Demographics of Rawalpindi District
The demographics of Rawalpindi District, a district of Punjab in Pakistan, has undergone significant changes over the years. It has been affected by turmoil in the surrounding districts.
1901 census
The 1901 census was carried out during the period of British rule. The population of the district in 1901 was 558,699, and the area of the district at the time was 6,192 square kilometres.[1]
The main Hindu tribes of Rawalpindi district were Brahmins ( particularly Mohyal Sarswat Brahmins) and Khatris.
The main Muslim tribes after some of the Hindu Tribes of Rawalpindi District some converted to Islam were the Chauhans, Awans, Abbassi, Dhanyals, Gakhars, Gujjars, Jats, Kashmiris, Khattar, Paracha, Rajputs, Pathans,and Sayyid.[2][clarification needed]
According to the census of 1901, the population of the main tribes were: Awan (38,768), Dhund Abbasis (23,462), Gakhars (13,328), Gujjars (25,953), Janjua Rajputs (7,557), Jats (34,556), Khattar (1,014). Miscellaneous Dhanyal (3,991), Satti (5,343) and Sayyid(12,508) were also present.
1941 census
Religion of Rawalpindi District in 1941[3]
According to the 1941 Indian census Muslims numbered around 628,913, at 80% of the total population, while Hindus and Sikhs numbered 82,178 (10.50%) and 64,127 (8.17%) respectively.[4]
| Religion | Population (1941)[5]: 42 | Percentage (1941) |
|---|---|---|
Islam 
|
628,193 | 80% |
Hinduism 
|
82,478 | 10.5% |
Sikhism 
|
64,127 | 8.17% |
Christianity 
|
4,212 | 0.54% |
| Others [a] | 6,221 | 0.79% |
| Total Population | 785,231 | 100% |
After independence
The predominantly Muslim population supported the Muslim League and Pakistan Movement.
After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Rawalpindi District.[6] Kashmir and other areas arrived in Rawalpindi.[7]
While it is accepted that the population of urban Rawalpindi has been transformed since independence, the rural population in the Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, Kotli Sattian, Gujar Khan and Murree Tehsils are still overwhelmingly populated by the tribes referred to in the 1901 census.[8]
1998 census
According to the 1998 census the population of the district was 3,363,911 of which 53.03% were urban.
2017 census
In the 2017 census the population of the district was 5,405,633 of which 54.% were urban, making Rawalpindi the second most urbanised district in Punjab.[9]
Language
At the time of the 1998 census of Pakistan, the following were the demographics of the Rawalpindi district, by first language:[10]
At the time of the 2017 Census of Pakistan, the distribution of the population of Rawalpindi District by first language was as follows:[11]
- 68.7% Punjabi
- 10.9% Pashto
- 10.2% Urdu
- 3.2% Hindko
- 1.8% Kashmiri
- 1.0% Saraiki
- 0.2% Sindhi
- 0.1% Brahui
- 0.1% Balochi
- 4.0% Others
See also
References
- ^ Rāwalpindi Division - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 262
- ^ District Gazetteer of Rawalpindi District
- ^ "Pakistan Geotagging: Partition of Punjab in 1947". 3 October 2014.
- ^ Rāwalpindi District Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 266.
- ^ "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VI PUNJAB PROVINCE". Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ Troubling historical roots
- ^ Residents of Auqaf houses threaten siege of parliament
- ^ ELECTIONS 2002 (Rawalpindi Division)
- ^ District Profile: Northern Punjab - Rawalpindi Archived May 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 1998 District Census report of Rawalpindi. Census publication. Vol. 23. Islamabad: Population Census Organization, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan. 1999. p. 44.
- ^ Census-2017 - Detailed Tables
- ^ Including Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated