Attock
Attock District
Population: 2,170,423 (2023 census)
6 tehsils: Attock, Fateh Jang, Hasan Abdal, Hazro, Jand and Pindi Gheb
Attock District, Punjab: 2,170,423 people in the 2023 census, 6 tehsils, headquarters Attock.
Punjab is a province of Pakistan with its capital at Lahore. The 2023 census counted 127,688,922 people (52.87% of Pakistan) on 205,345 km², and 66.25% of residents aged 10 and over were literate.
| Capital | Lahore |
|---|---|
| Population (2023 census) | 127,688,922 |
| Share of Pakistan | 52.87% of 241,499,431 |
| Area | 205,345 km² |
| Density | 621.83 people per km² |
| Urban population | 40.71% |
| Population in 2017 | 109,989,655 |
| Annual growth 2017–2023 | 2.53% |
| Average household size | 6.4 |
| Sex ratio | 105.18 males per 100 females |
| Literacy rate (age 10+) | 66.25% · male 71.98% · female 60.19% |
| Districts | 41 in 10 divisions (September 2026) |
Punjab is Pakistan's second-largest and most densely populated province; Lahore, the provincial capital, lies near the Indian border. The present provincial boundaries were established in 1970 (Britannica).
Punjab is the cultural heartland of Sufi poetry, Qawwali, Bhangra and harvest festivals such as Basant. Major languages are Punjabi and Saraiki. Historic cities include Lahore, Multan and Taxila.
Highest number of universities and colleges in the country, including University of the Punjab, UET Lahore and UVAS.
Dense public hospital network in northern and central districts; southern Punjab still needs more specialists.
Urban crowding in Lahore and Faisalabad, smog, groundwater stress, and the need to expand technical education in southern districts.
Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur
Full list: districts of Punjab → · All provinces and territories →
Among the 31 current districts with their own 2023 census row, the most populous are Lahore District (13,004,135), Faisalabad District (9,075,819) and Rahim Yar Khan District (5,564,703). The largest by area are Bahawalpur District (24,830 km²), Rajanpur District (12,318 km²) and Rahim Yar Khan District (11,880 km²). Literacy ranges from 36.09% in Rajanpur District to 81.37% in Gujrat 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: 2,170,423 (2023 census)
6 tehsils: Attock, Fateh Jang, Hasan Abdal, Hazro, Jand and Pindi Gheb
Attock District, Punjab: 2,170,423 people in the 2023 census, 6 tehsils, headquarters Attock.
Population: 3,550,342 (2023 census)
5 tehsils: Bahawalnagar, Chishtian, Fort Abbas, Haroonabad and Minchinabad
Punjab district east of the Sutlej River, once part of the princely state of Bahawalpur.
Population: 4,284,964 (2023 census)
6 tehsils: Ahmadpur East, Bahawalpur City, Bahawalpur Saddar, Hasilpur, Khairpur Tamewali and Yazman
Largest district of Punjab by area; its headquarters city was founded in 1748 by Muhammad Bahawal Khan and was the capital of the nawabs of Bahawalpur.
Population: 1,957,470 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Bhakkar, Darya Khan, Kalur Kot and Mankera
Bhakkar District, Punjab: 1,957,470 people in the 2023 census, 4 tehsils, headquarters Bhakkar.
Population: 1,734,854 (2023 census, pre-split)
Chakwal District, Punjab: 1,734,854 people in the 2023 census, 5 tehsils, headquarters Chakwal.
Population: 1,563,024 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Bhawana, Chiniot and Lalian
Chiniot District, Punjab: 1,563,024 people in the 2023 census, 3 tehsils, headquarters Chiniot.
Population: 3,393,705 (2023 census, pre-split)
Punjab district whose headquarters, founded by Ghazi Khan, was rebuilt in 1911 after an Indus flood.
Population: 9,075,819 (2023 census)
6 tehsils: Chak Jhumra, Faisalabad City, Faisalabad Sadar, Jaranwala, Sammundri and Tandlian Wala
Punjab district whose headquarters, founded in 1890 and named after Sir Charles James Lyall, was formerly called Lyallpur.
Population: 5,959,750 (2023 census, pre-split)
Punjab district on the Grand Trunk Road; Gujranwala city was the birthplace and early capital of Ranjit Singh.
Population: 3,219,375 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Gujrat, Kharian and Sarai Alamgir
Punjab district between the Chenab and Jhelum rivers; Gujrat city grew around a fort built by Akbar in 1580.
Population: 1,319,909 (2023 census)
2 tehsils: Hafizabad and Pindi Bhattian
Hafizabad District, Punjab: 1,319,909 people in the 2023 census, 2 tehsils, headquarters Hafizabad.
Population: 3,065,639 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: 18-Hazari, Ahmadpur Sial, Jhang and Shorkot
Punjab district whose headquarters, Jhang Sadar, combines the historic twin towns of Jhang and Maghiana east of the Chenab.
Population: 1,382,308 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Dina, Jhelum, Pind Dadan Khan and Sohawa
Punjab district on the Jhelum River; the old town across the river may have been Bucephala, founded by Alexander the Great.
Population: 4,084,286 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Chunian, Kasur, Kot Radha Kishan and Pattoki
Punjab district on the Indian border about 50 km south of Lahore; Kasur city grew from 26 fortified hamlets.
Population: 3,364,077 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Jahanian, Kabirwala, Khanewal and Mian Channu
Khanewal District, Punjab: 3,364,077 people in the 2023 census, 4 tehsils, headquarters Khanewal.
Population: 1,501,089 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Khushab, Noor Pur, Nowshera and Quaidabad
Khushab District, Punjab: 1,501,089 people in the 2023 census, 4 tehsils, headquarters Jauharabad.
Dera Ghazi Khan Division district formed from Kot Addu and Chowk Sarwar Shaheed tehsils of Muzaffargarh; notified in December 2024.
Population: 13,004,135 (2023 census)
5 tehsils: Lahore Cantt, Lahore City, Model Town, Raiwind and Shalimar
Capital of Punjab and the second-largest city of Pakistan, on the Ravi River; home to the Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.
Population: 2,102,386 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Choubara, Karor Lal Esan and Layyah
Layyah District, Punjab: 2,102,386 people in the 2023 census, 3 tehsils, headquarters Layyah.
Population: 1,928,299 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Dunyapur, Kahror Pacca and Lodhran
Lodhran District, Punjab: 1,928,299 people in the 2023 census, 3 tehsils, headquarters Lodhran.
Population: 1,829,486 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Malakwal, Mandi Bahauddin and Phalia
Mandi Bahauddin District, Punjab: 1,829,486 people in the 2023 census, 3 tehsils, headquarters Mandi Bahauddin.
Population: 1,798,268 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Isakhel, Mianwali and Piplan
Punjab district whose headquarters, founded in 1868, lies just east of the Indus River.
Population: 5,362,305 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Jalalpur Pirwala, Multan City, Multan Saddar and Shujabad
Punjab district whose headquarters, one of the oldest cities of the subcontinent, is known for its shrines, including that of Shah Rukn-e-Alam.
Hill district of Rawalpindi Division formed from Murree and Kotli Sattian tehsils of Rawalpindi; confirmed in the December 2024 notification.
Population: 5,015,325 (2023 census, pre-split)
Muzaffargarh District, Punjab: 5,015,325 people in the 2023 census, 5 tehsils, headquarters Muzaffargarh.
Population: 1,634,871 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Nankana Sahib, Sangla Hill and Shah Kot
Punjab district whose headquarters, Nankana Sahib (formerly Rai Bhoi di Talvandi), is the birthplace of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism.
Population: 1,950,954 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Narowal, Shakargarh and Zafarwal
Narowal District, Punjab: 1,950,954 people in the 2023 census, 3 tehsils, headquarters Narowal.
Population: 3,515,490 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Depalpur, Okara and Renala Khurd
Okara District, Punjab: 3,515,490 people in the 2023 census, 3 tehsils, headquarters Okara.
Population: 2,136,170 (2023 census)
2 tehsils: Arif Wala and Pakpattan
Pakpattan District, Punjab: 2,136,170 people in the 2023 census, 2 tehsils, headquarters Pakpattan.
Population: 5,564,703 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Khanpur, Liaquat Pur, Rahim Yar Khan and Sadiqabad
Punjab district whose headquarters was founded in 1751 as Naushehra and renamed Rahim Yar Khan in 1881.
Population: 2,381,049 (2023 census)
Rajanpur District, Punjab: 2,381,049 people in the 2023 census, 4 administrative units, headquarters Rajanpur.
Population: 6,118,911 (2023 census, pre-split)
Punjab district whose headquarters, Rawalpindi, was the capital of Pakistan from 1959 to 1969 and is the army headquarters.
Population: 2,881,811 (2023 census)
2 tehsils: Chichawatni and Sahiwal
Punjab district whose headquarters, founded in 1865 as Montgomery, was renamed Sahiwal in 1969; Harappa lies to its southwest.
Population: 4,334,448 (2023 census)
7 tehsils: Bhalwal, Bhera, Kot Momin, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Shahpur and Sillanwali
Punjab district whose headquarters was founded in 1903 as the headquarters of the Lower Jhelum Canal colony.
Population: 4,049,418 (2023 census)
5 tehsils: Ferozewala, Muridke, Safdarabad, Sharak Pur and Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura District, Punjab: 4,049,418 people in the 2023 census, 5 tehsils, headquarters Sheikhupura.
Population: 4,499,394 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Daska, Pasrur, Sambrial and Sialkot
Punjab district whose headquarters, Sialkot, is the birthplace of Muhammad Iqbal and a centre of sporting-goods manufacture.
Rawalpindi Division district formed from Talagang and Lawa tehsils of Chakwal; approved in October 2022 and confirmed in December 2024.
Dera Ghazi Khan Division district with Taunsa, Wehova and Koh-e-Suleman tehsils, formed from Dera Ghazi Khan; notified in December 2024.
Population: 2,524,044 (2023 census)
4 tehsils: Gojra, Kamalia, Pirmahal and Toba Tek Singh
Toba Tek Singh District, Punjab: 2,524,044 people in the 2023 census, 4 tehsils, headquarters Toba Tek Singh.
Population: 3,430,421 (2023 census)
3 tehsils: Burewala, Mailsi and Vehari
Vehari District, Punjab: 3,430,421 people in the 2023 census, 3 tehsils, headquarters Vehari.
Gujrat Division district formed from Wazirabad tehsil of Gujranwala in October 2022, with Wazirabad and Alipur Chatha tehsils.
41 districts in 10 divisions, as of September 2026. Punjab government notification of the administrative structure (reported 1 January 2026): 10 divisions, 41 districts, 156 tehsils.
Lahore. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
The 2023 census counted 127,688,922 people, up from 109,989,655 in 2017 (annual growth 2.53%). (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics)
205,345 km², with 621.83 people per km² in 2023. (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics)
66.25% of people aged 10 and over were literate in the 2023 census (male 71.98%, female 60.19%). (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics)
41 districts in 10 divisions, as of September 2026. (SUNO News)
پنجاب کا دارالحکومت لاہور ہے۔ 2023 کی مردم شماری کے مطابق آبادی 127,688,922 اور رقبہ 205,345 مربع کلومیٹر ہے۔ 10 سال اور زائد عمر کے افراد میں شرح خواندگی 66.25 فیصد ہے (پاکستان ادارۂ شماریات)۔