Pakistan

Southern Asia

Asia

A low-cost Asian country with English as a main language, a 5-year citizenship path and low university tuition, but a weak passport and high taxes.

Overall score

Low · Penalty applied · 96% data coverage

Language

Urdu, English

Currency

PKR

Citizenship

5 years

Personal tax

Progressive; rates vary by income type

Cost of living

$650 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

40Residence12%

34Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

45Salary and work12%

69Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

45Taxes7%

42Business8%

30Investment5%

Daily life

25%

42Quality of life18%

30Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

31Freedom6%

22Rule of law7%

Healthcare collapse (32) cut the overall score from 42 to 38.

Severe environmental risk (0) cut the overall score from 38 to 17.

Weak rights and institutions (26) cut the overall score from 17 to 16.

Pros

English as a main language
A 5-year citizenship path
Low university tuition

Cons

A weak passport
High taxes

Best for

StudentsEnglish speakers

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

100

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Limited

Migrant stock1.7% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality-0.79 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Limited

Years required	5 years
Dual allowed	Depends on route and existing nationality
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 5 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Low

36 / 198

Mobility

#103

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free12
On arrival21
eTA3
Visa required162

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Moderate

Output per worker$17,573 PPP (2024)

Unemployment5.4% (2025)

Participation52.3% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees

Overall$112 · $397 PPP (2021)

Tech (IT & comms)$215 · $410 PPP (2021)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Good

GNI / person$6,430 PPP (2025)

Consumption / person$5,386 PPP (2024)

Price level23 (US = 100) (2025)

Income inequality33.5 Gini (2024)

Inflation3.5% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Excellent

100

Price level23 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$650 / mo (single)
Cities	Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad

Economy

Economic strength

Moderate

Output & income

GDP$407.3B (2025)

GDP / person$1,596 (2025)

GNI / person$6,430 PPP (2025)

GDP growth3.0% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation3.5% / yr (2025)

Unemployment5.4% (2025)

Output per worker$17,573 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture23.0% of GDP (2025)

Industry20.1% of GDP (2025)

Services50.9% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

Textiles & garmentsAgricultureCementFood processingPharmaceuticals

Top exports

Textiles & garmentsRiceLeatherSurgical instruments

Type	Lower-middle-income, agri- and textiles-led
Key sectors	Textiles (the export mainstay), Agriculture, Remittances
Summary	A large agri- and textiles-based economy reliant on cotton, garment exports and remittances, prone to balance-of-payments stress.
Currency	Pakistani rupee

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Personal	Progressive; rates vary by income type
Corporate	Generally 29% for companies
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Moderate

Personal	Progressive; rates vary by income type
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Low

Corporate	Generally 29% for companies
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Limited

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality-0.79 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness-0.60 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Limited

Market cap17% of GDP (2025)

Private credit11% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Moderate

Salary & work

Moderate

Business

Limited

Investment

Limited

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Cost of living

Excellent

100

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Moderate

Personal safety

Homicide rate4.3 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption-1.07 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability-2.06 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Limited

Outcomes

Life expectancy67.8 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality56.0 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians1.16 per 1,000 (2021)

Hospital beds0.63 per 1,000 (2020)

Health spending$152 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Low

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure58.4 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress110.0% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Moderate

Digital infrastructure

Internet use57.3% (2024)

Internet resilience42 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed46 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed49 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access95.6% (2023)

Grid losses15.4% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality2.20 / 5 (2018)

Rail density10.1 km / 1,000 km² (2019)

Air connectivity164 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Limited

Attainment

Expected schooling7.9 years (2023)

Mean schooling4.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment11% gross (2024)

Education spending1.9% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	$2,000-10,000 / yr
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Urdu, English
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Moderate

HDI0.544 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy67.6 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling7.9 years (2023)

Mean schooling4.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025