The figures in the table below refer to Bolan district only.

Source: 1972, 1981 Census and 1995 National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS) projection

The population of Balochistan increased at an average annual growth rate of 7.1 percent during the 1972-81 period (8 years and 5.5 months), whereas this rate was 5.1 percent during the period 1961-72. According to the District census report published by the Department of Population Census in 1981, the annual population growth rate of the areas now part of Bolan district ranged from 5.1 to 10 percent between the censuses of 1972 and 1981. According to the statistics of the Social Action Programme the population of Bolan district (as it constitutes today) has increased at an annual growth rate of approximately 6.2 percent since the 1981 elections. According to the NIPS projections the annual population growth of Bolan district is 3.0 percent. It is not clear, however, whether the huge migration from Bolan district during the last few years, due to lack of drinking water, is fully considered.

The population of urban areas has increased. The growth rate figures of Mach are the highest, because of migration into the area during the last two decades.

According to the 1981 census, the total population of the district was 237,133 that year, of which 121,348 females and 115,785 males. The male-female ratio indicates that Bolan is one of the few districts where women outnumber men, at least statistically.

The average household exists of 7 persons. In rural towns and villages there are houses with 11 to 17 family members. Poverty, close-family marriages and tribal homogeneity encourage the establishment of joint families more than nucleus ones. Literate families and families from marriages outside the family or tribe are less inclined to a joint family system.

In 1981, 109,055 children were under the age of 15, the age group from 15 to 60 totalled 118,499, and 9,579 people were over 60 years of age. This means that the so-called dependent population (those under 15 or over 60 years of age) accounted for 50 percent of the total population. However, within the given socio-cultural context all women of all ages may be considered dependent as well.

The large majority of Bolan people live in rural areas. According to the 1981 census, the urban population of 22,860 people accounts for only 9.6 percent of the total district population. Poor infrastructure in the rural areas and the subsequent isolated position of the rural population accounts for the relatively high number of joint families and a low literacy rate among the rural segments of the population.

The majority of the population is living in the centre part of the district with the north-western, the eastern and the south-western parts of the districts more sparsely populated. The population of the district, particularly in the rural areas, is loosely concentrated. Villages comprise only few houses lying far apart. This loose concentration of houses is a serious bottleneck for infrastructural development.

The urban areas are not very densely populated either. High-rise building is very rare.

In 1981, the population density was 29.5 individuals per sq.km. The projected spatial concentration for 1995 is 44.6 individuals per sq.km. However, because of the ongoing migration from the district, the actual population growth will probably be smaller.

Bolan is an ethnically heterogeneous district. The two major socio-linguistic groups are the Baloch and the Brauhi. The Balochi speaking group is made up of various tribes, the most important ones being the Rind, the Raisani, the Shawani, the Domki, the Syed and the Kurd. Each tribe is divided into a number of sub-tribes. They inhabit different villages and live in pockets. The Rind are predominantly Balochi speaking, although a large number of them can speak Sindhi. The Raisani are a predominantly Brauhi speaking tribe; though some of them can speak Balochi. Ethnically they have Pathan roots, but they claim to be Brauhi Baloch. The Domki and the Syeds speak Sindhi.

The Rind is the dominant Baloch ethnic group. Politically and ethnically, Rind tribe is quite influential in the area, which can be gauged from the fact that the National Assembly seat is always won by a Rind Sardar. The Rind are followed by the Jamoot. Socio-culturally they are akin to the Sindhi and they have Sindhi roots, but they claim to be Baloch. The Jamoot, who are also divided into a number of sub-tribes, are predominately Sindhi speaking. Beside these tribes, there is a small population of settlers and Pashtu speaking people. The Hindu population of the area are Sindhi and Balochi speaking.

Sindhi is the most widely spoken language in the area, followed by Balochi and Brauhi. Urdu is spoken as a medium of education or communication between people with different ethnic backgrounds. It is spoken and understood more often in urban areas than in rural areas. In rural areas, people predominantly speak regional languages.

Like in other districts of Balochistan, the pursuit of domicile in Bolan is on the basis of Locals and Domiciles. A Local is the one who belongs to one of the native/indigenous tribes of the area. A Domicile is one who is entitled to residency on the basis of his prolonged stay, property and family relationship. Rind, Jamoot, Jatooi, Raisani, Kurd, Syeds etc. are all Locals. There are a number of those who have settled in the district who include Siraki, Pashto and Punjabi speaking. There are a number of settlers from Sindh. A number of the Sindhi district population from the interior of Sindh has claimed to be Local. The Sindhi speaking Balochs are culturally akin to Sindhi people.

In summer, the population number is lower than in winter. People from the plains migrate to the hill areas in summer because of excessive heat. They move to the surroundings of Quetta, Kolpur and the moderate areas of Mach. They usually stay there for four months from June until October. In winter they migrate back. In winter, a large number of the Powandahs, a nomad people, migrates to the plains in search for water and pasture for their cattle. The majority of these Powandahs are not residents in the district.

Due to lack of water, a large number of residents have migrated from Bolan to cities in Sindh, searching for better opportunities of livelihood. This can be indicated by the fact that villages with many houses and big graveyards often have only a small number of people living in them. Though it cannot be proven by any research or statistical data, it is believed that the major factor accountable for this is the economic situation. Some sources say that 15 to 20 percent of the residents of Bolan district have moved away from the district for livelihood purpose. They usually come back to visit once a year.