Like-for-like census comparison
Islamabad District vs Rawalpindi District
Compare Islamabad and Rawalpindi using official 2023 census data. Population: 2,363,863 people versus 6,118,911 people, plus literacy, growth, density and urban share.
At a glance
| Measure | Islamabad | Rawalpindi | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population2023 | 2,363,863 people | 6,118,911 people | Rawalpindi: 2.6× |
| Population growth a year2023 | 2.80% | 2.10% | Islamabad: 0.70 percentage points higher |
| Area2023 | 906 sq km | 5,285 sq km | Rawalpindi: 5.8× |
| People per sq km2023 | 2,609.1 | 1,157.8 | Islamabad: 2.3× |
| Share living in towns and cities2023 | 46.9% | 68.8% | Rawalpindi: 21.9 percentage points higher |
| People per household2023 | 5.7 | 6.1 | Rawalpindi: 1.1× |
| Literacy rate (age 10+)2023 | 84.0% | 83.2% | Islamabad: 0.7 percentage points higher |
| Female literacy rate (age 10+)2023 | 79.1% | 78.4% | Islamabad: 0.8 percentage points higher |
| Out-of-school children (age 5–16)2023 | 89,127 children | 239,415 children | Rawalpindi: 2.7× |
What stands out
For population, Rawalpindi: 2.6× (2,363,863 people versus 6,118,911 people).
For literacy rate (age 10+), Islamabad: 0.7 percentage points higher (84.0% versus 83.2%).
For people per sq km, Islamabad: 2.3× (2,609.1 versus 1,157.8).
Values describe administrative areas at the 2023 census. They should not be read as current estimates or as a score of which place is “better”.
Questions about this comparison
- Which has more people, Islamabad or Rawalpindi?
- For population, Rawalpindi: 2.6× (2,363,863 people versus 6,118,911 people).
- Is this a like-for-like comparison?
- Yes. Both places are district-level census units and every row uses the same indicator definition and source period.
- Are these city populations?
- No. These are administrative district totals. A district may include a central city, other urban areas and rural settlements.