Islamabad: The family size in Pakistan is gradually decreasing, though the pace of this transition lags significantly behind that of neighboring India. Recent analysis of demographic data highlights that the proportion of Pakistani mothers with five or more children has decreased from 47% in the early 1990s to 33% by 2017-18. However, the shift toward smaller families is occurring at a much slower rate compared to India, where only 8% of mothers had five or more children by 2021.

According to the Gilani Research Foundation, the analysis conducted by Gallup Pakistan utilized data from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey spanning from 1990-91 to 2017-18, compared with the National Family Health Survey of India from 1993 to 2021. While Pakistan’s data shows a positive trend, with an increase in the share of mothers having one or two children from 26% to 33%, India’s numbers reveal a more rapid transition. By 2021, 60% of Indian mothers had only one or two children.

The analysis also highlights a significant discrepancy between the two countries’ demographic transitions. For instance, by 2006, India’s share of mothers with five or more children was already 20%, considerably lower than Pakistan’s 33% share in 2017-18. Even Pakistan’s most recent figures surpass India’s earliest data from 1993, when India’s rate was 27%.

Despite these differences, both countries are gradually moving toward the trend of smaller families. Pakistan has shown measurable progress, yet a majority of mothers continue to have three or more children. The limited number of demographic health surveys conducted in Pakistan makes it challenging to analyze the pace of change comprehensively. In contrast, India’s more frequent surveys provide a clearer understanding of the demographic shifts over the decades.