Over 762,000 Pakistanis Emigrated in 2025, Bolstering Remittances
Islamabad – A surge in emigration from Pakistan saw 762,499 workers leave the country in 2025, according to the Ministry of Finance. These overseas workers are contributing significantly to Pakistan’s economy as foreign direct investment and exports decline.
The bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment registered the 762,499 emigrants throughout 2025, a 5.1% increase – or 37,000 more people – compared to the previous year,as detailed in the Ministry of Finance’s monthly outlook report. In December 2025 alone, 76,207 workers emigrated, an 18.7% increase year-over-year.
Saudi Arabia was the primary destination, with 530,000 people seeking employment there.The emigration trend encompasses individuals across all skill levels, driven by Pakistan’s prolonged period of low economic growth and political instability.
Remittances from overseas Pakistanis are now the largest source of non-debt creating foreign inflows for the country. During the frist half of the current fiscal year, these workers sent $19.7 billion in remittances, an 11% increase.
The government receives approximately $40 billion annually from these remittances without providing direct support to the workers. This contrasts with ongoing efforts to boost exports and attract foreign direct investment, which have yielded limited results.
remittances totaled 23 times the $808 million in foreign direct investment Pakistan received during the first half of the fiscal year. They also exceeded exports by $4.2 billion, with exports totaling $15.5 billion during the same period.
Despite efforts to improve the investment climate, foreign direct investment decreased by nearly 44% during the first half of the fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Finance.
