Life Expectancy in Pakistan: Understanding the Journey of Health and Longevity

When you consider life expectancy in Pakistan, think of the number of lives, of families, of communities grappling with obstacles and opportunities, the Life of Karachi and the Life of Karachi, of Lahore and the Life of Lahore, of Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan.

The average life expectancy in Pakistan is the Life of Pakistan, nor is it immune to poverty, disease, maternal and infant mortality, and the burden of hard-lived lives. Rapid gains have been made in average life expectancy in Pakistan, but that life is strongly marked by poverty and infectious diseases, and this study provides insight into how.

Life Expectancy in Pakistan: Current Statistics

Average Life Expectancy in Pakistan

As of 2025, the average life expectancy in Pakistan is approximately 68.5 years. Breaking it down by gender:

Gender	Life expectancy in Pakistan (Years)
Male	66.3
Female	70.7

This indicates a gender gap of around 4–5 years, largely influenced by higher male exposure to workplace hazards, smoking, and cardiovascular risks.

Average Death Age in Pakistan

Death in Pakistan occurs on average at older ages than at younger ages, which indicates how health care access, nutrition, and lifestyle affect the cumulative impact of these three components; urban places such as Islamabad or Karachi typically have higher average death ages than those in rural areas of Sindh and Baluchistan, where early death from preventable disease continues to present a significant issue for these areas.(seemore)

Comparison with Global Averages

Country	Average Life Expectancy
Pakistan	68.5
India	70
Bangladesh	72
Japan	84.5
USA	77

While Pakistan lags behind East Asian and Western nations, the trend shows steady improvement due to better vaccination coverage, maternal care, and awareness campaigns.

Factors Influencing Life Expectancy in Pakistan

1. Healthcare Access and Quality

Health systems across Pakistan do not have equal access to primary care. In large urban areas, hospitals are equipped with modern technologies and specialists; however, in rural regions, community members generally use low-tech community health posts and other resources for their health care needs. Accessing preventative health care and prenatal care within the public health system, as well as vaccinations, are all barriers to increased life expectancy throughout the nation. (Life expectancy in Pakistan)

2. Nutrition and Lifestyle

Access to primary health care and preventive health services varies widely across the country. Residents of large cities have access to state-of-the-art hospitals and clinics that utilize the latest technologies and have access to specialist physicians, while those who live in rural areas typically rely on low-tech community health posts and alternative sources for their health care. In addition to other obstacles to increasing life expectancy in Pakistan, one of the main ones is limited access to preventive and prenatal services in the Pakistani public health care system, including the lack of vaccines being made available to the population at large.

3. Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases such as Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and Diarrhea significantly affected year-to-year life expectancy in many countries up until recent years when advances in Vaccination and Sanitation have helped decrease the incidence of these Infectious Diseases; however, both the continued occurrence of Outbreaks due to inadequate Immunization Coverage and limited access to Clean Water Sources contribute to Child Mortality Rates for children younger than five. (average lifespan in Pakistan)

4. Socioeconomic and Regional Factors

Life expectancy is greatly influenced by poverty, educational attainment, and employment. The infrastructure and health services offered in provinces such as Punjab provide improved access to healthcare compared to areas such as Interior Sindh and Rural Balochistan which have disproportionately lower life expectancy rates than those found in Punjab.

Province	Average lifespan in Pakistan
Punjab	70
Sindh	67
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa	66
Balochistan	64
Gilgit-Baltistan	69

Life Expectancy Trends Over the Decades

1960s: Life expectancy was just around 45 years due to infectious diseases, high infant mortality, and limited healthcare.
1980s: Gradual improvement to 55 years with vaccination campaigns and better sanitation.
2000s: Reached approximately 64 years due to public health programs, polio eradication efforts, and better maternal care.
2025: 68.5 years, showing steady growth with potential to surpass 70 years by 2035.

Fact: Pakistan has reduced infant mortality from 110 per 1,000 live births in the 1960s to around 50 per 1,000 today, directly improving average lifespan in Pakistan.

Tips to Improve Life Expectancy in Pakistan

• 1960s: Life expectancy at just around 45 years due to infectious diseases, high infant mortality, and lack of healthcare.

• 1980s: Gradual improvement to 55 years with vaccination campaigns and improved sanitation.

• 2000s: Gained to about 64 years due to public health programs and efforts to eradicate polio, and improve maternal care.

• 2025: 68.5 years, strong growth rate to suggest we could be above 70 years at 2035.

Fact: In Pakistan, infant mortality rates have fallen from 110 per 1,000 live births 1960s to about 50 per 1,000 today – a benefit to the average lifespan in Pakistan!

Interesting Facts About Life Expectancy in Pakistan

Life expectancy has increased by more than 23 years, one of the fastest increases in South Asia. Women live four years longer than men owing to lower exposure to hazards at work.

The urban-rural gap in life expectancy can be as much as five to six years. Diseases that were once more associated with the elderly, now have a diffuse age pattern, and heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and smoking-related diseases occupy the top of the list.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s Average Life Expectancy in the World – The Tale is told, and the Tongue is Tied

Pakistan’s journey in life expectancy is not simply a statistical realization; it is a reiteration of resilience, adjustment, and the search for promise. From a time in the 60s when the average life expectancy in Pakistan was below 50 years, today Pakistanis can hope to live an average age of close to 69—that is progress at an extraordinary level given past healthcare and socio-economic circumstances. This is the result of decades of public health work, successful vaccination campaigns, and the gradual spread of healthcare, especially in the cities.

But while the country has made strides, the obstacles endure. Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke are becoming trend setters and mutating to trends prevalent in more developed countries. These illnesses of lifestyle, compounded by geographical inequality, continue to influence the average death age in Pakistan and affect certain provinces and rural communities that are behind national averages. Malnutrition, lack of preventative care, and poor health education compound the inequality and call for the government to delve into a multi-tier public health strategy.

Routine health education promoting healthy eating, exercise, tobacco and alcohol avoidance, and mental health awareness could increase many years of life. Additionally, expanding access in rural areas to preventive care, early disease prediction and detection, and equitable health care delivery for all pregnancies throughout the provinces is important for closing the gap in rural-urban average lifespan in Pakistan. This is all best encouraged by education, which leads to better health choices. Community and social connectedness also serve to incentivize health. Massive expansions of its benefits have been performed worldwide by improving informal and formal support of communities, programs, partnerships, and reducing social isolation.

The next steps we need to take in order to reach an average life expectancy of 75 years or more by 2050 are to adhere to these steps daily. If these are implemented on a regular basis, by 2050, Pakistan’s average life expectancy will increase to close to 75 years, which will result in the narrowing of the current disparity between Pakistan and its neighboring countries and the global average of 75 years.

The goal of reaching 75 years or more as an average life expectancy cannot be accomplished through the advancements in medical and technological fields; rather, it will require the collective commitment of everyone to live a healthier lifestyle, promote preventative medicine, and be concerned for all in their community.

Living a long life is about more than just adding on the number of years that someone can live; it’s about living a longer life filled with health, happiness, and purpose.

To put it simply, the pathway to an increase in average life expectancy is not just about health care policy; it’s also about nutrition, lifestyle, mental health, and social cohesion. It’s important to address multiple issues at once so that when individuals of Pakistan add years to their lives, they will have also increased the quality of their years. Individuals should be able to live each stage of their life fully, productively, and with dignity. There is hope for a longer, healthier life, and with continued effort, future generations of Pakistani’s will be able to enjoy the benefits of a country where living past age 75 is common for all, rather than uncommon.

FAQs

A: The average life expectancy of Pakistan has increased gradually over the years (about 68.5 years old in 2025) due to improvements in public health awareness, nutrition, and healthcare. Women in Pakistan will generally live longer than men, with the average lifespan of women being 70.7 years compared to the average lifespan of men, who live 66.3 years. The differences between the lifespan of men and women are mostly due to the fact that the majority of men smoke; men tend to smoke and drink more than women, and in return experience a much smaller health-seeking pattern than women.

While the current average life expectancy in Pakistan indicates that progress is being made, it still falls well behind that of most other third-world countries and most developed nations in the areas of preventive care access and management of chronic diseases.

A: The average age of death among the citizens of Pakistan depends on several different criteria, including geographical area (urban or rural) where one lives, gender, and/or potential socioeconomic status. For example, while individuals living in urban areas may be closer on average to death by about 70–72 years old, those living in the more underdeveloped areas of Pakistan may not experience an average death age closer to 65–68 years old. Additionally, average death age among men is slightly less than for women, primarily due to the higher incidence of occupational hazards, tobacco and smoking use, and the different lifestyles associated with men as compared to women.

On the whole, Pakistan has experienced major advancements in healthcare, including vaccination programs, public health campaigns, and the care provided to mothers and children. The upward trend of average death age in Pakistan began in the 1960s, when the average age of death was less than 50 years, and continued upward to the current age of nearly 69 years.

A: When compared to South Asian neighbors Low life expectancy in Pakistan is attributed to unequal distribution of health, poverty, and malnutrition; high rates of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension; and poor maternal and child health outcomes. The provincial differences within Pakistan — such as those between Punjab and Sindh compared with Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — underscore the need for targeted public health interventions in each region.

A: Some examples of these influences include:

Infectious disease – For example, surgical procedures on patients suffering from Hepatitis B or C. People living in rural areas [rural “settlements”], as well as in developing areas of the country (where health facilities do not exist), are still facing high rates of Tuberculosis (TB), Hepatitis, Malaria, and Dengue.
Malnutrition – Currently 80% of kids in Pakistan are considered ‘stunted’, and their long-term health prospects are severely impaired because they are deficient in micronutrients.
Insufficient health care services – The lack of hospitals, clinics, and experienced (trained) medical personnel leads to inadequate healthcare access for rural communities.
Sedentary/obese lifestyles – Increasing levels of physical inactivity combined with poor nutrition = the increase in chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
Smoking & substance abuse (drugs/alcohol) = a combination of these are some of the largest contributors leading to chronic respiratory illnesses and cancers caused by tobacco use.
Maternal health & infant mortality rates (pregnancy complications & death) = For pregnant women and children, complications during birth reduce average lifespan in areas of limited maternal healthcare. The health of mothers and infants can have an enormous impact on life expectancy in those areas.

Addressing these issues requires a combination of federal government policies, local health programs, and individuals changing their daily lives.

A: Yes, extensive scientific studies in which other nations have participated, and the World Health Organization indicate that avoiding risk factors and adopting health-conscious lifestyles can significantly increase life expectancy and the quality of life in Pakistan at the same time! Representatives from different countries across the globe have experimented with their lifestyles and learnt how to live long, healthy lives! Here’s what they recommend:

Balanced nutrition: Eating fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, and meats lowers the risk of serious diseases.
Regular exercise: Physical activity helps burn fat, keeps your heart healthy. Aim for at least 150 minutes a week.
Mental health support: Numerous studies suggest that social ties, meaningful purpose, and strategies for combating stress can add years to your life.
Preventive Screenings: Important help with everything from diabetes to cancer depends on Regularly screening your blood pressure and sugar levels.
Banning the evil duo: Tobacco & Alcohol may seem fun, but lead to cancers, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses.
Sticking with vaccinations: Don’t put those doctor’s visits on the back burner. Chronic infectious disease is one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide.

Yes, even simple things that you do day after day can start to add several years to average life expectancy. Community efforts are a must! Join in local awareness programmes regarding simple preventive measures – they mean a lot! Create health centers at home: special training and a place in the powder room!

A: Women consistently have a life expectancy greater than men, by approximately 4–5 years, and reasons for this include: lower tobacco/alcohol habits; health-seeking behaviour and regular use of doctors; and biological advantages giving more resistance to some diseases. However, even in Pakistan, where conditions for women in health care and education are not the best, women still have the potential for longer lives when compared to Pakistani men.

A: If trends continue, average life expectancy in Pakistan could be above 75 years by 2050. Increased availability of health services, reduced infection and dying in childhood, improved public awareness of prevention and nutrition of chronic disease, and increased appreciation of mental health and shared personal support are all contributing factors. By utilising both long life and good life, we may be able to catch up with our neighbouring countries and/or enjoy longer life years with healthier living.

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Life Expectancy in Pakistan: What the Latest Numbers Reveal About Your Future

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Kundan Kumar Sinha