section_path: Demographics
section_name: Demographics
paragraph_text: Demographics
  
  According to the 2023 Census of Pakistan, the population of the city was a total of 1,565,546. This makes it the largest city in Balochistan province and one of the major cities of Pakistan. Quetta is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country. The city has a Pashtun plurality followed by Balochs, Hazaras, Brahui, Punjabis and Muhajir people. Urdu being the national language is used and understood by all the residents and serves as a lingua franca.
  
  According to Reuters and the BBC, there are as many as 500,000-600,000 Hazaras living in Quetta and its surrounding areas.