A study reveals that only a small fraction of Pakistanis frequented restaurants in the past year, highlighting a significant trend in the nation’s dining habits.

A mere 26% of the population reported eating at establishments like restaurants or hotels, according to a survey conducted by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan.

Of those who did venture out for meals, the vast majority, 85%, did so infrequently, either occasionally or rarely. A much smaller segment, 13%, reported dining out often. A significant portion of the surveyed population, 64%, stated they hadn”t eaten out at all in the last year, while 10% remained uncertain or chose not to answer.

The nationally representative survey, commissioned by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan, an affiliate of Gallup International, polled 724 adults across urban and rural areas in all four provinces. Data was gathered through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) between April 16th and April 30th, 2025. The research boasts a margin of error of approximately ± 2-3 percent at a 95% confidence level. Participants were asked if they had consumed “food from outside (like from restaurants, hotels, etc.)” within the past year. The study was published by the Gilani Research Foundation.