Awaran
Awaran District
Population: 178,958 (2023 census)
Awaran District, Balochistan: 178,958 people in the 2023 census, 5 administrative units, headquarters Awaran.
Balochistan is a province of Pakistan with its capital at Quetta. The 2023 census counted 14,894,402 people (6.17% of Pakistan) on 347,190 km², and 42.01% of residents aged 10 and over were literate.
| Capital | Quetta |
|---|---|
| Population (2023 census) | 14,894,402 |
| Share of Pakistan | 6.17% of 241,499,431 |
| Area | 347,190 km² |
| Density | 42.90 people per km² |
| Urban population | 30.96% |
| Population in 2017 | 12,335,129 |
| Annual growth 2017–2023 | 3.20% |
| Average household size | 6.4 |
| Sex ratio | 109.02 males per 100 females |
| Literacy rate (age 10+) | 42.01% · male 50.50% · female 32.80% |
| Districts | 41 in 11 divisions (September 2026) |
Balochistan became a separate province in its present form in 1970. It is the largest and most sparsely populated province of Pakistan, and its capital is Quetta (Britannica).
Largest province by area. Baloch and Brahui traditions, juniper forests of Ziarat, Makran coast and the historic Quetta valley.
University of Balochistan and BUITEMS in Quetta are the main campuses; more district colleges are being added.
BMC Quetta is the main teaching hospital. Many districts still have limited specialist cover.
Low population density, water scarcity, school access for girls in remote tehsils, and long travel times to hospitals.
Quetta, Gwadar, Turbat, Khuzdar, Ziarat
Full list: districts of Balochistan → · All provinces and territories →
Among the 26 current districts with their own 2023 census row, the most populous are Nasirabad District (563,315), Panjgur District (509,781) and Chaman District (466,218). The largest by area are Chagai District (44,748 km²), Washuk District (33,093 km²) and Awaran District (29,510 km²). Literacy ranges from 21.58% in Washuk District to 57.12% in Nushki District. Figures are from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics 2023 census, Tables 1 and 12; districts split after the census are left out of this comparison.
Population: 178,958 (2023 census)
Awaran District, Balochistan: 178,958 people in the 2023 census, 5 administrative units, headquarters Awaran.
Population: 210,249 (2023 census)
Single-tehsil district of Koh-i-Suleman Division, separated from Loralai on 31 December 1991; 210,249 people in the 2023 census.
Barshore (Barshor) District was approved by the Balochistan cabinet in early 2026 and is part of the new Pishin Division. The 8 July 2026 notification upgraded Barshore to a tehsil and created the Toba Kakari sub-division and tehsil in the district.
Population: 269,192 (2023 census)
Largest district of Pakistan by area (44,748 km²), in north-west Balochistan; home of the Saindak and Reko Diq copper-gold projects.
Population: 466,218 (2023 census)
Balochistan border district created in June 2021 from Qilla Abdullah, made up of Chaman city and Saddar Chaman.
Population: 205,044 (2023 census)
Coal-mining district of northern Balochistan, upgraded from a sub-division of Loralai to a district with effect from 1 August 2017.
Population: 305,160 (2023 census)
Balochistan coastal district; Gwadar town, on the Arabian Sea, was part of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman from 1797 until 1958.
Population: 127,571 (2023 census)
Harnai District, Balochistan: 127,571 people in the 2023 census, 3 administrative units, headquarters Harnai.
Lasbela Division district notified in September 2022 from Lasbela, with Hub, Dureji and Sonmiani (Winder) sub-divisions.
Population: 594,558 (2023 census, pre-split)
Jafarabad District, Balochistan: 594,558 people in the 2023 census, 3 administrative units, headquarters Dera Allah Yar.
Population: 203,368 (2023 census)
Jhal Magsi District, Balochistan: 203,368 people in the 2023 census, 3 administrative units, headquarters Gandawa.
Population: 442,674 (2023 census)
Kachhi District, Balochistan: 442,674 people in the 2023 census, 6 administrative units, headquarters Dhadar.
Population: 271,560 (2023 census)
Balochistan district whose headquarters was the capital of the Khans of Kalat; the region became part of Pakistan in 1948.
Population: 857,118 (2023 census)
Balochistan district whose headquarters, Turbat, lies on the Kech River; Tump and Mand were separated as Tump District in 2026.
Population: 260,352 (2023 census)
Balochistan desert district; Kharan town, a former caravan depot, lies about 10 km from the Baddo River.
Population: 997,214 (2023 census, 2023)
Balochistan district whose headquarters lies on the Kolachi River, on the main road between Kalat and Karachi.
Population: 260,220 (2023 census)
Kohlu District, Balochistan: 260,220 people in the 2023 census, 5 administrative units, headquarters Kohlu.
Population: 680,977 (2023 census, pre-split)
Lasbela District, Balochistan: 680,977 people in the 2023 census, 9 administrative units, headquarters Uthal.
Population: 272,432 (2023 census)
Balochistan district headquartered at Loralai town (founded 1886); headquarters of Loralai Division since 2021.
Population: 313,271 (2023 census)
Mastung District, Balochistan: 313,271 people in the 2023 census, 4 administrative units, headquarters Mastung.
Population: 182,275 (2023 census)
Musakhel District, Balochistan: 182,275 people in the 2023 census, 6 administrative units, headquarters Musakhel.
Population: 563,315 (2023 census)
Nasirabad District, Balochistan: 563,315 people in the 2023 census, 6 administrative units, headquarters Dera Murad Jamali.
North Dera Bugti was created as Upper Dera Bugti when Dera Bugti District was divided in February 2026, with its headquarters at Baiker (Bekhar), and was renamed North Dera Bugti by the 8 July 2026 notification. It is part of the new Koh-i-Suleman Division.
Population: 207,834 (2023 census)
Nushki District, Balochistan: 207,834 people in the 2023 census, 2 administrative units, headquarters Nushki.
Population: 509,781 (2023 census)
Balochistan district whose headquarters lies on the south bank of the Rakhshan River in the Siahan Range.
Population: 835,482 (2023 census, pre-split)
Balochistan district north of Quetta, drained by the Pishin Lora; Pishin town was founded by the British in 1883.
Population: 361,971 (2023 census)
Balochistan district of Qilla Abdullah, Gulistan and Dobandi tehsils; Chaman was separated from it as a district in 2021.
Population: 380,200 (2023 census)
Zhob Division district with headquarters at Qilla Saifullah; the 2023 census counted 380,200 people on 6,831 km².
Quetta East is one of the two districts formed when Quetta District was divided along the railway line by the 8 July 2026 notification. It comprises the Saddar, City and Sariab sub-divisions.
Quetta West is one of the two districts formed when Quetta District was divided along the railway line by the 8 July 2026 notification. It comprises the Kuchlak sub-division and the newly created Brewery and Panjpai sub-divisions, with a new Brewery tehsil.
Population: 191,687 (2023 census)
Zhob Division district with headquarters at Sherani; the 2023 census counted 191,687 people on 4,310 km².
Population: 224,148 (2023 census)
Sevi Division district with headquarters at Sibi; the 2023 census counted 224,148 people on 7,121 km².
Population: 240,106 (2023 census)
Naseerabad Division district with headquarters at Sohbatpur; the 2023 census counted 240,106 people on 802 km².
South Dera Bugti is the remainder of the former Dera Bugti District after Upper (now North) Dera Bugti was separated in 2026. The 8 July 2026 notification renamed it from Lower Dera Bugti and placed it in Sevi (Sibi) Division.
Population: 279,038 (2023 census, 2023)
Khuzdar Division district, made a district with effect from 1 August 2017.
Population: 203,813 (2023 census)
Tump District was carved out of Kech by a Revenue Department notification of 24 February 2026, with its headquarters at Tump. It consists of the Tump and Mand sub-divisions and tehsils, in Makuran (Makran) Division.
Naseerabad Division district formed from Jafarabad; the Balochistan cabinet approved it in June 2022.
Wadh District was separated from Khuzdar by the 8 July 2026 notification and contains the Wadh, Ornach and Nal sub-divisions. It is part of the new Khuzdar Division.
Population: 302,623 (2023 census)
Rakhshan Division district with headquarters at Washuk; the 2023 census counted 302,623 people on 33,093 km².
Population: 355,692 (2023 census)
Zhob Division district on the Zhob River; its headquarters, originally Apozai, was called Fort Sandeman from 1889 until the 1970s.
Population: 189,535 (2023 census)
Loralai Division district with headquarters at Ziarat; the 2023 census counted 189,535 people on 3,301 km².
41 districts in 11 divisions, as of September 2026. Balochistan Revenue Department notification of 8 July 2026: 11 divisions and 41 districts (up from 8 divisions and 36 districts).
These pages are kept for reference and are not included in the count above.
Now North Dera Bugti District and South Dera Bugti District.
Dera Bugti District was divided in February 2026 into Upper and Lower Dera Bugti, renamed North Dera Bugti and South Dera Bugti by the notification of 8 July 2026. This page covers the undivided district; the 2023 census figures below are for the whole of it.
Now Quetta East District and Quetta West District.
Quetta District was divided into Quetta East and Quetta West along the railway line by the Balochistan Revenue Department notification of 8 July 2026. This page covers the undivided district; the 2023 census figures below are for the whole of it.
Quetta. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
The 2023 census counted 14,894,402 people, up from 12,335,129 in 2017 (annual growth 3.20%). (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics)
347,190 km², with 42.90 people per km² in 2023. (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics)
42.01% of people aged 10 and over were literate in the 2023 census (male 50.50%, female 32.80%). (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics)
41 districts in 11 divisions, as of September 2026. (Dawn)
بلوچستان کا دارالحکومت کوئٹہ ہے۔ 2023 کی مردم شماری کے مطابق آبادی 14,894,402 اور رقبہ 347,190 مربع کلومیٹر ہے۔ 10 سال اور زائد عمر کے افراد میں شرح خواندگی 42.01 فیصد ہے (پاکستان ادارۂ شماریات)۔