Editing Lahore (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Lahore}}
{{Historical populations
|align = right
|1881|138878
|1891|159947
|1901|186884
|1911|228687
|1921|281781
|1931|400075
|1941|671659
|1951|1130000
|1961|1630000
|1972|2198890<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{cite web|url=http://citypopulation.de/Pakistan-100T.html|title=Pakistan: Provinces and Major Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information|website=citypopulation.de|access-date=28 March 2019|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728172813/http://www.citypopulation.de/Pakistan-100T.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1981|2988486<ref name="citypopulation.de" />
|1998|5209088<ref name="citypopulation.de" />
|2017|11126285<ref name="citypopulation.de" />
|2023|13004135<ref name="citypopulation.de" />}}

=== Population ===
The results of the [[2017 Census of Pakistan|2017 Census]] determined the population of Lahore to be 11,126,285,<ref name="census2017">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population_of_major_cities_census_2017%20_0.pdf|title=Population of Major Cities Census – 2017|publisher=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics|access-date=30 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829162305/http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population_of_major_cities_census_2017%20_0.pdf |archive-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> with an annual growth rate of 4.07% since [[1998 Pakistan Census|1998]].<ref name="census2017-district">{{cite web| publisher=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics| url=http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk/sites/default/files/DISTRICT_WISE_CENSUS_RESULTS_CENSUS_2017.pdf#page=6| title=District Wise Population by Sex and Rural/Urban – Census 2017| access-date=30 August 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829164748/http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk/sites/default/files/DISTRICT_WISE_CENSUS_RESULTS_CENSUS_2017.pdf#page=6| archive-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> Gender-wise, 52.35% of the population are male, 47.64% are female, and 0.01% are transgender.<ref name="census2017-district" /> Lahore is a demographically young city, with over 40% of its inhabitants below the age of 15.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lahore Population 2018 |url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/lahore-population/|date=18 October 2017 |access-date=31 July 2018 |url-status=live |archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206081736/https://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/lahore-population/}}</ref>

=== Tribes and background ===
At the time of the [[2017 Pakistani census]], the largest tribal group were [[Arain|Arain Punjabis]], constituting 40%, followed by [[Kashmiris in Punjab|Punjabi–Kashmiris]] at 30% with other tribes such as [[Muslim Rajputs|Rajput]] [[Punjabis]] and [[Kamboj|Kamboh Punjabis]] at 5% each. The majority of the rest 20% is constituted by other [[List of Punjabi tribes|Punjabi tribes]], with a minority constituted by other [[Ethnic groups in Pakistan|ethnic communities]] such as [[Muhajir (Pakistan)|Muhajirs]], [[Pashtuns]] and [[Meo (ethnic group)|Meo]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=District Profile |url=https://lahore.punjab.gov.pk/district_profile |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127195943/https://lahore.punjab.gov.pk/district_profile |archive-date=27 November 2023 |website=District Lahore - [[Government of Punjab, Pakistan|Government of Punjab]]}}</ref>

{{Pie chart|thumb=left|caption=Tribes and backgrounds in the [[Lahore district]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=District Profile |website=District Lahore |publisher=[[Government of Punjab, Pakistan|Government of Punjab]] |url=https://lahore.punjab.gov.pk/district_profile |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127195943/https://lahore.punjab.gov.pk/district_profile |archive-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|label1=[[Punjabi Muslims|Punjabi]]—[[Arain]]s|value1=40|color1=red
|label2=[[Kashmiris in Punjab|Punjabi–Kashmiris]]|value2=30|color2=blue
|label3=Punjabi—[[Muslim Rajputs|Rajputs]]|value3=5|color3=green
|label4=Punjabi—[[Kamboj]]|value4=5|color4=orange
|label5=''Others''|value5=20|color5=purple}}

==== Controversy about the city's Pashtun population ====
Some [[Pashtun nationalism|Pashtun nationalist]] parties argue that the [[Pashtuns|Pashtun]] population of Lahore in the 2017 census has been underestimated, with Ameer Bahadur Khan, provincial general secretary of [[Awami National Party]], putting their numbers at 1.5 million, while Gul Muhammad Regwal, a member of [[Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party|Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party]], claiming more than 1 million including 300,000 in the [[Walled City of Lahore|Walled City]] alone, most of these having moved over the last 20 years, including due to military operations, but remaining uncounted as they're not considered permanent residents of Lahore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ullah |first=Kaleem |date=27 September 2021 |title=Pakhtuns of Lahore: 'We have been deliberately undercounted in the census.' |url=https://loksujag.com/story/Pashtun-population-in-Pakistan-eng |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817190152/https://loksujag.com/story/Pashtun-population-in-Pakistan-eng |archive-date=17 August 2024 |website=Lok Sujag}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Lahore}}
{{bar box|width = 250px
 |barwidth = 200px |cellpadding="0"
 |title=Religion in Lahore District 2023<ref name="2023 census">{{cite web|title=District Wise Results / Tables (Census - 2023)|url= https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/punjab/dcr/table_9.pdf |website=www.pbscensus.gov.pk|publisher=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|
[[Islam]]|green|95.26}}
{{bar percent|
[[Christianity]]|blue|4.64}}
{{bar percent|Others|grey|0.1}}}}
According to the 2023 Census, the vast majority of Lahore's population are [[Muslims]] (95.26%), up from 94.7% in 2017. Other religions include [[Christians]] (4.64%, slightly less than 5.14% in 2017)<ref name="2023 Census" /> and small numbers of [[Ahmadiyya|Ahmadis]], [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼís]], [[Hindus]], [[Parsis]], and [[Sikhs]]. There is also a small but longstanding [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] community.

Since Lahore contains some of [[Sikhism]]'s holiest sites, it is a major pilgrimage destination for Sikhs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1221210 |title=Sikh pilgrims from India arrive in Lahore |website=Dawn |date=21 November 2015 |location=Pakistan |access-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010040803/https://www.dawn.com/news/1221210|archive-date=10 October 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Lahore's first church was built during the reign of Emperor [[Akbar]] in the late 16th century, but was then levelled by [[Shah Jahan]] in 1632.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chaudhry |first1=Nazir Ahmad|title=Lahore|date=2000|publisher=Sang-e-Meel Publications |isbn=969351047X}}</ref> Due to the few numbers of Hindus living in Lahore, the only two functional Hindu temples in the city are the [[Krishna Mandir, Lahore|Shri Krishna Mandir]] and the [[Valmiki Mandir]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1141505|title=Lahore's only functional Hindu temple: Persecution amidst lights|author=Sehyr Mirza |date=31 October 2014|work=Dawn|access-date=14 November 2020|archive-date=2 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202002919/https://www.dawn.com/news/1141505|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Clear}}
<div style="overflow-x:auto; border: 1px solid #AAA; padding-left: 0.5em; padding-right: 0.5em">
{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|+ Religious groups in Lahore City (1868−2023){{efn|1881–1951: Data for the entirety of the town of Lahore, which included Lahore Municipality and Lahore Cantonment.<ref name="Census1941"/>{{rp|32}}<ref name="Census1951"/>{{rp|13}}|name="LahoreCity1881to1951"}}
! rowspan="2" |[[Religion in Pakistan|Religious]]<br>group
! colspan="2" |1868<ref name="Census1868">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057644 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057644 |access-date=7 July 2024 |title=Report on the census of the Punjab taken on 10th January, 1868. |year=1868 |pages=66 |last1=(India) |first1=Punjab }}</ref>{{efn|Also includes the suburban urban areas/villages of Mian Mir, Muzang, and Ichra, which ultimately became part of the town of Lahore.}}
! colspan="2" |1881<ref name="Census1881">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057656 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057656 |access-date=14 January 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I. |year=1881 }}</ref><ref name="Census1881B">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057657 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057657 |access-date=14 January 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II. |year=1881 }}</ref>{{rp|520}}
! colspan="2" |1891<ref name="Census1891">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/site/SAOA/SouthAsiaOpenArchivesSAOA/CensusReports-1891-26575632/|title=CENSUS OF INDIA, 1891 GENERAL TABLES BRITISH PROVINCES AND FEUDATORY STATES VOL I|access-date=17 January 2023|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117090448/https://www.jstor.org/site/SAOA/SouthAsiaOpenArchivesSAOA/CensusReports-1891-26575632/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|68}}
! colspan="2" |1901<ref name="Census1901">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/site/SAOA/SouthAsiaOpenArchivesSAOA/CensusReports-1901-26575826/|title=CENSUS OF INDIA, 1901 VOLUME I-A INDIA PART II-TABLES|access-date=17 January 2023|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117090447/https://www.jstor.org/site/SAOA/SouthAsiaOpenArchivesSAOA/CensusReports-1901-26575826/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|44}}
! colspan="2" |1911<ref name="Census1911">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/site/SAOA/SouthAsiaOpenArchivesSAOA/CensusReports-1911-26575903/|title=CENSUS OF INDIA, 1911 VOLUME XIV PUNJAB PART II TABLES|access-date=17 January 2023|archive-date=7 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007223437/https://www.jstor.org/site/SAOA/SouthAsiaOpenArchivesSAOA/CensusReports-1911-26575903/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|20}}
! colspan="2" |1921<ref name="Census1921">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/site/SAOA/SouthAsiaOpenArchivesSAOA/CensusReports-1921-26575918/|title=CENSUS OF INDIA, 1921 VOLUME XV PUNJAB AND DELHI PART II TABLES|access-date=17 January 2023|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117090446/https://www.jstor.org/site/SAOA/SouthAsiaOpenArchivesSAOA/CensusReports-1921-26575918/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|23}}
! colspan="2" |1931<ref name="Census1931">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/site/SAOA/SouthAsiaOpenArchivesSAOA/CensusReports-1931-26575928/|title=CENSUS OF INDIA, 1931 VOLUME XVII PUNJAB PART II TABLES|access-date=17 January 2023|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117090447/https://www.jstor.org/site/SAOA/SouthAsiaOpenArchivesSAOA/CensusReports-1931-26575928/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|26}}
! colspan="2" |1941<ref name="Census1941">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/site/south-asia-open-archives/saoa/censusofindia1941-28216851/|title=CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VI PUNJAB|access-date=17 January 2023|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011130147/https://www.jstor.org/site/south-asia-open-archives/saoa/censusofindia1941-28216851/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|32}}
! colspan="2" |1951<ref name="Census1951">{{Cite web |title=India - Population According to Religion, Tables-6, Pakistan - Census 1951 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/31311 |access-date=11 February 2025 |website=censusindia.gov.in}}</ref>{{rp|13}}
! colspan="2" |2017<ref name="Census2017B">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/content/final-results-census-2017|title=Final Results (Census-2017)|access-date=17 January 2023|archive-date=17 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017214726/https://www.pbs.gov.pk/content/final-results-census-2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2023<ref name="Census2023B">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/digital-census/detailed-results|title=7th Population and Housing Census - Detailed Results Table-9 Population by sex, religion and rural/urban|website=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics|access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
| [[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]]
| 70,974
| {{Percentage | 70974 | 126329 | 2 }}
| 86,413
| {{Percentage | 86413 | 149369 | 2 }}
| 102,280
| {{Percentage | 102280 | 176854 | 2 }}
| 119,601
| {{Percentage | 119601 | 202964 | 2 }}
| 129,801
| {{Percentage | 129801 | 228687 | 2 }}
| 149,044
| {{Percentage | 149044 | 281781 | 2 }}
| 249,315
| {{Percentage | 249315 | 429747 | 2 }}
| 433,170
| {{Percentage | 433170 | 671659 | 2 }}
| 817,236
| {{Percentage | 817236 | 849333 | 2 }}
| 10,530,816
| {{Percentage | 10530816 | 11119985 | 2 }}
| 12,363,149
| {{Percentage | 12363149 | 12978661 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]{{efn|name=ad-dharmi|1931–1941: Including [[Ad-Dharmi]]s}}
| 40,551
| {{Percentage | 40551 | 126329 | 2 }}
| 53,641
| {{Percentage | 53641 | 149369 | 2 }}
| 62,077
| {{Percentage | 62077 | 176854 | 2 }}
| 70,196
| {{Percentage | 70196 | 202964 | 2 }}
| 77,267
| {{Percentage | 77267 | 228687 | 2 }}
| 107,783
| {{Percentage | 107783 | 281781 | 2 }}
| 139,125
| {{Percentage | 139125 | 429747 | 2 }}
| 179,422
| {{Percentage | 179422 | 671659 | 2 }}
| 1,760
| {{Percentage | 1760 | 849333 | 2 }}
| 2,670
| {{Percentage | 2670 | 11119985 | 2 }}
| 2,811
| {{Percentage | 2811 | 12978661 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]]
| 3,520
| {{Percentage | 3520 | 126329 | 2 }}
| 4,627
| {{Percentage | 4627 | 149369 | 2 }}
| 7,306
| {{Percentage | 7306 | 176854 | 2 }}
| 7,023
| {{Percentage | 7023 | 202964 | 2 }}
| 12,877
| {{Percentage | 12877 | 228687 | 2 }}
| 12,833
| {{Percentage | 12833 | 281781 | 2 }}
| 23,477
| {{Percentage | 23477 | 429747 | 2 }}
| 34,021
| {{Percentage | 34021 | 671659 | 2 }}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 715
| {{Percentage | 715 | 12978661 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 529{{efn|Only includes protestant population.<ref name="Census1881"/>{{rp|152}}}}
| {{Percentage | 529 | 149369 | 2 }}
| 4,697
| {{Percentage | 4697 | 176854 | 2 }}
| 5,558
| {{Percentage | 5558 | 202964 | 2 }}
| 8,436
| {{Percentage | 8436 | 228687 | 2 }}
| 11,287
| {{Percentage | 11287 | 281781 | 2 }}
| 16,875
| {{Percentage | 16875 | 429747 | 2 }}
| 21,495
| {{Percentage | 21495 | 671659 | 2 }}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 571,365
| {{Percentage | 571365 | 11119985 | 2 }}
| 602,431
| {{Percentage | 602431 | 12978661 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Jainism]] [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg|15px]]
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 227
| {{Percentage | 227 | 149369 | 2 }}
| 339
| {{Percentage | 339 | 176854 | 2 }}
| 420
| {{Percentage | 420 | 202964 | 2 }}
| 467
| {{Percentage | 467 | 228687 | 2 }}
| 474
| {{Percentage | 474 | 281781 | 2 }}
| 791
| {{Percentage | 791 | 429747 | 2 }}
| 1,094
| {{Percentage | 1094 | 671659 | 2 }}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
|-
| [[Zoroastrianism]] [[File:Faravahar.svg|15px]]
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 132
| {{Percentage | 132 | 176854 | 2 }}
| 166
| {{Percentage | 166 | 202964 | 2 }}
| 198
| {{Percentage | 198 | 228687 | 2 }}
| 177
| {{Percentage | 177 | 281781 | 2 }}
| 150
| {{Percentage | 150 | 429747 | 2 }}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 77
| {{Percentage | 77 | 12978661 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Judaism]] [[File:Star_of_David.svg|15px]]
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 14
| {{Percentage | 14 | 176854 | 2 }}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 13
| {{Percentage | 13 | 228687 | 2 }}
| 13
| {{Percentage | 13 | 281781 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 429747 | 2 }}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
|-
| [[Buddhism]] [[File:Dharma_Wheel_(2).svg|15px]]
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 176854 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 202964 | 2 }}
| 128
| {{Percentage | 128 | 228687 | 2 }}
| 170
| {{Percentage | 170 | 281781 | 2 }}
| 14
| {{Percentage | 14 | 429747 | 2 }}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
|-
| [[Ahmadiyya]] [[File:Liwa-e-Ahmadiyya_1-2.svg|15px]]
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 13,433
| {{Percentage | 13433 | 11119985 | 2 }}
| 7,139
| {{Percentage | 7139 | 12978661 | 2 }}
|-
| Others
| 11,284
| {{Percentage | 11284 | 126329 | 2 }}
| 3,932
| {{Percentage | 3932 | 149369 | 2 }}
| 9
| {{Percentage | 9 | 176854 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 202964 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 228687 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 281781 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 429747 | 2 }}
| 2,457
| {{Percentage | 2457 | 671659 | 2 }}
| 30,337
| {{Percentage | 30337 | 849333 | 2 }}
| 1,701
| {{Percentage | 1701 | 11119985 | 2 }}
| 2,339
| {{Percentage | 2339 | 12978661 | 2 }}
|-
! Total population
! 126,329
! {{Percentage | 126329 | 126329 | 2 }}
! 149,369
! {{Percentage | 149369 | 149369 | 2 }}
! 176,854
! {{Percentage | 176854 | 176854 | 2 }}
! 202,964
! {{Percentage | 202964 | 202964 | 2 }}
! 228,687
! {{Percentage | 228687 | 228687 | 2 }}
! 281,781
! {{Percentage | 281781 | 281781 | 2 }}
! 429,747
! {{Percentage | 429747 | 429747 | 2 }}
! 671,659
! {{Percentage | 671659 | 671659 | 2 }}
! 849,333
! {{Percentage | 849333 | 849333 | 2 }}
! 11,119,985
! {{Percentage | 11119985 | 11119985 | 2 }}
! 12,978,661
! {{Percentage | 12978661 | 12978661 | 2 }}
|}
</div>

===Languages===
{{Pie chart|thumb=right|caption=Languages by number of native speakers in the [[Lahore district]]<ref name="PBC 2017">{{Cite book|url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//population_census/results/05311.pdf|title=PBC 2017 Statistics|access-date=14 April 2022|archive-date=14 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414013852/https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//population_census/results/05311.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>|label1=[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]|value1=73.58|color1=maroon|label2=[[Urdu]]|value2=21.1|color2=green|value3=5.22|color3=red|label3=Other}}The [[Punjabi language]] is the most-widely spoken native language in Lahore, with 73.58% of Lahore counting it as their first language according to the 2023 Census.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LAHORE DISTRICT - POPULATION BY MOTHER TONGUE, SEX AND RURAL/ URBAN |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//population_census/results/05311.pdf |website=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics |access-date=14 April 2022 |archive-date=14 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414013852/https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//population_census/results/05311.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Lahore is the largest Punjabi-speaking city in the world. According to the [[2023 Pakistani census]] 21.1% speak [[Urdu]], 2.06% [[Pashto]], 2.01% [[Mewati]] and 2.78% other mother tongues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lahore (District, Pakistan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/pakistan/distr/admin/716__lahore/ |access-date=20 July 2022 |website=www.citypopulation.de |archive-date=20 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720212925/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/pakistan/distr/admin/716__lahore/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lahore District - 2017 Pakistan Census |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2017/results/05311.pdf |website=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics |access-date=20 July 2022 |archive-date=30 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730121149/https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2017/results/05311.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Urdu]] and English are used as official languages and as mediums of instruction and media administration. However, Punjabi is also taught at graduation level and used in theatres, films, and newspapers from Lahore.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://pu.edu.pk/page/show/ba_gen_pattern.html |publisher=University of the Punjab|title=B.A. Two-year (pass course) Examinations|access-date=13 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208022145/http://pu.edu.pk/page/show/ba_gen_pattern.html |archive-date=8 February 2017|url-status=live}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Department of Punjabi|date=2015 |url=http://pu.edu.pk/home/department/32/Department-of-Punjabi |publisher=University of the Punjab |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127220237/http://pu.edu.pk/home/department/32/Department-of-Punjabi|archive-date=27 November 2016}}</ref> Several Lahore-based prominent educational leaders, researchers, and social commentators have demanded that the Punjabi language should be declared as the medium of instruction at the primary level and be used officially in the [[Provincial Assembly of the Punjab|Punjab Assembly]], Lahore.<ref name="The Nation 2015">{{cite web|url=http://nation.com.pk/blogs/15-Sep-2015/supreme-court-s-urdu-verdict-no-language-can-be-imposed-from-above|title=Supreme Court's Urdu verdict: No language can be imposed from above|date=15 September 2015|website=The Nation|access-date=15 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916165410/http://nation.com.pk/blogs/15-Sep-2015/supreme-court-s-urdu-verdict-no-language-can-be-imposed-from-above|archive-date=16 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Business Recorder 2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/109-world-top-news/254518-two-member-sc-bench-refers-punjabi-language-case-to-cjp.html |title=Two-member SC bench refers Punjabi language case to CJP |date=14 September 2015|website=Business Recorder|access-date=15 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021133224/http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/109-world-top-news/254518-two-member-sc-bench-refers-punjabi-language-case-to-cjp.html|archive-date=21 October 2015}}</ref>