- Washing machine ownership much higher in Pakistan.
- Pakistan also leads India in ownership of refrigerators.
- India dominates TV ownership, but the gap has narrowed.
ISLAMABAD: Despite India’s lead on key macroeconomic measures such as GDP per capita, Pakistani households are more likely to own labour-saving appliances, The news reported on Saturday citing a new Gallup Pakistan analysis.
According to a “Big Data Analysis” report released by Gallup Pakistan on January 23, 2026, household spending patterns in Pakistan and India show a marked divergence.
The data showed that 57.6% of Pakistani households now own a washing machine – almost triple India’s 20% share – indicating a stronger preference in Pakistan for technologies that reduce household labor despite wider economic pressures.
The trend extends to food preservation, where Pakistan maintains the lead with 56.2% of households owning a refrigerator, compared to 50.2% in India. Analysts suggest that these figures reflect a strategic choice by Pakistani families to prioritize domestic convenience and long-term assets over other forms of consumer spending.
While India continues to dominate in entertainment – with 66% of its households owning a television compared to Pakistan’s 50.2% – the report notes that this gap has narrowed since 2019, indicating that Pakistani households are also gradually catching up in the entertainment sector.
In the area of transport, the two neighbors show many more similar patterns. Motorcycle ownership is almost identical at 53.4% in Pakistan and 55% in India, underscoring the common regional necessity of two-wheelers for daily mobility.
Car ownership remains low in both nations, with India marginally ahead at 8% against Pakistan’s 6.4%. These results underscore a critical takeaway: GDP per per capita does not always serve as a direct reflection of household welfare.
Factors such as relative pricing, infrastructure and cultural values play a crucial role in how income translates into actual living standards.
Ultimately, the Gallup report suggests that while India’s economy may be larger overall, Pakistani households appear to be investing more heavily in technologies that improve the immediate quality of life at home.
By prioritizing labour-saving devices, Pakistan is charting a unique path in household development that provides valuable insights into social and economic policy across South Asia.
Highlighting that living standards are a product of both income and choice, the data reveal a resilient middle-class aspiration in Pakistan that persists despite the country’s macroeconomic volatility.
