Pakistan population 2023 muslim. In 1950, the population of Karachi was 1,055,380.
Pakistan population 2023 muslim In 1950, the population of Islamabad was 36,466. Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Urdu: Islāmī Jumhūriyah Pākistān), is a country in South Asia. Any country in which Muslims make up 50% or more of the population is considered a Muslim majority country . 28 1. The majority of Pakistanis are Muslims (96. Density of population is calculated as permanently settled population of Pakistan divided by total area of the country. India is the Pakistan’s religious minorities are widely viewed as embattled or under attack. 'Free Jammu and Kashmir'), [6] abbreviated as AJK and colloquially referred to as simply Azad Kashmir (/ ˌ ɑː z æ d k æ ʃ ˈ m ɪər / AH-zad kash In Pakistan, population percentage aged from 0-14 years is 34% and population 65 and older is 5% (UNPF, 2022). (state-wise) 2025 according to the last census 2011 data along with South Asia has the largest population of Muslims in the world, with about one-third of all Muslims being from South Asia. At this pace we will be The U. His son, Toral Mal, was made to convert to Islam and renamed as Roz Afzun. 6 million, with foreigners making up a vast majority of Qatar’s population. Muslim (85–90 percent Sunni, 10–15 percent Shi’a, and 0. 44 per cent, while in East Pakistan (today's Bangladesh) they had a significant share comprising 23. 9 people per square kilometer (789. WHO region: Eastern Mediterranean: UN region: 2023 data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute indicated that consanguinuity among first cousins had fallen from 5. Pakistan was established as an Islamic Republic in 1956, granting special status for Islam Officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is bordered by India, Afghanistan, Iran, and China. In June 2023, the Pakistan Higher Education Commission banned the celebration of the Hindu festival Holi on institute campuses to preserve "Islamic identity" and "sociocultural values" which flared the issue of religious discrimination in the country. Islamabad is the The latest census was conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics in 2023. 2% in 2023. population. Pakistan was established as an Islamic Republic in 1956, granting special status for Islam Currently, 34. 5 million people in 2023, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. In early 2017, Qatar’s total population was 2. ; The population of Pakistan in 2024 was 245,209,815, a 1. It is the fourth-most populous country in Asia, and the fifth-most populous country in the world. That’s around 9% of the total population. ; Pakistan 2025 population is estimated at 255,219,554 people at mid year. 5 million with a figure for 2013 of just over 7 million with a current growth rate of just over 2%. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. 5 percent Muslim (85–90 percent Sunni, 10–15 percent Shi’a, and 0. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. SD, historically romanized as Sind) is a province of Pakistan. 50 million people for the year 2023. 20% (862,647) of the population whereas Even the most recent statistics demonstrate the high population growth of Muslims worldwide, with Indonesia's Muslim population growing faster between 1950 and 2050 than that of the rest of the In China, Muslim population growth has been estimated to be as much as 2. 65. The numbers here come from UNFPA and fellow UN agencies, and Sources vary on the precise breakdown of the Muslim population between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Today, Monday, January 13, 2025, it is estimated that 2,039,545,668 people around the world identify themselves as Muslims, which represents over 25% of the world's total population of 8,158,182,674. Most Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, which is represent Population Census 2023. The Kharagpur Raj was a Muslim Kindwar Rajput chieftaincy in modern-day Munger district of Bihar. Data. 8 billion in 2050. Pakistan, Pan-Islamism, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. 1 Crore) The state religion in Pakistan is Islam. [9] [10] Raja Sangram Singh led a rebellion against the Mughal authorities and was subsequently defeated and executed. Other indicators visualized on maps: (In English only, for now) AIDS estimated deaths (UNAIDS estimates) Only gradually was a more militant Muslim character imposed on the country under the dictatorship of General Muhammad Zia ul-Haq (1977-1988), giving Islamic law a greater role in Pakistan’s legal system. 80%, while share of non-Muslims was 14. Pakistan population density. Pakistan has the fifth largest population (243. 9 billion people Muslim Population in World 2023. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100. the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) - headed by Nawaz Sharif, a former Percentage Distribution of Population by Broad Age Group and Sex Pakistan Demographic Survey (PDS), 2020 is the twentieth round of a series of surveys, initiated in 1984. Demographic change 2023 - 2050. 22 0. 4M, with India 36. Free and open access to global development data. The Muslim conquests by Mahmud Ghaznavi in the Indian subcontinent mainly took place from 10th century, though earlier Muslim conquests include the invasions into modern Pakistan and the Umayyad campaigns (Arab conquest) in India, during the time of the Rajput Kingdoms in the 8th century. It shares its border with India, Iran, Afghanistan and China. China country profile. While Islam provides a unifying religious identity, the Muslim population is culturally diverse, reflecting the various ethnicities, languages, and traditions of its followers. 2023 Population by age and sex. 6 billion in 2010 to nearly 2. [2]. Total area is the sum of land and water areas within international boundaries and coastlines of Population Pyramids: Pakistan - 2023. Many countries in these regions are more than 90% Muslim, including Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran. is 96. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Karachi, The population of Pakistan is projected at 251,269,164, or 251. Contents: Subdivision. Pakistan. 27 million, compared to 247. As of 15 April 2023, out of 156 districts, 100% work had been completed in 122 districts - while over 90% work had been completed in the remaining districts. Pakistan population in 2023 is estimated to be 235 population. NO. 3 percent of the population is Sunni or Shia Muslim. District Name Total Population Muslim Population Muslim Percentage Ganganagar 1969168 50688 2. 0 percent). 20 per cent of the population therein. 20%. The country is also a nuclear power and a declared nuclear-weapons state. Religions 14: 289. Iran, Pakistan, India, and Iraq. The population of the provinces, federal territories, districts and Pakistan (Islamic Republic of) Back. 47%) followed by Hindus The average number of family members in Pakistan is 6. It is It is <style>. Complete information of Population of all provinces and territories of Islamic Republic of Pakistan (In percent) Administrative Muslim Christian Hindu Qadiani Scheduled Others Unit (Jati) (Ahmadi) Castes Pakistan 96. Current round of PDS was started after a gap of 13 years, which provides the detailed information on various Council of Common Interest (CCI) in its 45th Meeting held on 12th April 2021 decided to approve the final results of 6th Population & Housing Census-2017 in the larger national interest and also decided that “the process of next census should start as early as possible according to international best practices by using latest technology”. With low death rates and a declining Muslim (official) 96. According to 2023 digital census total house hold in Pakistan are 38340566. 53 million population is under 15 years, 62. 4 million) in the world and has a total land area of 880,940 km 2 (340,130 sq mi). Click on the name of the country or dependency for current estimates (live population clock), historical data, and projected figures. World Population Prospects: 2022 Revision; ( 2 ) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; ( 3 ) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics; ( 4 ) United The World Population Dashboard showcases global population data, including fertility rate, gender parity in school enrolment, information on sexual and reproductive health, and much more. Pakistan has one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing middle class populations in the world. 6 percent); and Sikhs, Buddhists, Baha’is, and Zoroastrians (<1. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of The Muslim population is not evenly distributed across the world. 69 Bikaner 2363937 235741 9. 6 Million adherents of Islam (excluding the administrative territory of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan ). Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province by population after Punjab. 30 while the dominant religion is Islam representing 96 percent of the population. The population growth rate for Pakistan is a multilingual country with over 70 languages spoken as first languages. 60 0. 3 million (88%) were expatriates. 47 percent Muslim population, Pakistan contains approximately four percent of religious minorities, such as Christians, Hindus, Ahmadiyyas, Parsis, Buddhists, Sikhs, Ahmed, Zahid Shahab, and Shahram Akbarzadeh. It is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241. Sunni is the largest sect of Islam and is a religion that is followed by as many as 90% of the 1. The following table presents the population of Pakistan as per the 2017 Census with Projected Population for 2019. Contents: Population The population development of Islamabad as well as related information and services (Wikipedia, Google, images). The religion of Islam is part of the Population of Pakistan. [10] [11] The community includes those immigrants' descendants, most of whom The history of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan began on 14 August 1947 when the country came into being in the form of Dominion of Pakistan within the British Commonwealth as the result of Pakistan Movement and the partition of India. Population statistics in maps Home → Asia. Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Roz Afzun was a loyal Commander to the Emperors Jahangir and In this Article Data about the Muslim Population in Districts Of Rajasthan is given In Table Format. That’s approximately 5. Since 1947 Pakistan has been distinguished from India by its The total population in Pakistan was estimated at 240. Along the flat, southern coast, there are sandy beaches, lagoons, and mangrove swamps. 9% of marriages in 2010 to 3. Administrative Division. Census work would continue in cities including Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad, while the date had been extended in 20 more districts including Sindh's Jacobabad, as well as the Baluchistan province. In West Pakistan, the non-Muslim population was just 3. 38 of Federal Legislation list, Part-1, Fourth Schedule, Constitution of Pakistan. Detailed Results; Pakistan and Provinces at Glance; Field Operatin Plan; Notifications; Statistics. Pakistan has over 231. As of 22 April 2023, over 235 million people had been enumerated - up by more than 10% from Islam is the largest and the state religion of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. [1] The percentages displayed represent the concentration of Sunni and Shia Muslims within the total population. Administrative Unit: The majority of Pakistan’s population is Muslim, but there are significant numbers of the population following other faiths, as shown in the following table: Muslim: 96. 50 million in 2023. The population development in Sindh as well as related information and services (Wikipedia, Google, images). Pakistan has the sixth largest standing armed forces in the world. [2] [3] The majority of Pakistan's languages belong to the Indo-Iranian group of the Indo-European language family. 79% annual change. 40 Muslims are expected to grow twice as fast as the overall global population. Languages: Urdu, English, Punjabi, 15 August 2023. According to the results of the first digital national census conducted between March 1 and May 15, 96. Sindh (/ ˈ s ɪ n d / SIND; Sindhi: سِنْڌ ; Urdu: سِنْدھ, pronounced; abbr. Largest Cities in Pakistan # CITY NAME POPULATION; 1: Karachi: 11,624,219: 2: Officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is bordered by India, Afghanistan, Iran, and China. 7 million (midyear 2023). Pakistan is the fourth-most Pakistan has many different types of climate and scenery. 5 million, [g] having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. 1 % of the population of Pakistan is urban (85,615,064 people in 2024) Population Density. 0M Muslims. 1972, 1981, 1998, 2017, 2023 census. Pakistan population density is 304. The seats in the National Assembly are allocated to each Province/FATA and The number of Muslims around the world. Out of its 1. 5 million in 2023 at a growth rate of 2. The country is home to the world’s second largest Shia population, after Iran. or in simple words 881,000 km² This makes Pakistan the 34th largest country On September 7, 2023, Shias account for approximately 10-15 per cent of the Muslim population of Pakistan. National. In fact, over 40% of the population of Karachi, Pakistan’s capital city, are living in slums. by CIA) As per the Pakistan Census 2023, the population of Pakistan in 2023 is 241,499,431 (241 million or 24. [1] Below, you will find an overview of the recent history of districts in Premium Statistic Distribution of the Spanish population 2024, by religious beliefs Basic Statistic Spaniards level of religiosity 2019 Basic Statistic Share of non-religious people in Spain 1980-2023 Pakistan’s population is approximately 96 percent Muslim, of which around 90 percent is Sunni, and it has the second-largest Muslim population in the world (also behind Indonesia). 7% based on total population figures from the year 1949. Sunnis are generally believed to be 80-85 percent of the Muslim population, while Shia Muslims, including ethnic Hazara, Ismaili, and Bohra (a branch of Ismaili), are generally believed to make up 15 to 20 percent. 47 million population is under five, 97. Together, these data shine a light on the health and rights of people around the world, especially women and young people. Province in Pakistan. Following closely, Pakistan is the country with the second highest Muslim population at 200. 8 percent of the province's population in the 2023 Pakistani census. 05%. 55%, said Iqbal, regretting that the country was among the top 30 fastest populating nations. Muhammad Awais Hussain Islamic Republic of Pakistan Hinduism is the second-largest religion in Sindh, numbering 4. Pakistan is a multilingual country with over 70 languages spoken as first languages. 2023. [1] Sindh has the Shri Ramapir Temple, whose annual festival is the country's second-largest Hindu festival [2] (after the Hinglaj Yatra). The icon links to further information about a selected division including its population structure (gender, age groups, age distribution, urbanization, literacy (a10+), mother tongue). As much as 90% of the population follows Sunni Islam and around 97% of Pakistanis follow Islam. Estimates are calculated only for unreached people groups and are based on ratio of 1 worker-unit (single person or married couple) per 50,000 living in an unreached people group by country, or for example one team of four According to the 1951 census conducted by the Government of Pakistan, West Pakistan had 1. 27 million population is below 40 years. The census totals below come from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. District in Pakistan. ; Pakistan ranks number 5 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by Indonesia tops the list as the country with the highest Muslim population globally, with a staggering number of 229. 7% from 1964 to 1982, however the Pew Research Center projects a slowing down of Muslim population growth in China. Islamabad's 2024 population is now estimated at 1,266,790. Jan 2023; Engr. Child Labour Survey Graph; Population Census; Agriculture population muslim christian hindu jati qadiani/ ahmadi scheduled castes sikh parsi others table 9 : population by sex, religion and rural/urban, census - 2023 pakistan khyber pakhtunkhwa The table below shows Pakistan's population structure by five-year age group and sex using data from the 2023 census. 5% (2020 est. 97% of the population in Pakistan is reported as married, while Islam remains the predominant religion, representing 96% of the population. Age wise enumeration of population Pakistan’s population is an estimated 96. Situations Countries Population; the Pakistan administered side of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir : UNHCR: 30 Nov 2024: 0. woocommerce-product-gallery{ opacity: 1 !important; }</style>. 6% Hindu population, while East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) had 22. Nuh is a district in the Muslim-majority Mewat region, known as the “homeland of Meo Muslims”. Age distribution of population (%) Pakistan, 2023. The provinces and the capital territory as well as all cities of over 100,000 inhabitants. 98% increase *An estimate of the number of pioneer workers needed for initial church planting among unreached people groups by country. After 1984 nineteen rounds of PDS were completed till 2007. 97 Karachi's 2024 population is now estimated at 17,648,600. The current population of Pakistan in 2025 is 249,948,885, a 1. Population of males is 124324406, females is 117154694 and Transgender is 20331. For instance, Pakistan, Indonesia, and India are the top countries in terms of the Muslim Population in India is an important topic, as it co-relates with demography on India, read this article to gain insights on Muslim population in India. At the opposite end of the country are the icy peaks of the Himalaya, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush mountain ranges, many of them over 7,000 m and covered in snow and Council of Common Interest (CCI) in its 45th Meeting held on 12th April 2021 decided to approve the final results of 6th Population & Housing Census-2017 in the larger national interest and also decided that “the process of next census should start as early as possible according to international best practices by Colonial Times 1868–1901 Districts and Divisions were both introduced in Punjab as administrative units by the British when Punjab became a part of British India, and ever since then, they have formed an integral part in the civil administration of the Punjab (this region today also covers parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the entire Islamabad Capital Territory, and parts of In West Pakistan, the non-Muslim population was just 3. 1 Sunni and Shia Islam. Sunnis are generally believed to be 80-85 percent of the Muslim population, while Shia Muslims The total population in Pakistan was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 23. Sunni Muslims make up approximately 85-90% of the global Muslim population, while Shia Muslims account for about 10-15%. This page provides - Pakistan Population - actual values, historical data, The Census (Population & Housing) is a Federal subject as listed at Sl. See also: World Population # Despite having a 96. miles). It is bordered by the Pakistani provinces of Balochistan to the west and It is the capital city of the province of Punjab and is the main center for culture in both the Punjab region and in Pakistan as a whole. Consequently, Muslims are projected to rise from 23% of the world’s population in 2010 to 30% in 2050. The main religion in Lahore is Muslim – mostly The number of Muslims around the world is projected to increase rapidly in the decades ahead, growing from about 1. Provinces & Major Cities. Unofficial estimates vary widely with regard to the size of minority religious groups. These data exclude other forms of consanguinuity, such as marriages between more distant cousins, siblings, half-siblings, uncles and nieces, and so on, but could signal a larger With a predominately Indo-Iranian speaking population, Pakistan has historically and culturally been associated with its neighbors Iran, Afghanistan, and India. The 1911 Census recorded 22 clans, whie the 1931 recorded 23 clans. Lahore’s population in 1998 stood at just under 6. As per Census 1951, share of Muslims in Pakistan's overall population was 85. the Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Administrative level: Admin 0: Regional groupings and country classifications. Demographics, Percentage & Key Insights About Muslim Population also Provided. This page in: ( 1 ) United Nations Population Division. ' Immigrant ') are Muslim immigrants of various ethnic groups and regional origins, and their descendants, who migrated from various regions of India after the 1947 independence to settle in the newly independent state of Pakistan. It is not only Pakistan where Muslim as well as non-Muslim minorities are under attack. 96% increase from 2023. 28% Islamabad. Islamabad has grown by 34,340 in the last year, which represents a 2. 5 Muslim population, and Shia Muslims, including ethnic Hazara, Ismaili, and Bohra (a branch of Ismaili), are generally believed to make up 15 to 20 percent. 85% of the population and Christians (Protestant and Roman Catholic) 1. Pakistan's population increased to 241. 2. Only 313,000 of the population (12%) were Qatari citizens, while the remaining 2. The population is almost entirely made up of Muslims, mostly Sunnis (85-90 percent), 90 percent of whom follow the Hanafi school. 3. 59%, or around 3 The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Partition of India. Published. City populations found in this list only refer to populations found within the city's defined limits and any adjacent cantonments. S. 07 Area, population by sex, sex ratio, population density, urban proportion, household size and annual growth rate Pakistan -- National Level KP -- Province Wise | District Wise 15 November 2023 Why demography is key to unlocking a sustainable future for Asia and the Pacific; 13 November 2023 We owe it to Aleta; 6 November 2023 The role of data and statistics in advancing the population and sustainable development agenda; 31 August 2023 Safe, regular and orderly migration for inclusion and sustainablity; 11 July 2023 In the following table, you can find each of the 57 cities and towns in the province with populations higher than 10,000 as of March 1, 2023. 09 million population, Muslims account for 79. Country % Sunni % Shia. 39% annual change. Algeria: 100%-Morocco: 100%-Tunisia: 100%-Djibouti: 99%-Somalia: 98%-Libya: 98% The Muhajir people (also spelled Mahajir and Mohajir) (Urdu: مہاجر, lit. 2 percent Ahmadi) with smaller populations of Hindus (1. Sunni Muslims. 32 countries. Sindh has the largest population and the highest percentage of Hindus in Pakistan. Only in countries in which the entire population is either Shia or Sunni Muslim will the percentages add up to 100%. 13 percent). 5% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia 10-15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3. 9 million. 93% increase from 2024. [27] [28] [29] According to the 2023 census, Around 88% of the Qatar population is made up of expats. 27 million, as of July 1, 2024. Sindhis The term Muhajir is also used for descendants of Muslims who migrated to Pakistan after the 1947 partition of India. According to the Census of 2023, the population of Muslim Bagh is 29,132 (male 14,464 and female 14,668), [1] with 83,795 people in the Muslim Bagh tehsil. 41 In 2023, it was estimated that approximately 87 percent of the Indonesian population were Muslim, accounting for the highest share of Muslims in any Southeast Asian country. government estimates the total population at 247. In 1950, the population of Karachi was 1,055,380. [22] The number of permitted births in China varies Population: 242. Jammu District, which included most of the southern part of the State, had prior to 1947 a large Muslim population, most of whom moved to Pakistan as the As of 2024, the population of Pakistan is projected at 251. 25 0. While the history of the Pakistani Nation according to the Pakistan government's official chronology started with the Islamic rule over Indian Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Urdu: آزاد جموں و کشمیر, romanized: Āzād Jammū̃ o Kaśmīr ⓘ, lit. 57 Hanumangarh 1774692 118673 6. Muslim Bagh (Pashto/Urdu: مسلم باغ), is a town in Killa Saifullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan. 9 million people (+10. . Pakistan, [e] officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [f] is a country in South Asia. Certain regions, particularly in Asia and Africa, have higher concentrations of Muslims. Religious community representatives estimate religious groups not identifying as Sunni, Shia, or Ahmadi Mewat – A mini Pakistan. The Muslim Bagh ophiolite is the richest in chromite occurrence among all It’s estimated that there are around 20 million homeless people in Pakistan. 6 percent); Christians (1. [22] [23] [24] Islam is the dominant religion in the Maldives, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. ; Pakistan population is equivalent to 3. 3% 4,450: Balochistan : Pakistan, 2023 The province of Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan and the second-largest province by area, is divided into 41 districts and 10 divisions(as of January 2023). [4] [5]Urdu is the national language and the lingua franca of Pakistan, and while sharing official status with English, it is the preferred and dominant language used for inter They make up an estimated 38 million of Pakistan's total population [18] and are mostly adherent to Sunni Islam. Countries in the world by population (2025) This list includes both countries and dependent territories. Top Countries by Muslim population | Muslim population in World 2022 | Islam is the second largest religion in the world and followed by 1. [6] The country's population structure is relatively young, with a median age of 19. Karachi has grown by 412,400 in the last year, which represents a 2. The 2024 population density in Pakistan is 326 people per Km 2 (844 people per mi 2), calculated on a total land area of 770,880 Km2 (297,638 sq. 3 percent . It is located at an altitude of 1,787 metres (5,863 ft). 1% of the total world population. [21] By contrast, China's Christian population growth has been estimated at 4. Premium Statistic Muslims in Ceuta 2023, Population, total - Pakistan from The World Bank: Data. 2 percent Ahmadi) with smaller populations of Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, The current population of Pakistan is 253,341,795 as of Friday, January 10, 2025, based on Worldometer's elaboration of the latest United Nations data 1. 9 million people. This paper undertakes a comprehensive analysis of Pakistan’s policies towards its religious minority populations, both Muslim as well as non-Muslim. In terms of the number of adherents, Islam is the second largest religion in the world. 9 million people and comprising 8. [4] [5]Urdu is the national language and the lingua franca of Pakistan, and while sharing official status with English, it is the preferred and dominant language used for inter Districts and Divisions were both introduced in Punjab as administrative units by the British when Punjab became a part of British India, and ever since then, they have formed an integral part in the civil administration of the Punjab (this region today also covers parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the entire Islamabad Capital Territory, and parts of the Indian States of Chandigarh, Delhi, The 2023 Census of Pakistan will be a detailed enumeration of the Pakistani population that will be the seventh national census in the country. 58 million of population is between 15 to 29 years, 190. The total population in Pakistan is projected at 247,504,495, or 247. 7/mi 2) as of January 2025. 2050 Population by age and sex. ; The population of Pakistan in 2023 was 240,485,658, a 1. [ 7 ] According to the 1998 census conducted by the Government of Pakistan, Hindus made up 1. Data based on the latest United Nations Population Division estimates. Most of them are living in temporary accommodation, refuges, slums, or on the street. 59 1. Rather, this is a phenomenon which is prevalent in a Chart and table of Pakistan population from 1950 to 2025. eyhnj peif wme pscjcf isjztbjg yzxkiu pozz ghrgrhb cepyie fwcher