Pakistan is a South Asian republic divided between the Indus river basin, the Punjab plains, the southern Arabian Sea coast and the K2-crowned northern mountains, with a fast-growing population of around 240 million.
Geography & landscape
Pakistan sits in Southern Asia, in the northern hemisphere of Asia. With an area of approximately 881,912 km², it is a mid-sized country, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the sub-tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Islamabad, lies near coordinates 30°, 70°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Asia, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Southern Asia region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Pakistan.
People & society
The population of Pakistan is around 240M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
Pakistan recognises multiple official languages — Urdu and English — reflecting the cultural plurality at the heart of national life. The choice of language often shifts with region, audience and context.
Government & politics
Pakistan is structured as a federal parliamentary republic. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Islamabad, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Pakistan is the Pakistani Rupee (PKR). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Islamabad and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Pakistan shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Pakistan through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Islamabad, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +92, and clocks are set to the PKT (UTC+5) time zone. ISO standards identify Pakistan as PK (alpha-2) and PAK (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇵🇰, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Islamabad | — |
| Continent | Asia | — |
| Sub-region | Southern Asia | — |
| Population | 240M | people |
| Area | 881,912 | km² |
| Currency | Pakistani Rupee (PKR) | — |
| Calling code | +92 | international dialling |
| Time zone | PKT (UTC+5) | standard time |
| Government type | Federal parliamentary republic | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | PK | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | PAK | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | 30 | degrees |
| Longitude | 70 | degrees |
Did you know?
K2, on the Pakistan-China border, is the world's second-highest peak at 8,611 m and is considered the most technically difficult eight-thousander to climb.
