Pakistans Most Spoken Language Statistics

In this post, we explore the diverse linguistic landscape of Pakistan, as revealed by various census data and surveys. From Punjabi to Urdu, Pashto to Sindhi, the country boasts a rich tapestry of languages spoken by its population. Join us as we delve into the statistics behind Pakistan’s most spoken languages and shed light on the multilingualism that defines the nation.

Statistic 1

"More than 45% of Pakistanis speak Punjabi as a first language according to the 1998 Pakistan Census."

Statistic 2

"Around 15% of Pakistanis speak Sindhi as a first language according to the 1998 Pakistan Census."

Statistic 3

"Approximately 12% of Pakistanis speak Saraiki as a first language according to the 1998 Pakistan Census."

Statistic 4

"Around 10% of Pakistanis speak Pashto as a first language according to the 1998 Pakistan Census."

Statistic 5

"Urdu, although not the most widely spoken first language, is understood by over 75% of Pakistanis according to Britannica."

Statistic 6

"Only around 2% of Pakistanis speak Balochi as a first language, based on the 1998 Pakistan Census."

Statistic 7

"Hindko is first spoken language of 2.4% of Pakistanis as per 1998 Pakistan Census."

Statistic 8

"According to Ethnologue, almost 94% of the languages spoken in Pakistan are Indo-European."

Statistic 9

"Less than 1% of Pakistanis speak Brahui as a first language based on the 1998 Pakistan Census."

Statistic 10

"Despite being a national language, Urdu is the mother tongue of only 7.57% of Pakistan’s population according to the 2017 Pakistan Census."

Statistic 11

"Among nine languages, Punjabi has the highest percentage with 44.15% according to the 2017 Pakistan Census."

Statistic 12

"According to a 2019 survey, 48% of Pakistanis reported speaking at least two languages."

Statistic 13

"Based on the 2017 Pakistan Census, around 2.18% of the citizens speak “other” languages."

Statistic 14

"The Pakistan Census shows only 0.12% of citizens speak Farsi (Persian) as a first language."

Statistic 15

"Despite its status as native language, 75% of the Pakistani population has proficiency in Urdu."

Statistic 16

"English, although spoken by a small proportion as a first language, is also understood by a significant portion of the Pakistani population."

Statistic 17

"Sindhi, being the third most spoken native language in Pakistan, used by approximately 13.17% of the total population as estimated in 2017."

Statistic 18

"Pashto, the second largest regional language of Pakistan, is the mother tongue of 18.24% of Pakistan's population as of 2017 Census."

Statistic 19

"Around half of the population in Pakistan is bilingual according to a 2019 Gallup survey."

In conclusion, the linguistic landscape of Pakistan is diverse, with Punjabi being the most widely spoken first language followed by Sindhi, Saraiki, and Pashto. Despite Urdu not being the most common first language, it remains widely understood across the country. The prevalence of multilingualism is apparent, with a significant portion of the population reported to speak at least two languages. The Indo-European languages dominate the linguistic makeup of Pakistan, with English also being widely understood. The data highlights the richness and complexity of language use in Pakistan, reflecting the country’s multicultural heritage and diverse linguistic traditions.