Area:

74,521 km²(28,773 sq mi)

Population

Population and Development are interrelated. Demographic patterns and population control and welfare measures may be integrated into comprehensive social and economic plans and programmes. There integration should be reflected in the goals instrumentalities. Development objectives and strategies to be followed in the National planning areas. A brief description of generation of demographic data is as follows:

Population Censuses

Since independence of this country, five Population Censuses have been conducted. First decennial Population Census of Pakistan was conducted during the period from 9th to 28th February 1951, the second from 12th to 31st, January 1961, the third from 16th to 30th September 1972, the fourth from 1st March to 15th March 1981 and the fifth from 2nd March to 18 March 1998. Inter censal period have been taken as 10 years, 11.62 years, 8.46 years, between 1951 and 1961 Censuses, 1961 and 1972 Censuses and 1972 to 1981 Censuses respectively. The fifth decennial Census was conducted after a lapse of 17 years.

The fifth decennial Population Census was preceded by a full-fledged Housing Census. The Census figures covered the Population, residing in Pakistan on 1st March 1998 excluding the Afghan Refugees living in Camps.

The NWFP Population as per Pakistan Census Report is 17743645 and per NWFP Census Report is 17735912, which is contradictory on the part of Population Census Organization. However all the statistics in this publication are based on the NWFP Census Report 1998.

The NWFP Population constitutes 13.40% of the population of Pakistan as per 1998 Census as compared to 13.13% in 1981 Census. The Population of this Province has increased at an average Annual Growth Rate of 2.82% as compared to National Growth Rate of 2.69%.

The Population and its rate of increase and Annual Growth Rates since 1951 are as under:

S.No.	Year of Census	Population	Inter Censal Increase (%)	Annual Growth Rate (%)
1.	1951	4556545	-	-
2.	1961	5730991	25.77	2.34
3.	1972	8388551	46.37	3.32
4.	1981	11061328	31.86	3.32
5.	1998	17735912	60.34	2.82
6.	1951-1998	-	289.24	2.93

There is a marked decrease in the Inter Censal Growth Rate of NWFP (81-98) as compared to (61-72) and (72-81) Growth Rates.

 

At the time of the 1998 Census, there were 24 Districts as compared to the 12 Districts in 1981 Census. The Districts are divided into Tehsils/Sub-Divisions. Each Tehsil is divided into Qanungo circles, Qanungo circles into Patwar circles and Patwar circle, into Mouzas (Revenue Estates). In Buner, Shangla, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Chitral, Malakand Agency and Kohistan District, each Tehsil/Sub-Division is, however, divided into Union councils and Union councils into villages.

The sex ratio (Males per hundred Females) in 1981 was 109, which is now 105 in 1998 Census and has registered decline. The population density has increased to 238 persons per Sq.Km in 1998 Census from 148 persons per Sq.Km in 1981.