How many overseas Pakistanis live outside Pakistan?
Last reviewed:
Direct answer
The answer depends on the definition. UN DESA’s 2024 migrant-stock dataset estimates about 6.9 million people born in Pakistan living in another country. Pakistan’s overseas ministry uses a broader administrative concept and has published country estimates that sum to a larger diaspora. Neither figure is the same as the 10 million-plus worker registrations accumulated by the Bureau of Emigration since 1971, because one person may appear in a historical flow and no longer be abroad. Any diaspora total should therefore name its source, year and definition.
Sources used
International Migrant Stock 2024
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division
Comparable estimates of international migrants by origin and destination; migrant stock differs from annual worker registrations and broad diaspora estimates.View sourceYear Book 2021–22: Country-Wise Data of Overseas Pakistanis
Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development
Government estimates of overseas Pakistani communities by country; definition and reference year differ from UN migrant-stock data.View sourceBureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment
Government of Pakistan
Official source for registered overseas employment flows from Pakistan.View source