Sargodha Population (2023 Census)
Population searches for Sargodha often return mixed numbers because people quote the city, the district and the division interchangeably. They are three different areas, so here are all three, taken from the 2023 census.
Last updated: October 2026
Quick answer
At the 2023 census, Sargodha city had 975,886 people, Sargodha District had 4,334,448, and Sargodha Division, which includes Khushab, Mianwali and Bhakkar, had 9,591,275. The city is the sixth-largest in Punjab and the eleventh-largest in Pakistan.
Key facts
- City (2023)
- 975,886
- District (2023)
- 4,334,448
- Division (2023)
- 9,591,275
- City rank
- 6th in Punjab, 11th in Pakistan
- City growth 2017-2023
- about 11.8%
- Density (city)
- about 6,300 per sq km
Three different populations: city, district and division
Sargodha city is the urban centre and the number most people mean when they search for the population of Sargodha: 975,886 at the 2023 census. Sargodha District is the larger administrative area around it, with seven tehsils and 4,334,448 residents, of whom 37.13 per cent live in urban areas. Sargodha Division is the largest unit and combines four districts for a total of 9,591,275 people.
There is one more figure you may see. The urban population of Sargodha Tehsil was recorded at 1,050,707, which is higher than the city figure because it counts a wider urban area. When comparing sources, check which of these definitions is being used.
How the city population has grown
The city roughly doubled between the 1998 and 2017 censuses, one of the fastest growth rates among Pakistani cities of its size. Growth between 2017 and 2023 was slower in percentage terms, at about 11.8 per cent over six years.
| Year | Population | Change from previous |
|---|---|---|
| 1941 | 36,000 | - |
| 1951 | 78,000 | +116.7% |
| 1961 | 130,000 | +66.7% |
| 1972 | 200,000 | +53.8% |
| 1981 | 291,000 | +45.5% |
| 1998 | 458,440 | +57.5% |
| 2017 | 872,557 | +90.3% |
| 2023 | 975,886 | +11.8% |
Population by tehsil in Sargodha District
Sargodha Tehsil alone holds about 41 per cent of the district's population. The district average density is about 740 people per square kilometre.
| Tehsil | Population | Area (sq km) |
|---|---|---|
| Sargodha | 1,800,455 | 1,536 |
| Kot Momin | 544,208 | 948 |
| Shahpur | 424,746 | 769 |
| Sahiwal | 407,487 | 829 |
| Bhalwal | 387,262 | 663 |
| Sillanwali | 385,887 | 607 |
| Bhera | 384,403 | 504 |
Population of Sargodha Division
| District | Population | Area (sq km) |
|---|---|---|
| Sargodha | 4,334,448 | 5,854 |
| Bhakkar | 1,957,470 | 8,153 |
| Mianwali | 1,798,268 | 5,840 |
| Khushab | 1,501,089 | 6,511 |
Languages and religion
In Sargodha District, 90.8 per cent of people speak Punjabi as their first language, 7.6 per cent Urdu and 1.3 per cent Pashto. Within the urban part of Sargodha Tehsil, Punjabi is spoken by about 79.6 per cent and Urdu by 18.5 per cent. Local Punjabi is usually described as the Shahpuri dialect.
In the district, 98.03 per cent of the population is Muslim and 1.86 per cent Christian. In the urban population of Sargodha Tehsil, Muslims are about 95.3 per cent and Christians about 4.6 per cent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sargodha?
The 2023 census recorded 975,886 people in Sargodha city, 4,334,448 in Sargodha District and 9,591,275 in Sargodha Division.
What was the population of Sargodha in 2017?
The 2017 census recorded 872,557 people in the city. The 2023 figure of 975,886 is about 11.8 per cent higher.
How big is Sargodha compared with other cities?
Sargodha is the sixth-largest city in Punjab and the eleventh-largest in Pakistan by 2023 census population.
What language do people speak in Sargodha?
Mostly Punjabi, in the Shahpuri dialect. Urdu is the second language, and Pashto is spoken by a small minority.
Which tehsil of Sargodha has the most people?
Sargodha Tehsil, with 1,800,455 people in 2023, about 41 per cent of the district.