Since independence, four population censuses have been conducted: in the years 1951, 1961, 1972 and 1981. The last census was due in 1991 but was not conducted because of some political reasons. The population of Khuzdar was estimated to be 424,450 in 1995. This population was only 72,671 in 1951. The increase in population in these 44 years (1951-95) is 584 percent, which seems a great burden on the under-exploited resources of the district.

The growth trends in Khuzdar district have ever been unpredictable. The annual growth rate rose from 0.2 percent in 1951-61 inter-census period to 6.7 in 1961-72 and to 7.3 in 1972-81. Then it suddenly decreased to 3.1 in the inter-census period 1981-95. These fluctuations are beyond explanation without availability of the vital statistics of the population.

In 1981, the sex ratio was 108 males per 100 females. The sum of single year population given by the 1981 District Census Report of Khuzdar is greater than the cumulative population figures given in the same report. The infant below the age of one year were 3.3 percent of the total population. The children below the age of 15 years were 45.7 percent of the population. The adult population (above 18 years of age) was 49.8 percent while the population eligible to vote (above 21 years of age) was 43.8 percent. The women of child bearing age (15-44 years) were 16.8 percent of the total population.

The married men and women constituted 36.2 and 36.3 percent, respectively, of the population of age 15 years and above. The rate of divorces was 0.3 percent and the percentage of widowed people was 5.6 percent and 21.6 percent of the population never got married.

In 1981, the total number of households was 46,884 and the average household size in the district was 5.9 . For 1995, the average household size was projected to be 6.4.

The total dependent population (persons below 15 years and above 65 years of age) was 48.4 percent of the total population. Although the dependent population is less than half the population, in a population where females are hardly allowed to participate in productive sectors, the actual dependency rate increases to about 70 percent.

Khuzdar is an agriculture based society, where the majority of the population resides in rural areas and is involved in agriculture and livestock activities. In 1981, the only urban locality was the town of Khuzdar with a population of 30,887, which constituted 11.2 percent of the total population. In 1972, only 2.3 percent of the district’s total population lived in Khuzdar town. The percentage of urban population was estimated to be 12.8 percent in 1995. The trend of urbanisation is due to unavailability of basic facilities, such as education, drinking water, job opportunities and other civic facilities, in the rural areas.

The population density was reported as 1.7 persons per sq.km. in 1915 and 1961 and 3.4 in 1972. In 1981, it was 6.4 persons per sq.km and estimated 9.8 in 1995. Khuzdar is a central town, where people from small towns and rural areas come in search of jobs and finally settle permanently. Other towns such as Nal, Karkh, Zehri, Wadh, Moola, Saroona and Aranji have less importance than Khuzdar. In 1981, there were 900 mauzas/villages in Khuzdar district.

The majority of the population is Brahvi. In 1981, there was a total of 46,884 households in the district. Brahvi was spoken in 81.6 percent of the households and Balochi was the language of 12.9 percent. The remaining 5.5 percent of the households spoke Sindhi, Pushto, Punjabi, Urdu, Saraiki and other languages. Some of the main tribes of Brahvis are: Zehri, Sumalani, Mengal, Kalandrani, Mohammad Hasni, Sajdi, Bizenjo, Nichari, Qambrani, Pandrani, Mirwani, Rekizai, Gurgnari, Jattak, Rodeni and Sasoli.

In the past, the majority of the population was nomadic. Now, most of the population has settled permanently. According to the 1981 census report, 1.5 percent of the total population migrated with the turn of the seasons. In spring and summer they wander with their flocks in the highlands in search of pasturage and in October and November they move to Kachhi, Sind and Lasbela where they supplement their livelihood by labour, they return to their homes in March. A good number of government officials serving in Khuzdar, reside in Quetta.

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