Since independence in 1947, four population census have been conducted in the following years: 1951, 1961, 1972 and 1981. The last census was due in 1991, but it was not conducted due to administrative and political problems. The National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS) has made projections of the population on district level for 1995.

The population of Kalat was estimated to be 316,787 in 1995. This population was only 36,142 in 1961 and 209,149 in the last census i.e. 1981, consisting of 104,740 males and 104,409 females. The increase over the last 35 years was 280,645 persons i.e. 776.5 percent. The projected figure for 1995 was based on a growth rate of 3% per annum.

The total population of Kalat district, which has been estimated on the basis of 1981 census, was 316,787 in the year 1995. The annual growth rate as projected by NIPS was 3.0 percent, while the growth rate for the province and the country was projected to be 3.9 and 2.9 percent respectively.

The male female ratio in 1961 was 116 male over hundred females which declined to 101 male over 100 females in 1981. The infants below one year were 3.4 percent, whereas children under 15 years were 47.8 percent. The adult population (above 18 years) was 47.1 percent. Population eligible for voting (above 21 year) was 40.6 percent. Women of child bearing age (15-49) were 38.9 percent of the female population. The statistics show that the age dependency ratio was 105.

According to the 1980 household survey, the household size in the district is 5.9. It shows that people of the area prefer a joint family system. The reasons behind such preference are tribal traditions, kinship, close family marriages and a poor economy. The crowding in terms of people per housing unit and per room were 7 and 3 respectively.

According to the census of 1981, the dependent population below 15 years and above 60 years were 55,751 males and 59,124 females (combined 54.9%). It should be remembered that Brahvi and Baloch women, irrespective of their age are dependent. It is obvious that the dependency ratio was very high. This is an alarming situation having deep implications. The higher the dependency ratio, the greater the burden on society.

According to the census of 1981, the urban population was 5,553 males and 5,484 females. The rural population was reported to be 99,187 males and 98,925 females. The percentage of urban population was estimated at 5.28% in 1981.

The district consists of five tehsils, 81 patwar circles and 614 Mauzas. All areas of the district were inhabited. The Mauza’s population varies between 60 to 800 persons. In some areas the density is less than 1 person per sq. kilometre. The over all density in the district was 32 persons per sq. kilometre in 1981. On the basis of the NIPS-projection it can be estimated that the density in 1995 was 48 persons per square kilometre. The highly populated areas of the district are Kalat and Mangochar. The rural areas are sparsely populated.

In Kalat district Brahvi speaking people (89%) have absolute majority, while 10% speak Balochi and only 1% Punjabi, Urdu and Seraiki. The main ethnic groups of Brahvi tribe are, Dehwar, Mengal, Pandrani, Mohammad Hassani, Shahwani, Bangulzai, Lehri and Langau.

People of Kalat, Mangochar and Johan are seasonal migrants. They migrate annually during winter, taking with them their families and flock. The tide of migration is entirely towards the east to the plains of district Bolan (Kachi) where some of the tribesmen possess land, but the majority go in search of pasture for their flocks, while in Bolan. These nomads engage themselves in crop cutting, camel hiring and other types of labor, and may find their way to different parts of Sind, especially Jacobabad and Larkana. The migration commences at the end of October and almost all the people move down by the end of November, after sowing the spring crop. Similarly, the seasonal migrants are the flock owners of Khuzdar who enter Kalat district early in the spring in search of pasture and return by the middle of summer after selling wool, carpets and other produce of their flocks.

According to the census of 1981 the migration ratio was only 1.6% of the total population. 76.3% of the migrants belonged to the rural areas and the remaining to urban areas. The male and female in-migrants were 82.3 % and 17.7% respectively. In the recent years the trend of migration among the youth and educated persons has increased. They migrate to Quetta or Khuzdar in search of jobs.

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