Quick answerLahore is a city in Pakistan, with 13,004,135 people inside the city limits in 2023. It is best known for the Badshahi Mosque, the Lahore Fort and the Shalimar Gardens. Its official languages are Urdu and English, and its currency is the Pakistani rupee.
Lahore is Pakistan's second-largest city, with about 13 million people (13,004,135 in the 2023 census). It is the capital of Punjab province in the east of the country and is known for the Badshahi Mosque, the Lahore Fort and the Shalimar Gardens.
Key facts
| Country | Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 13,004,135 (2023) |
| Time zone | Asia/Karachi |
| Language | Urdu, English |
| Currency | Pakistani rupee (PKR, ₨) |
| Coordinates | 31.5497° N, 74.3436° E |
Overview
Lahore is the capital and largest city of Punjab province, in eastern Pakistan near the border with India. The city had 13,004,135 residents in the 2023 census, making it the second-largest city in Pakistan and the 27th-largest in the world. It sits on the Ravi River, between 196 and 231 metres above sea level.
The site of Lahore has been inhabited for over two thousand years, and the city rose to prominence in the late 10th century. It was a capital of the Ghaznavid and Mughal empires, and under the Mughals it became one of the largest cities in the world. Its landmarks include the Badshahi Mosque, the Lahore Fort and the Shalimar Gardens, and the Minar-e-Pakistan, where the Lahore Resolution was passed in 1940.
Today Lahore is one of Pakistan's major industrial, educational and economic hubs, and it is considered the historic capital and cultural centre of the wider Punjab region. It is famous across Pakistan for its food, from the street stalls of the Walled City to its restaurants, and for its music, festivals and literary life.
What Lahore is known for
- Badshahi Mosque
- Lahore Fort
- Shalimar Gardens
- Minar-e-Pakistan
- Walled City
- Food and festivals
Landmarks
- Badshahi Mosque
- Lahore Fort
- Shalimar Gardens
- Minar-e-Pakistan
- Wazir Khan Mosque
- Lahore Museum
- Data Darbar
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Lahore?
About 13 million people live in Lahore (13,004,135 in the 2023 census). That makes Lahore the second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and the 27th-largest city in the world. It is the capital of Punjab province and the historic cultural centre of the wider Punjab region.
What is Lahore famous for?
Lahore is famous for the Badshahi Mosque, the Lahore Fort and the Shalimar Gardens, all from the Mughal era, and for Minar-e-Pakistan. It is also known as Pakistan's cultural capital, for its food, its music, its festivals and its old Walled City with its narrow streets and historic gates.
Where is Lahore located?
Lahore is in eastern Pakistan, in Punjab province, near the border with India. It is the capital of Punjab and one of Pakistan's main industrial, educational and economic hubs. Its coordinates are 31.55° N, 74.34° E, and its time zone is Pakistan Standard Time.
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Keep exploring
- Pakistan — the country Lahore is in
- Karachi — another city in Pakistan
- Faisalabad — another city in Pakistan
- Islamabad — another city in Pakistan
- All cities in Pakistan
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.