GDP per Capita · Data & Comparison
Pakistan GDP per Capita
Pakistan's GDP per capita: what does $1,526 per person actually buy?
In 2024, Pakistan's nominal GDP per capita was $1,526, while its GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) stood at $6,494. The gap between the two measures is a factor of 4.3, reflecting the difference between converting income at market exchange rates and adjusting for local prices. Nominal GDP per capita has risen from $383 in 1980 to $1,526 in 2024, a 298% increase over 44 years, but the path has been uneven. The 2000s delivered the fastest decade growth (50.7%), while the 2020s have so far added just 15.0% between 2020 and 2024. GNI per capita, a related measure, was $1,430 in 2024, slightly below GDP per capita, indicating that net income flows from abroad are negative. This page sets out the latest figures, the long-run series since 1980, the drivers behind Pakistan's income per person, and how the country compares with peers. It also explains what the headline number does not capture, including distribution and human capital.
What is GDP per capita (nominal)?
GDP per capita is a country's GDP divided by its midyear population. It is the most common shorthand for average income or output per person.
How it is measured. Nominal GDP in current US dollars divided by midyear population. Because it uses market exchange rates, it ignores price-level differences between countries and says nothing about how income is distributed.
How to read it. Use it to compare average economic output per person. A high value can reflect high productivity or a small population with large resource or financial income, and it is not the same as median household income.
Source: World Bank WDI. See our methodology.
Current GDP per capita: nominal vs PPP
Latest nominal and PPP estimates
Pakistan's GDP per capita stood at USD 1,526.43 in 2024 on a nominal basis, up from USD 1,327.45 in 2020. Over the same five-year window the series peaked at USD 1,594.82 before settling at the 2024 level, a 2020s growth rate of 15.0 per cent across five data points. The mean for the decade to date is USD 1,473.28. These figures are expressed in current US dollars and therefore embed both real output changes and movements in the exchange rate and price level.
The purchasing power parity estimate for 2024 is USD 6,493.67, roughly 4.3 times the nominal figure. The PPP series rose from USD 5,241.88 in 2020, a 23.9 per cent increase over five points, with a 2020s mean of USD 5,952.28. The gap between the two measures widened over the decade: nominal per capita grew 15.0 per cent in the 2020s while the PPP measure grew 23.9 per cent, reflecting the effect of domestic price levels relative to the US benchmark.
What separates the two measures
Nominal GDP per capita converts output at prevailing market exchange rates. PPP GDP per capita converts at rates designed to equalise the purchasing power of a dollar across countries, so it strips out differences in the relative price of non-traded goods. For an economy where domestic prices are lower than in the United States, the PPP figure exceeds the nominal one, as the 2024 pair of USD 1,526.43 and USD 6,493.67 shows. Neither measure is a welfare indicator on its own; both divide total output by population, and Pakistan's population growth has historically absorbed a substantial share of aggregate GDP expansion.
The two series also diverge in their decade trajectories. Nominal per capita moved from USD 383.26 in 1980 to USD 1,526.43 in 2024. The PPP series moved from USD 929.24 in 1980 to USD 6,493.67 in 2024. The 1980s were the strongest decade for PPP growth at 96.7 per cent, against 29.0 per cent for the nominal measure, a divergence consistent with cumulative relative price and exchange rate effects over four decades.
GNI per capita for context
Gross national income per capita was USD 1,430.00 in 2024, below the nominal GDP per capita figure of USD 1,526.43. The difference reflects net factor income flows, including remittances and returns on foreign liabilities, which affect national income differently from domestic output. GNI per capita rose from USD 1,370.00 in 2020, a 4.4 per cent increase over five points, the weakest decade growth in the series. The 2020s mean is USD 1,436.00, with a peak of USD 1,510.00. The 2000s recorded the fastest GNI per capita expansion at 117.0 per cent, from USD 470.00 to USD 1,020.00.
Aggregate GDP reached USD 371.49 billion in 2024, up 23.7 per cent over the 2020s to date from USD 300.42 billion in 2020. Real GDP growth was 2.78 per cent in 2024, against a 2020s mean of 2.60 per cent and a contraction of 1.11 per cent in 2020. Per capita figures should be read against these aggregate and growth numbers, since population expansion of roughly 2 per cent a year limits the per capita translation of headline GDP gains.
Latest income per capita measures, 2024
| Measure | Value (USD) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita, nominal | 1,526 | 2024 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | 6,494 | 2024 |
| GNI per capita, nominal | 1,430 | 2024 |
The long arc since 1980: decade by decade
1980s: low base, fast PPP catch-up
Pakistan entered the 1980s with GDP per capita of USD 383.26 in 1980, reaching USD 494.48 by 1989, a decade gain of 29.0 per cent. The PPP measure moved from USD 929.24 to USD 1,827.52, a rise of 96.7 per cent, the fastest proportional expansion in the series. Average GDP growth across the decade was 6.61 per cent, supported by remittance inflows and deregulation. Nominal GNI per capita rose from USD 300 to USD 370, a 23.3 per cent increase, well below the PPP trajectory.
1990s: slower nominal progress
Nominal GDP per capita opened the 1990s at USD 480.14 and closed at USD 571.82, growth of 19.1 per cent, the weakest decade in the record. The PPP series advanced from USD 1,911.19 to USD 2,606.80, or 36.4 per cent. Mean GDP growth fell to 4.23 per cent from 6.61 per cent, reflecting the balance of payments pressures and the 1998 nuclear-related sanctions period. GNI per capita moved only from USD 370 to USD 410, a 10.8 per cent gain, the smallest of any decade.
2000s: the strongest nominal decade
GDP per capita rose from USD 687.90 in 2000 to USD 1,036.38 in 2009, growth of 50.7 per cent, the largest decade gain in the nominal series. The PPP measure climbed from USD 2,703.41 to USD 4,008.79, or 48.3 per cent. GNI per capita more than doubled, from USD 470 to USD 1,020, growth of 117.0 per cent. Average GDP growth of 4.72 per cent was supported by credit expansion and the post-2001 aid and debt relief cycle. The 2008 balance of payments crisis ended the expansion.
2010s: steady but decelerating
Nominal GDP per capita moved from USD 1,062.64 in 2010 to USD 1,445.55 in 2019, growth of 36.0 per cent. The PPP series rose from USD 4,034.52 to USD 5,235.91, or 29.8 per cent, the slowest PPP decade since the 1990s. Mean GDP growth was 3.87 per cent, the lowest decadal average in the record. GNI per capita increased from USD 1,000 to USD 1,520, growth of 52.0 per cent. The period included the 2018 currency adjustment and the onset of IMF programme conditions.
2020s: partial recovery to 2024
The 2020s opened with a contraction: GDP growth of -1.11 per cent in 2020, the only negative year in the series. Nominal GDP per capita fell to USD 1,327.45 in 2020 before reaching USD 1,526.43 in 2024, a five-year gain of 15.0 per cent. The PPP measure rose from USD 5,241.88 to USD 6,493.67, or 23.9 per cent. GNI per capita moved from USD 1,370 to USD 1,430, growth of 4.4 per cent. Mean GDP growth of 2.60 per cent is the weakest of any decade shown.
GDP per capita at decade boundaries, nominal and PPP (USD)
| Decade | Nominal start | Nominal end | PPP start | PPP end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 383 | 494 | 929 | 1,828 |
| 1990s | 480 | 572 | 1,911 | 2,607 |
| 2000s | 688 | 1,036 | 2,703 | 4,009 |
| 2010s | 1,063 | 1,446 | 4,035 | 5,236 |
| 2020s | 1,327 | 1,526 | 5,242 | 6,494 |
What drives Pakistan's income per person
Balance-of-payments constraints
Pakistan's GDP per capita reached USD 1,526.43 in 2024, up from USD 383.26 in 1980, a 4.0-fold nominal increase across 44 years. That advance has been repeatedly interrupted by balance-of-payments crises, which compress imports, output and per-capita income together. GDP growth averaged 4.23 per cent in the 1990s and 3.87 per cent in the 2010s, but fell to -1.11 per cent in 2020 and recovered only to 2.78 per cent in 2024. Each stabilisation episode has been followed by slower per-capita expansion: the 2020s mean of USD 1,473.28 sits close to the 2024 level, indicating a flat five-year trajectory.
Energy-sector losses and fiscal capacity
Circular debt in the power sector absorbs fiscal resources that would otherwise support investment. Low tax revenue, with the tax-to-GDP ratio persistently below 10 per cent, limits public capital formation and constrains long-run output per worker. Gross national income per capita of USD 1,430 in 2024 was below GDP per capita of USD 1,526.43, reflecting net factor income outflows. The 2020s GNI per-capita growth of 4.4 per cent compares with 117.0 per cent in the 2000s, a marked deceleration consistent with weaker fiscal and external buffers.
Remittances and household income
Worker remittances, principally from the Gulf states, the United Kingdom and the United States, support household consumption and the current account. Their scale means that measured GDP per capita understates disposable income for recipient households, while GNI per capita of USD 1,430 captures part of this flow. Purchasing-power-parity GDP per capita of USD 6,493.67 in 2024, against USD 929.24 in 1980, indicates domestic price levels well below those of advanced economies. The PPP measure rose 23.9 per cent over the 2020s, faster than the nominal series at 15.0 per cent.
Demographic pressure
Population growth near 2 per cent annually dilutes aggregate output gains. GDP rose from USD 31.14 billion in 1980 to USD 371.49 billion in 2024, a 10.9-fold increase, yet GDP per capita rose only 4.0-fold over the same period. The gap between these two multiples is the demographic arithmetic: output must grow roughly 2 per cent each year simply to hold income per person constant. With GDP growth of 2.78 per cent in 2024, per-capita gains were marginal. The 2000s, when per-capita income rose 50.7 per cent, remain the strongest decade on record.
Structural summary
- Per-capita GDP: USD 1,526.43 (2024), from USD 383.26 (1980).
- Per-capita GDP at PPP: USD 6,493.67 (2024), from USD 929.24 (1980).
- GNI per capita: USD 1,430 (2024), below GDP per capita.
- GDP growth: 2.78 per cent (2024), against a 2020s mean of 2.60 per cent.
- Decade per-capita growth: 29.0 per cent (1980s), 19.1 per cent (1990s), 50.7 per cent (2000s), 36.0 per cent (2010s), 15.0 per cent (2020s to date).
The pattern across five decades is one of episodic rather than sustained convergence. External financing gaps, energy arrears, a narrow revenue base and rapid population growth jointly cap the rate at which output per person can rise, while remittances and PPP-adjusted income provide partial offsets.
GDP growth and GDP per capita growth in selected decades
| Period | Average GDP growth (%) | GDP per capita growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.6 | 29.0 |
| 1990s | 4.2 | 19.1 |
| 2000s | 4.7 | 50.7 |
| 2010s | 3.9 | 36.0 |
| 2020s (2020-2024) | 2.6 | 15.0 |
Peer comparison and what the figure does not capture
Regional position in nominal and PPP terms
Pakistan's nominal GDP per capita reached USD 1,526.43 in 2024, up from USD 1,327.45 in 2020. On a purchasing power parity basis the figure is USD 6,493.67, roughly 4.3 times the nominal value. Both measures place Pakistan below the South Asian average and well below India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, whose per capita incomes in recent years have ranged between roughly USD 2,600 and USD 4,000 on a nominal basis. The PPP adjustment narrows but does not close the gap, reflecting lower domestic price levels rather than higher real output.
GNI per capita as a complementary measure
GNI per capita stood at USD 1,430 in 2024, slightly below the GDP per capita figure of USD 1,526.43. The gap of about USD 96 indicates net factor income outflows, including remittance-related accounting and foreign debt servicing. GNI per capita grew only 4.4 per cent across the 2020s, from USD 1,370 to USD 1,430, compared with 15.0 per cent growth in GDP per capita over the same period. The 2000s remain the strongest decade for GNI per capita, with growth of 117.0 per cent from USD 470 to USD 1,020.
Distribution and the limits of averages
A per capita figure divides total output by population and says nothing about how income is spread. Pakistan's GDP grew 23.7 per cent across the 2020s, from USD 300.42 billion to USD 371.49 billion, while GDP per capita rose 15.0 per cent, implying population growth absorbed roughly a third of the expansion. Consumption inequality, large informal employment and regional disparities between Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mean the national average overstates typical household income. The measure also excludes unpaid domestic work and informal activity that constitute a significant share of livelihoods.
Volatility and base effects
GDP per capita is sensitive to exchange rate movements and population estimates. The 2020s series shows a minimum of USD 1,327.45 in 2020 and a maximum of USD 1,594.82, a range of about USD 267 within five years. GDP growth contracted 1.11 per cent in 2020 and recovered to 2.78 per cent in 2024, so per capita gains depend heavily on whether output growth outpaces population growth of roughly 2 per cent annually. Nominal figures in US dollars also understate real gains when the rupee depreciates, a recurring pattern in Pakistan's external accounts.
What the figure does not capture
- Purchasing power differences between urban and rural areas within Pakistan.
- Debt service obligations that reduce disposable national income, reflected in the USD 96 gap between GDP and GNI per capita.
- Human development outcomes such as literacy, health and access to clean water, which do not track income linearly.
- Environmental degradation and resource depletion that may accompany measured output growth.
Cross-country comparisons should therefore treat the USD 1,526.43 nominal figure and the USD 6,493.67 PPP figure as complementary indicators rather than definitive measures of welfare. Neither captures the distributional and structural constraints that shape living standards in Pakistan.
Pakistan vs selected peers, GDP per capita (nominal and PPP), latest available year
| Country | GDP per capita nominal (USD) | GDP per capita PPP (USD) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 1,526 | 6,494 | 2024 |
| India | 2,485 | 9,183 | 2024 |
| Bangladesh | 2,688 | 9,646 | 2024 |
| Sri Lanka | 3,828 | 13,244 | 2024 |
Frequently asked questions
What is Pakistan's GDP per capita in current US dollars?
Pakistan's GDP per capita in current US dollars was approximately $1,588 in FY2023, down from about $1,650 in FY2022, according to IMF and State Bank of Pakistan data. The rupee depreciation of roughly 30 per cent against the dollar during FY2023 lowered the dollar figure even as nominal rupee GDP expanded. Measured in purchasing power parity terms, GDP per capita stood near $6,950 in 2023, a more stable series because it strips out exchange-rate swings. The gap between the two measures reflects Pakistan's price level being well below the United States average, at roughly one quarter of it. Analysts tracking Pakistan GDP per capita typically cite the PPP series for living-standard comparisons and the dollar series for external financing capacity.
How has Pakistan's GDP per capita changed over the past decade?
Pakistan's GDP per capita in current dollars was about $1,380 in FY2014 and roughly $1,588 in FY2023, an increase of around 15 per cent over ten years. That nominal gain is modest, and in real terms the picture is weaker: real GDP per capita grew at an average of about 1.3 per cent annually between FY2014 and FY2023, well below the 2.0 per cent population growth rate in several years. In PPP terms the figure rose from near $4,900 in 2014 to about $6,950 in 2023. The pattern is one of short expansions followed by contractions in FY2020 and FY2023. Per capita income has therefore not shifted onto a sustained higher path over the decade.
Why did Pakistan's GDP per capita fall in FY2023?
Pakistan's dollar GDP per capita fell from about $1,650 in FY2022 to roughly $1,588 in FY2023 because two forces worked in the same direction. First, real GDP growth slowed to 0.3 per cent in FY2023 from 6.1 per cent in FY2022, as import restrictions, flood damage and monetary tightening weighed on output. Second, the rupee depreciated by around 30 per cent against the dollar over the year, which compressed the dollar value of rupee-denominated income. Population growth of about 2.5 per cent added a further drag on the per capita figure. The result was the first annual decline in dollar per capita income since FY2020, when COVID-19 restrictions cut output.
How does Pakistan's GDP per capita compare with India and Bangladesh?
Pakistan's GDP per capita in current dollars, at about $1,588 in FY2023, sits below India's roughly $2,480 and Bangladesh's approximately $2,530 for the same period. In PPP terms the gap narrows: Pakistan recorded near $6,950 against India's about $9,180 and Bangladesh's roughly $9,000. Pakistan led both neighbours on dollar per capita income as recently as 2010, when its figure was around $1,000 against India's $1,350 and Bangladesh's $780. Divergence since then reflects weaker export growth in Pakistan, averaging under 10 per cent of GDP, against higher investment rates in India and garment-led exports in Bangladesh. The comparison is sensitive to exchange-rate movements, which have been larger in Pakistan.
What share of Pakistan's population lives below the income threshold implied by its GDP per capita?
Pakistan's national poverty line, set at about Rs 3,000 per adult equivalent per month in 2018 prices, captured roughly 21.9 per cent of the population in the latest official survey, while the international $2.15 per day line captured about 4.9 per cent. With GDP per capita near $1,588, average income is roughly $4.35 per day, but distribution is uneven: the top 20 per cent of households account for around 45 per cent of consumption. Multidimensional deprivation is higher, with about 38 per cent of the population classified as poor on the national multidimensional index. These figures mean GDP per capita overstates typical household income, particularly in rural Sindh and Balochistan.
What is Pakistan's projected GDP per capita for the next few years?
The IMF's October 2024 projections put Pakistan's GDP per capita in current dollars at about $1,700 in FY2025 and near $1,850 by FY2027, assuming real growth of 3.2 per cent in FY2025 rising towards 4.5 per cent and gradual exchange-rate stability. In PPP terms the projection is roughly $7,500 by FY2027. These forecasts depend heavily on the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility agreed in September 2024 and on inflation falling from 23.4 per cent in FY2024 towards single digits. Population growth of about 2.5 per cent annually means real per capita gains of only 1 to 2 per cent per year under the central scenario. A renewed balance-of-payments shock would lower the dollar series.