According to estimates prepared by the National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS) for 1995, the population in district Mastung is 200,000 and it is growing at a rate of 3% per annum.

 Major abnormalities in the estimates of population have been witnessed and certain reasons have been put forward to explain this situation.

Firstly, for political and economic benefit, e.g. for the allocation of development funds, vested interest groups exaggerate their number. Secondly, there is a tendency among the rural population to conceal the number of females. thirdly, there is no proper registration system to register the births and deaths, particularly in rural areas, although Municipal Committees and Union Councils keep such records. However, the majority of the rural population has not yet realised the importance of registration.

The population growth pattern in Mastung district has rapidly changed during the last 23 years. In 1972, the reported population of Mastung was 74,887 which grew to 132,044 in 1981. The average annual growth rate during 1972-1981 was 6.9% for Mastung and 7.3% for Mastung including Kalat. The estimated population in 1995 was 200,000. During the last 25 years the population has increased by 167%. Now the population is two and a half times more than in 1972. This clearly indicates that birth rate has remained very high. Comparing the percentage population growth of Mastung district, Balochistan and Pakistan during 1981-1995 (based on NIPS) we note that it was 3.0%, 3.9% and 2.9% respectively. It appears that the population growth was higher than the national average, but substantially lower than the provincial average.

According to the 1981 census the male/female ratio was 103 males for 100 females (1.03). The number of males was 66,835 against 65,209 females.

Infants (below 1 year) were 3.06%. The adult population (i.e. 18 years and above) was 48.95% and the population eligible to vote (i.e. 21 years and above) was 41.36%. The number of women of child bearing age (15 – 49 years) was 59.62% of the female population. The dependent population was about 50% and adult population was about 49%.

The census of 1981 defines "a household as a person or a group of persons living together and eating from the same kitchen and using the same budget, whether or not related to each other". According to this source, household size in Mastung district in 1981 was 7 persons. Due to shortage of houses and high rents people are faced to live under joint family system both in rural as well s in urban areas. However, vast improvements in the living conditions have been observed in Mastung district. This may be due to the demonstration effect and the effects of mass media.

In 1981, the total population of the district was 132,000, of which 87.51% lived in rural areas. Of the rural population 49.1% was female. Only 12.49% of the total population resided in urban areas; 51.4% of them were females. To avert rural-urban migration, it is essential that rural life is made more attractive and the difference in rural and urban income should be narrowed down through government policies.

More than 4/5 of the population lives in rural areas. The population density in 1981 was 22.4 person per sq. km and estimated to have increased to 34 persons per sq. km in 1995. In Mastung there are 280 villages. They are small and lie scattered over the district. They normally range from 10 to 250 households.

Some of the tribal people annually migrate during winter with their families and small ruminants towards Kachhi (Bolan district), Jacobabad and Larkana. Some of the migrants own land in Kachhi, but the majority goes there to find pasture land for their flocks. Some go to find jobs. Migration to other countries is very limited. Migration starts in October and continues till November. The migrants return again to Mastung in March. A large number of people also go to Panjgur district at the time the date crop can be harvested there. Most migrants are men; women represent only 17.7% of all migrants.