1. Pakistan: A Social and
Cultural Overview
Azeema Faizunnisa
East West Center Degree Fellow
15 September 2008

3. History

7. Population Overview
• Population was 33 m in 1947
– 2007: 169 m 2050: 295 m
• Growth Rate: 1.9%
• Median age: 19 years (40% under 15)
• 97% Muslim
• 35% urban
• GDP per capita (PPP): 2,370$

8. Population Overview
• Sex Ratio: 106
• Life expectancy: 64 males 66 females
• Total Fertility Rate: 3.9
• Contraceptive prevalence rate: 30%
• Age at marriage
– Marriage patterns: average age was 17 in
1961, 22 in 2003
• Women head of household is only 8%

9. Education & LFP
• Education: Narrowing of gap
– Literacy
– 1961: 7 vs 25 2003-04: 39 vs 64
– Gross Primary School Enrolment Rate: rose
from 26% to 83% (ratio to males is 77%)
• Labor Force Participation Rate: 71 male
and 39 female* (2003-04)

10. Political Participation of
Women
• 21% of NA seats filled by women (73)
compared to just 4% in 1997
• Local government: Women have been
allotted a minimum of 33% seats at
union (village), tehsil (municipality) and
district level

11. International Stats
• HDI: 136 (out of 177)
• GDI: 124
• Failed State Index: in the top 10

12. Gender, female
empowerment and
autonomy issues are
complex and diverse

13. Some Extraordinary Women
from Pakistan

14. Benazir Bhutto
June 21 1953- December 27,2007
Fehmida Mirza
December 20, 1956

16. Like the diversity of lives of
women in Pakistan

24. Useful Sources
• UNDP Human Development Reports
• The Economist Country Guide
• CIA World Fact Book
• World Development Reports by World
Bank
• Federal Bureau of Statistics, Govt. of
Pakistan
• Economic Survey Pakistan (annual)
• UN agencies like UNICEF, UNFPA

25. Shukrya, Thanks and
Mahalo!