How Many Cities in Pakistan?
Quick answer: Pakistan does not have one single city number that everyone uses. If you count all urban localities, the latest census-based count is 657. If you count larger cities only, 127 cities in Pakistan have more than 100,000 people.
If you want to know how many cities in Pakistan, the best answer is this: Pakistan has 657 officially recognized urban localities, while 127 cities have a population above 100,000. The reason many websites give different numbers is simple: some count all urban localities, while others count only major cities. That is why this question needs a clear and honest explanation.
Why the Number of Cities in Pakistan Is Confusing
Many people search this question expecting one short number, but official data works differently. In normal daily talk, Pakistanis use the word city for large urban places like:
- Karachi,
- Lahore,
- Islamabad,
- Faisalabad,
- Rawalpindi,
- Multan,
- Peshawar,
- and Quetta.
But in census and administrative records, the count can include many kinds of urban localities, not only famous big cities.
That matters because official urban tables include places such as:
- metropolitan corporations,
- municipal corporations, municipal committees,
- and cantonments.
In the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics urban-locality table, examples include Lahore Metropolitan Corporation, Faisalabad Municipal Corporation, Walton Cantonment, and Rawalpindi Cantonment. So, when someone asks “how many cities are in Pakistan,” the real answer depends on the definition being used.
Exact Answer: How Many Cities Are in Pakistan?
For a modern, publishable answer, use this line:
Pakistan has 657 urban localities in the latest census-based count, and 127 of these cities have a population above 100,000.
This is the strongest answer because it covers both types of search intent. Some users want the official urban count, and others want the number of major cities. By giving both, your article becomes more useful for Google, AI search, featured snippets, and Pakistani readers who just want the clear truth.
Total Urban Localities in Pakistan
A Gallup Pakistan analysis based on the 2023 Population and Housing Census says Pakistan has 657 urban localities, up from 586 in 2017. That shows Pakistan is not only growing in population, but also becoming more urban over time.
This number is important because it gives a wider and more realistic picture of urban Pakistan. It includes not just the biggest and most famous cities, but also smaller urban settlements that are officially counted in census records. So if someone asks for the total number of cities in Pakistan, this is the closest broad answer you can give.
How Many Major Cities Are in Pakistan?
If you count only bigger cities, the latest census-based city list shows that 127 cities in Pakistan have a population of more than 100,000. The same source also says that 81 of these cities are in Punjab, 22 in Sindh, 13 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 8 in Balochistan, 2 in Azad Kashmir, and 1 in Islamabad Capital Territory.
This is the answer most readers actually want when they search this topic. In school work, general knowledge, travel content, or city comparison articles, people usually mean major cities, not every urban locality. That is why the figure 127 is very useful for content writers and readers alike.
Biggest Cities in Pakistan
Pakistan’s largest city is Karachi, and the second largest is Lahore. Based on the 2023 census-based city list, Karachi has 18,868,021 people and Lahore has 13,004,135. After them come Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Multan, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Islamabad.
A simple way to present the top cities is this: Karachi is first, Lahore is second, Faisalabad is third, Rawalpindi is fourth, and Gujranwala is fifth. That alone tells readers something important: Pakistan’s urban growth is not limited to one region. Large cities are spread across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and the federal capital area.
Another important fact is that Pakistan has two cities with populations above 10 million: Karachi and Lahore. These two cities dominate business, jobs, education, real estate, transport, and media, so they carry a lot of weight in Pakistan’s economy and daily life.
Province-Wise City Picture in Pakistan
Punjab has the highest number of larger cities in the country. According to the latest census-based list, Punjab has 81 cities above 100,000 population, which is much higher than Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, or Balochistan. Sindh has fewer large cities than Punjab, but it includes Karachi, the biggest city in Pakistan by a huge margin.
This is one reason why people can get confused when they compare provinces. A province may have more large cities, but another province may still have the single biggest city. So when you write about the total cities in Pakistan, it helps to explain both the count and the size of those cities.
Pakistan Is Becoming More Urban
Pakistan’s 2023 census press release says the country’s population reached 241.49 million, and 38.82% of the population was living in urban areas in 2023. That is a major reason why questions about cities, urban growth, housing, and migration have become more important in recent years.
The urban trend becomes even clearer when we look at concentration. A Gallup Pakistan analysis of the 2023 census says 55% of Pakistan’s urban population now lives in just 46 cities with populations above 500,000. In simple words, a large share of urban Pakistan is now packed into a relatively small number of big cities.
This also explains why cities like Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, and Quetta matter so much. They are not just large on the map. They are centers of jobs, universities, hospitals, transport links, wholesale trade, and government activity. When these cities grow, they affect the whole country.
What Is the Best Simple Answer for Pakistani Readers?
If your audience is Pakistani and you want the easiest possible wording, use this line:
Pakistan has 657 urban localities, but if you count only major cities, 127 cities have more than 100,000 people.
That sentence is clear, short, and accurate. It also solves the biggest problem with this topic: many articles give only one number without explaining what that number really means. A better article gives the short answer, the reason behind it, and the context that readers actually need.
Final Answer
So, how many cities are in Pakistan?
The most accurate answer is: Pakistan has 657 officially recognized urban localities, while 127 cities have a population above 100,000. Karachi is the largest city, Lahore is the second largest, and almost 38.82% of Pakistan’s population now lives in urban areas.
If you want one easy sentence for your page, use this:
Pakistan has hundreds of cities and urban settlements, but 127 are major cities with more than 100,000 people.
FAQs
How many cities are there in Pakistan in total?
The broad census-based answer is that Pakistan has 657 urban localities.
How many major cities are there in Pakistan?
If you count cities with a population above 100,000, Pakistan has 127 major cities.
Which is the biggest city in Pakistan?
Karachi is the biggest city in Pakistan, with a population of 18,868,021 in the 2023 census-based city list.
Which is the second biggest city in Pakistan?
Lahore is the second biggest city in Pakistan, with a population of 13,004,135.
How many cities in Pakistan have more than 10 million people?
Pakistan has two such cities: Karachi and Lahore.
Why do different websites give different city numbers for Pakistan?
Because some sources count all urban localities, while others count only major cities.
Which province has the most large cities in Pakistan?
Punjab has the most cities with populations above 100,000. It has 81 such cities in the latest list.
What percentage of Pakistan’s population lives in urban areas?
According to the 2023 census press release, 38.82% of Pakistan’s population lives in urban areas.
Is Islamabad counted among the major cities of Pakistan?
Yes. Islamabad is one of Pakistan’s major cities and has a population above 1.1 million in the latest city list.
Is Pakistan becoming more urban?
Yes. The 2023 census shows a large urban population share, and Gallup’s census analysis says 55% of urban residents live in just 46 cities with populations above 500,000.
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