Pakistan's poverty rises, education spending drops to record low: survey
Key takeaways
- The sharp increase in the poverty rate, from a historic low of 21.9% in 2018-19, marks one of the most significant welfare setbacks in the country’s recent history, The News reported.
- "The latest estimates, however, indicate a reversal in this declining trend,” the survey stated.
- "The national poverty headcount increased to 28.9% in 2024-25, compared to 21.9% in 2018-19."
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Home latest pakistan world sports showbiz entertainment Royal business health Sci-Tech Food Fact Check big picture Videos shows Watch LIVE TV X Home Latest Pakistan World Sports Showbiz Fact Check big picture Videos Shows LIVE TV Pakistan Pakistan's poverty rises, education spending drops to record low: survey Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26 says poverty climbs to 28.9% as education spending falls to 0.8% of GDP By Israr Khan | Web Desk | Published June 12, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's education spending fell sharply to just 0.8% of GDP in FY2025, down from 1.5% in FY2023, while the national poverty rate surged to 28.9% in FY2024-25, reversing years of progress and pushing millions more people below the poverty line, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26 released on Thursday.
The sharp increase in the poverty rate, from a historic low of 21.9% in 2018-19, marks one of the most significant welfare setbacks in the country’s recent history, The News reported.