1998 Census: The Results and Implications (Population Dynamics) (Report‪)‬

The 1998 Census was delayed by seven years as it should have been held in 1991, following century-old tradition of holding decennial census in the year beginning with digit 1. This paper analyses the main results of 1998 Census and its demographic as well as socio-economic implications. The 1998 Census shows a growth rate of 2.6 percent for the 17-years period. This clearly indicates that population growth rate in Pakistan has fallen due to a number of factors but still Pakistan's growth rate of 2.6 percent is high as compared to 1.6 percent in India and Bangladesh. Similarly, TFR is about 5 whereas in Bangladesh and India it is 3. The 1998 Census shows significant improvement in both the male and female literacy during 1981-98. Male literacy has increased from 35.5 to 56.5 and female literacy from 16.4 to 32.6. It indicates a slowing down of the rate of urbanisation which was about 4.4 percent in 1972-81 to 3.4 percent in 1981-98. The figures probably understate due to inaccurate definition of urban areas. The dependency ratio which was 97.2 in the 1981 Census has decreased to 87.3 in 1998. The marital status has also decreased by 5 percent for both males and females from 68.75 in 1981 to 63.33 in 1998. The above data show that demographic transition has started in Pakistan although at a very slow rate as compared with other South Asian countries because the main determinants of birth rate, i.e., contraceptive prevalence, female literacy, and female labour force participation rate are much lower as compared with other South Asian countries.