52% of Pakistanis Would Consider Moving Abroad, Survey Finds

More than half of Pakistani respondents said they would consider moving to another country for better opportunities, according to findings from the WIN Worldviews Survey 2026. The result points to interest in migration, but does not mean that most Pakistanis have decided or are preparing to leave.

The survey found that 52% of respondents would consider moving abroad. Forty percent said they would do so if they could move legally, while 12% said they would consider leaving regardless of the conditions. Meanwhile, 48% preferred to remain in Pakistan. The reported global average for considering migration was 46%.

The results differed among younger respondents. Among Pakistanis aged 18 to 24, 44% said they would consider moving abroad, while 56% preferred to stay. The reported global figure for young people considering migration was 66%.

Gallup & Gilani Pakistan conducted the survey in Pakistan as part of the WIN Worldviews Survey 2026, which covered 45 countries. The local sample included 1,000 men and women from urban and rural areas across all four provinces. Interviews took place by telephone from December 6, 2025, to January 14, 2026. The reported margin of error was approximately 2 to 3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

The findings capture respondents’ willingness to consider migration for better opportunities. They do not establish that respondents intend to move soon, explain each person’s reasons, or predict how many will actually emigrate.

The survey adds to discussion about migration aspirations in Pakistan, while the youth results show that a majority of respondents in that age group preferred to stay. The distinction between considering a move and planning one is important when interpreting the headline figure.