Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province of Pakistan with its capital at Peshawar. The 2023 census counted 40,856,097 people (16.92% of Pakistan) on 101,741 km², and 51.09% of residents aged 10 and over were literate.
| Capital | Peshawar |
|---|---|
| Population (2023 census) | 40,856,097 |
| Share of Pakistan | 16.92% of 241,499,431 |
| Area | 101,741 km² |
| Density | 401.57 people per km² |
| Urban population | 15.01% |
| Population in 2017 | 35,501,964 |
| Annual growth 2017–2023 | 2.38% |
| Average household size | 6.9 |
| Sex ratio | 104.18 males per 100 females |
| Literacy rate (age 10+) | 51.09% · male 64.57% · female 37.15% |
| Districts | 38 in 7 divisions (September 2026) |
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, formerly the North-West Frontier Province, has Peshawar as its capital and is divided by the Kabul River, which runs east to west (Britannica). The Federally Administered Tribal Areas were merged into the province when the 25th Constitutional Amendment was signed on 31 May 2018 (Dawn).
Pashtunwali hospitality, Attan dance, rabab music and historic passes of Khyber and Malakand. Former FATA agencies are now districts of KP.
University of Peshawar, UET Peshawar, AWKUM and Gomal University.
Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar is a major referral centre; remote districts rely on DHQ hospitals.
Mountain access, climate shocks, and integrating newly merged districts into the provincial service system.
Peshawar, Abbottabad, Swat, Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan
Full list: districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa → · All provinces and territories →
Among the 32 current districts with their own 2023 census row, the most populous are Peshawar District (4,758,762), Mardan District (2,744,898) and Swabi District (1,894,600). The largest by area are Upper Chitral District (8,392 km²), Lower Chitral District (6,458 km²) and Upper Kohistan District (5,440 km²). Literacy ranges from 18.8% in Kolai-Palas District to 77.34% in Abbottabad 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: 1,419,072 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Abbottabad, Havelian, Lora and Lower Tanawal
Hill district of Hazara whose headquarters, Abbottabad, was founded in 1853 and named after Major James Abbott; home of the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul.
Population: 1,287,960 (2023 census)
7 tehsils: Bar Chamer Kand, Barang, Khar Bajaur, Mamund, Nawagai, Salarzai and Utman Khel
Former FATA tribal agency, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Malakand Division) since the 2018 merger.
Population: 1,357,890 (2023 census)
District on the Kurram and Tochi rivers in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Bannu town was founded in 1848 as a military base by Herbert Edwardes.
Population: 1,130,354 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Matta, Bahrain and Khwazakhela
Bar Swat (Upper Swat) District, notified in January 2026 from the Matta, Bahrain and Khwazakhela tehsils of Swat; headquarters Matta.
Population: 554,133 (2023 census)
2 tehsils: Allai and Batagram
Battagram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 554,133 people in the 2023 census, 2 tehsils, headquarters Battagram.
Population: 1,016,869 (2023 census)
6 tehsils: Chagharzai, Daggar, Gadezai, Gagra, Khado Khel and Mandanr
Buner District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,016,869 people in the 2023 census, 6 tehsils, headquarters Daggar.
Population: 1,835,504 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Charsadda, Shabqadar and Tangi
Farming district of the Peshawar Valley; the Bala Hisar mound at Charsadda is identified with Pushkalavati, a one-time capital of Gandhara.
Population: 1,829,811 (2023 census, pre-split)
District on the west bank of the Indus in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; its headquarters town was named after Ismail Khan, son of the 15th-century Baloch chief who founded it.
Population: 528,902 (2023 census)
2 tehsils: Hangu and Tall
Hangu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 528,902 people in the 2023 census, 2 tehsils, headquarters Hangu.
Population: 1,174,783 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Ghazi, Haripur and Khanpur
Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,174,783 people in the 2023 census, 3 tehsils, headquarters Haripur.
Population: 815,878 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Banda Daud Shah, Karak and Takht-e-Nasrati
District south of Kohat that became separate on 1 July 1982; known for its rock salt, gypsum, oil and gas.
Population: 1,146,267 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Bara, Jamrud, Landi Kotal and Mulla Gori
Former FATA agency on the Khyber Pass, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Peshawar Division) since the 2018 merger.
Population: 1,234,661 (2023 census)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district whose headquarters stands at the entrance to the Kohat Pass; Darra Adam Khel is one of its sub-divisions.
Population: 280,162 (2023 census)
2 sub-divisions: Battaira and Palas
Kolai-Palas District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 280,162 people in the 2023 census, 2 administrative units, headquarters Kuz Paro / notified HQ.
Population: 785,434 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Central Kurram F.R, Lower Kurram and Upper Kurram
Former FATA tribal agency, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Kohat Division) since the 2018 merger.
Population: 1,040,856 (2023 census)
Lakki Marwat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,040,856 people in the 2023 census, 4 administrative units, headquarters Lakki Marwat.
Population: 320,407 (2023 census)
2 sub-divisions: Chitral and Drosh
Lower Chitral District, created when Chitral was divided in 2018; its headquarters is Chitral town on the Kunar (Chitral) River.
Population: 1,650,183 (2023 census)
4 sub-divisions: Adenzai, Lal Qila, Samarbagh and Temergara
Lower Dir District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,650,183 people in the 2023 census, 4 administrative units, headquarters Timergara.
Population: 340,017 (2023 census)
District created on 15 January 2014 when Kohistan was divided; its headquarters is Pattan.
Population: 826,250 (2023 census)
2 sub-divisions: Sam Rani Zai and Swat Rani Zai
Malakand District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 826,250 people in the 2023 census, 2 administrative units, headquarters Batkhela.
Population: 1,797,177 (2023 census)
5 tehsils: Baffa Pakhal, Balakot, Darband, Mansehra and Oghi
Hazara district whose headquarters lies on the Pakhli Plain; it includes the Kagan Valley and the Ashokan rock edicts near Mansehra town.
Population: 2,744,898 (2023 census)
5 tehsils: Ghari Kapoora, Katlang, Mardan, Rustam and Takht Bhai
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district on the Yusufzai plain; home to the Takht-i-Bahi Buddhist ruins and the Ashokan rock edicts at Shahbazgarhi.
Population: 553,933 (2023 census)
7 tehsils: Ambar Utman Khel, Halim Zai, Pindiali, Prang Ghar, Safi, Upper Mohmand and Yake Ghund
Former FATA tribal agency, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Peshawar Division) since the 2018 merger.
Population: 693,332 (2023 census)
9 tehsils: Datta Khel, Dossali, Gharyum, Ghulam Khan, Mir Ali, Miran Shah, Razmak, Shewa and Spinwam
Former FATA tribal agency, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Bannu Division) since the 2018 merger.
Population: 1,740,705 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Jehangira, Nowshera and Pabbi
Nowshera is a Kabul River and Grand Trunk Road district east of Peshawar, with cantonments at Nowshera, Risalpur and Cherat.
Population: 387,561 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Central, Ismail Zai, Lower and Upper
Orakzai is a hill district in Kohat Division. It was Orakzai Agency from 1973 until the 2018 merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
District created from Dera Ismail Khan in November 2025, made up of Paharpur and Paniyala tehsils with its headquarters at Paharpur.
Population: 4,758,762 (2023 census)
Capital district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Peshawar, once capital of Gandhara, lies near the Khyber Pass.
Population: 891,252 (2023 census)
5 tehsils: Alpuri, Bisham, Chakisar, Martung and Puran
Shangla District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 891,252 people in the 2023 census, 5 tehsils, headquarters Alpuri.
Ahmadzai Wazir-majority district formed in October 2022 from South Waziristan; headquarters Wana, four tehsils.
Mehsud-majority district formed in October 2022 from South Waziristan; headquarters Spinkai Raghazai, seven tehsils.
Population: 1,894,600 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Lahor, Razar, Swabi and Topi
Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,894,600 people in the 2023 census, 4 tehsils, headquarters Swabi.
Population: 1,557,030 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Babuzai, Kabal, Charbagh and Barikot
Former princely state on the Swat River; since January 2026 a district of four tehsils (Babuzai, Kabal, Charbagh and Barikot) with its headquarters at Gulkada.
Population: 470,293 (2023 census)
Tank District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 470,293 people in the 2023 census, 2 administrative units, headquarters Tank.
Population: 200,445 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Daur Mera, Judba and Khander
Torghar District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 200,445 people in the 2023 census, 3 tehsils, headquarters Judba.
Population: 195,528 (2023 census)
1 sub-division: Mastuj
Upper Chitral District, notified in November 2018 with its headquarters at Booni, made up of the Mastuj and Torkhow/Mulkhow sub-divisions.
Population: 1,083,566 (2023 census)
4 sub-divisions: Dir, Larjum, Sharingal and Wari
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district in the upper Panjkora valley, part of the former princely state of Dir; its headquarters is Dir town.
Population: 422,947 (2023 census)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district created in January 2014 when Kohistan was divided into Upper and Lower Kohistan.
38 districts in 7 divisions, as of September 2026. 35 districts in the PBS 2023 census tables (South Waziristan counted as one), plus the 2022 split of South Waziristan into Upper and Lower South Waziristan, Paharpur (notified 26 November 2025) and Bar Swat (notified 27 January 2026).
These pages are kept for reference and are not included in the count above.
Allai is a tehsil of Battagram District. A January 2023 notification giving it district status was not implemented; KP chief ministers announced district status again in May 2025 and February 2026, and in August 2026 it was still described as a tehsil to be upgraded. MyBook.Pk does not count it as a district until a notification is issued.
Peshawar. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
The 2023 census counted 40,856,097 people, up from 35,501,964 in 2017 (annual growth 2.38%). (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics)
101,741 km², with 401.57 people per km² in 2023. (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics)
51.09% of people aged 10 and over were literate in the 2023 census (male 64.57%, female 37.15%). (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics)
38 districts in 7 divisions, as of September 2026. (APP)
خیبر پختونخوا کا دارالحکومت پشاور ہے۔ 2023 کی مردم شماری کے مطابق آبادی 40,856,097 اور رقبہ 101,741 مربع کلومیٹر ہے۔ 10 سال اور زائد عمر کے افراد میں شرح خواندگی 51.09 فیصد ہے (پاکستان ادارۂ شماریات)۔