Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Pakistan
Pakistan: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 8.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Pakistan, 2001–2020
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for public sector employment as a share of total employment in Pakistan is 8.1%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Pakistan peaked at 12.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 7.5%, in 2014.
Pakistan ranks 66th of 79 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9.0% | — |
| 2003 | 8.0% | -10.6% |
| 2004 | 9.0% | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 8.1% | -10.3% |
| 2006 | 9.1% | +12.2% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | -11.0% |
| 2009 | 12.6% | +56.1% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | -39.2% |
| 2012 | 7.7% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 7.6% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 7.5% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | +8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.1% | 8.0% | 12.6% | 7 |
| 2010s | 7.6% | 7.5% | 7.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 8.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public sector employment as a share of total employment in Pakistan?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Pakistan was 8.1% in 2020, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.6% in 2009.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5% in 2014.
- How does Pakistan rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- Pakistan ranks 66th out of 79 countries with data for 2020.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.