Population Awaran
Awaran has witnessed a steady rise in population. During the 44 years from 1951 to 1995, the population of the area has increased 530 percent. This is an alarming situation. If no serious steps are taken to control the rapid growth of population it will badly affect development of the district. The whole population has always been rural.
|
|
1951 |
1961 |
1972 |
1981 |
1995 (projected) |
|
|
Population |
31,970 |
31,404 |
52,549 |
110,353 |
169,432 |
|
|
M/F ratio |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
1.2 |
n/a |
|
|
Population Density |
1.5 |
1.5 |
2.4 |
5.1 |
7.8 |
|
|
No. of Households |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
16,818 |
n/a |
|
|
No. of Female Headed Households |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
|
Average Household Size |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
6.6 |
n/a |
|
|
Percentage under 15 years |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
54.2 |
n/a |
|
|
Urban Population |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Rural Population |
31,970 |
31,893 |
51,918 |
110,353 |
169,432 |
|
|
M/F ratio Rural |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
1.2 |
n/a |
|
|
Source: |
1981 District Census Report of Khuzdar, NIPS & Population of Mauzas 1951-81 Censuses: Khuzdar District |
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|
POPULATION BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN DISTRIBUTION |
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|
1998 CENSUS BALOCHISTAN |
||||
|
Area |
Household |
Male |
Female |
Both Sexes |
|
AWARAN DISTRICT |
22,144 |
60,088 |
54,339 |
114,427 |
|
Rural |
22,144 |
60,088 |
54,339 |
114,427 |
|
Urban |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
AWARAN TEHSIL |
9,850 |
24,583 |
22,328 |
46,911 |
|
Rural |
9,850 |
24,583 |
22,328 |
46,911 |
|
Urban |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
MASHKAI SUB-TEHSIL |
6,540 |
17,817 |
16,308 |
34,125 |
|
Rural |
6,540 |
17,817 |
16,308 |
34,125 |
|
Urban |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
JHAL DAO SUB-TEHSIL |
5,754 |
17,688 |
15,703 |
33,391 |
|
Rural |
5,754 |
17,688 |
15,703 |
33,391 |
|
Urban |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Population Growth Pattern
The population of Awaran increased from 51,918 in 1972 to 110,353 in 1981 with an average annual growth rate of 8.7 percent. It is a significant increase from the growth rates (-0.2% and 4.5%) of previous inter-censal periods 1951-61 and 1961-72 respectively. The NIPS projection for 1995 shows an annual growth rate of 3.1 percent. The growth trends are hard to explain as other vital statistics are not known.
|
Source: |
1981 District Census Report of Khuzdar, NIPS & Population of Mauzas 1951-81 Censuses: Khuzdar District |
Population Composition
In 1981, the male/female ratio was 1.2 as the male and female population of the district was 60,252 and 50,101 respectively. The infants were 3.8 percent and children from 1 to 14 years were 50.4 percent. The adult population above 18 years was 38.7 percent and population eligible to vote (above 21 years of age) was 36.5 percent. The women of child bearing age (15-49 years) were 36.6 percent of the total female population. Although the male population of up to 25 years of age outnumber the female population in this stratum, the male population of age group 5-19 years is significantly higher than that of the females. These trends depict under-enumeration of females, on the one hand, and unreliability of the census data on the other hand.
|
Source: |
1981 District Census Report of Khuzdar |
Household Size
The average household size in the district was 6.6 in 1981, whereas it was projected to be 6.5 in 1991. This shows that there was hardly any change in the household size between 1981 to 1991.
Dependent Population
In 1981, the dependent population below 15 years of age was 54.2 percent of the total population while dependent population of 65 years of age and above was 3.0 percent. Male dependency was 58.8 percent and for females this ratio was 55.2 percent. The actual female dependency ratio is higher due to illiteracy. Socio-economic conditions, and the cultural values also effect the dependency ratio of the area. Of the total population (15 years and above), 17,557 males and 17,554 females were married in 1981. The reported ratio of divorce was 0.3 percent and widows were 3.0 percent of the total population.
Rural-Urban Dimensions
Awaran is the most underdeveloped district of Balochistan. No urban area exists in the district. Awaran is the only town in the district which has adopted some urban trends.
Spatial Population Distribution
Population density in 1981 was 5.1 person per square kilometre, whereas it was reported to be 2.4 in 1972. The estimated population density for 1995 was 7.8 persons per square kilometre. Majority of the population is residing in the three towns: Awaran, Mashkai and Jhal Jhao. Since Awaran town has been announced as district headquarters, people of the rural areas are very much interested to settle in this town.
Ethnic Composition
The major language in the district is Balochi, which is spoken in 92.2 percent of the total households followed by Brahvi (7.7%) and then by other languages including Pushto and Urdu (0.1%).
Nature and Extent of Migration
About 50 percent of the population of Awaran are nomads. Most of them depend on the produce of their flocks. The exceptions are those individuals that own sufficient arable irrigated land to support them. Some people go to Karachi in search of jobs. People also go to Kech, Gwadar, and Khuzdar in search of Jobs. The people of the Mashkai valley resort to Rakhshan and Raghae valleys with their flocks. There are no vital statistics available regarding migration. All the estimates are made on the basis of observation. People of the rural areas also want to live in Awaran town in search of a brighter future for their families as there is extreme poverty in the rural areas of Awaran district.