Freelancing is a working model where a person offers his services to clients on a project or contract basis. This provides complete flexibility to choose a client, project, rate, work schedule, and location.
But in Pakistan, this concept has just started to gain momentum since 2020. Today, every 8 out of 10 people want to start freelancing as a full-time career.
Top 7 Freelancing Statistics – Editor’s Pick
Pakistani freelance industry continuously growing and evolving very fast. So, understanding the latest trends and statistics is essential for both freelancers and businesses alike.
Here are the top-picked freelancing statistics in Pakistan;
Pakistan is the 4th fastest growing country in the world, with an impressive 78% growth rate annually.
Pakistani freelancing market has generated over $500 million in the last year shared by the IT ministry in Pakistan.
According to the Tribune, there are currently an estimated 3 million freelancers in Pakistan.
Graphic Designing and Web Development are the two most in-demand freelancing skills in Pakistan.
According to an estimate, the average hourly rates for Pakistani freelancers typically range from $20 per hour.
The majority of Pakistani freelancers are under the age of 30 years old.
According to industry reports, Payoneer is the most used payment gateway among Pakistani freelancers.
Side Note: All the stats are strictly verified from reliable sources before publishing. Feel free to check reference articles in end.
Global Market Freelancing Stats
The worldwide freelance industry is valued at approximately $3.5 billion and is experiencing a compound annual growth rate of 15.3%.
There are approximately 1.57 billion individuals worldwide who work as freelancers.
Roughly 53% of freelancers hold advanced degrees, indicating a strong correlation between higher education and the choice to pursue independent work.
The majority of freelancers work between 31 to 20 hours per week, reflecting the significant commitment required to sustain a successful career.
The average hourly rate for freelancers worldwide is approximately $21.
Female freelancers earn 84% of what male freelancers earn, a smaller gender pay gap than the 64% average reported for all workers.
General Freelancing Statistics in Pakistan
Pakistan is in 4th position worldwide in freelancing and generated $500 million in FY-2022.
Pakistan’s thriving freelance industry now accounts for 9% of the global market, as per a recent report.
More than 120 countries in total are represented in the Pakistani freelance workforce.
Pakistan ranks among the top 3 countries from which employers hire most freelancers.
In 2020 – 2021, Pakistan’s IT exports gained huge momentum with a historic high of $2.12 billion.
Freelancing Rates in Pakistan
According to recent statistics, Pakistani freelancers earn an average of $20 per hour.
Female freelancers in Pakistan earn $22 per hour, however, males earn around $20 per hour.
Pakistani women freelancers earn higher than the global average of $20 per hour.
The average Pakistani freelancer earns an impressive $34,000 (60 lakhs PKR) annually, with a standard hourly rate of $20 for working 30 or more hours per week.
“Digital Marketing Manager” is the highest-earning freelance job in Pakistan, with professionals in this field commanding top salaries.
Despite the impact of Covid-19 on the global economy, Pakistani freelancers have seen a 27% increase in their salaries, after Mexico and Canada in terms of salary growth.
According to data published by UpWork and Payoneer, 47% of the freelancing market in Pakistan consists of women, higher than the global average, which is only 35%.
Freelancing Platforms Stats in Pakistan
Fiverr is the most popular freelancing platform in Pakistan, generating 7.73% of the total traffic to the platform.
Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer are the most popular freelancing websites in Pakistan.
Upwork ranks as the highest-paying freelance platform in Pakistan in terms of hourly rates, offering lucrative opportunities for skilled professionals.
Pakistan ranks third in the world in terms of the number of freelancers on Freelancer.com.
Freelancer.com boasts a user base of 240,000 Pakistani freelancers, with the number of self-employed individuals in Pakistan rising from 33.3% to 39.9%.
65% of the income earned by freelancers comes from freelance platforms alone.
Popular freelance platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.com charge a standard fee of 20% on each project. However, Upwork gives some concessions for recurring clients.
Regional Freelancing Stats in Pakistan
Punjab Leads with 40% of Freelancers, Sindh at 29.5%, KPK at 14.7%, Balochistan at 10.5%, and Azad Kashmir at 5.3%.
Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad represent 88% of the freelancing industry in Pakistan. However, Peshawar, Multan, Gujranwala, and Sialkot also have a notable presence in this market.
With the boom in the IT industry, Karachi has emerged as the central hub of the country’s thriving IT sector, attracting businesses and freelancers alike.
Lahore is famous for its software development and graphic design services, making it a prominent part of the global IT industry.
Lahore is the most affordable city for freelancers worldwide in terms of monthly rent, providing a cost-effective option for individuals.
Beginner Freelancers Stats in Pakistan
Interestingly, over 30% of freelancers in Pakistan have been doing it for less than 1 year.
87% of freelancers especially beginners use freelancing platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to start their Freelancer careers.
Writing and translation is the most popular service for beginner freelancers in Pakistan.
Hisham Sarwar, a renowned Pakistani YouTuber and freelancer, is the most influential figure in the Pakistan freelance industry. – MohsinZox
Freelance Stats by Services
Graphic design, Content Writing, Social Media Marketing, and Software Development are the most popular skills among Pakistani freelancers.
Pakistani freelancers in web development charge between $15 to $50 per hour, while graphic design charges between $5 to $25 per hour. That’s very low compared with other countries.
Digital marketing and IT services account for over half (55%) of all freelancer earnings.
Here’s the breakdown of Global hourly rates in different services shared by Upwork;
| Service | Hourly Rate | Annual Earning |
|---|---|---|
| Writers | $30-40/hr | $42,000 |
| Editors | $25-35/hr | $40,000 |
| Programmers | $60-70/hr | $120,000 |
| General developers | $50-60/hr | $100,000 |
| Mobile developers | $55-65/hr | $100,000 |
| Web developers | $50-60/hr | $90,000 |
| Graphic designers | $40-45/hr | $90,000 |
| Transcribers | $20-25/hr | $32,000 |
| Bookkeepers | $30-35/hr | $40,000 |
| Online marketers | $50/hr | $100,000 |
| Photographers | $35-45/hr | $42,000 |
| CRM managers | $50-60/hr | $120,000 |
| Data analysts | $55-65/hr | $100,000 |
Future of Freelancing in Pakistan:
Pakistan’s federal minister for IT aims for $3 billion in export remittance inflows from Pakistani IT/ITes freelancers in the next three years, National Freelancing Conference 2021.
According to a projection, 50% of Pakistan’s workforce will be freelancers by 2028.
80% of companies surveyed plan to permanently increase their use of remote workers in the next year.
Freelancers in Pakistan face huge challenges such as limited access to international payment gateways like PayPal, and Stripe. – MohsinZox
Conclusion:
It’s clear that freelancing has indeed made an impact in Pakistan and has become the best option for people looking to earn from home. Pakistani Govt. itself also taking part in new initiatives for the Freelance market.
While more could be done to help increase the number of freelancers, it’s great to see a growing interest in the field. Plus, how more and more people are benefiting from these opportunities that exist in Pakistan today.
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