores span approximately -2.5 to 2.5, where higher scores indicate stronger governance, better stability, and lower corruption.

Insights based on World Bank Data

Relocation Guides & Articles

We're currently working on an in-depth expat guide for Pakistan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pakistan safe?

The homicide rate in Pakistan is 4.3 per 100,000 people (World Bank).

Are people happy in Pakistan?

The World Happiness Report scores Pakistan at 4.9 out of 10.