Gujranwala District: Difference between revisions

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From the early 7th century, the Gujjar kingdoms began to dominate the northwestern region of ancient India. The district thrived during the Mughal era, particularly from Akbar's reign to that of Aurangzeb. During this period, wells were abundant throughout the area, and villages were densely populated across the southern plateau, which is now largely a barren expanse of grassland and scrub jungle. Remnants of this flourishing past can still be found in the most remote and desolate parts of the Bar. Additionally, the Punjab region saw a significant rise in Islam, largely due to the abduction and persecution of Hindus.
From the early 7th century, the Gujjar kingdoms began to dominate the northwestern region of ancient India. The district thrived during the Mughal era, particularly from Akbar's reign to that of Aurangzeb. During this period, wells were abundant throughout the area, and villages were densely populated across the southern plateau, which is now largely a barren expanse of grassland and scrub jungle. Remnants of this flourishing past can still be found in the most remote and desolate parts of the Bar. Additionally, the Punjab region saw a significant rise in Islam, largely due to the abduction and persecution of Hindus.
== Demographics ==
=== Population ===
{{Historical populations
|align=left
|percentages=pagr
|1951 |578179
|1961 |745393
|1972 |1245258
|1981 |1665872
|1998 |2756707
|2017 |5011066
|2023 |5959750
|footnote= Sources:<ref>{{cite web |title=Population by administrative units 1951-1998 |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/1998/administrative_units.pdf |publisher = [[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref> District was bifurcated in 2022
}}
According to the 2023 census, the remaining Gujranwala district comprises 706,796 households and has a total population of 4,966,338. The district exhibits a sex ratio of 103.96 males for every 100 females and boasts a literacy rate of 76.65%, with 77.94% for males and 75.31% for females. Notably, 1,322,407 individuals, or 26.73% of the surveyed population, are under the age of 10. Additionally, 3,224,962 people, accounting for 64.95%, reside in urban areas.
=== Religion ===
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Gujranwala district 2023 <ref name="religion2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/punjab/dcr/table_9.pdf |title=Population by Sex, Religion and Rural/Urban, Census - 2023 |publisher=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float = right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Punjabi Muslims|Islam]]|green|96.40}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|dodgerblue|3.49}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.11}}
}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religion in Gujranwala District
! rowspan="2" |[[Religion in Pakistan|Religious]]<br>group
! colspan="2" |1941<ref name="Census1941" />{{Efn|Gujranwala tehsil of erstwhile Gujranwala district, which roughly corresponds to the present district. District and tehsil borders may have shifted slightly over time.}}
! colspan="2" |2017<ref name=PBS>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk:80/sites/default/files/bwpsr/punjab/GUJRAT_SUMMARY.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 November 2018|website=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Government of Pakistan website|title=District And Tehsil Level Population Summary With Region Breakup|access-date=11 April 2023
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123201454/http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk:80/sites/default/files/bwpsr/punjab/GUJRAT_SUMMARY.pdf}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan Census 2023 Table 9: Punjab |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/punjab/dcr/table_9.pdf |website=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>
|-
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!Pop.
!%
|-
| [[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]]
|285,845
|61.31%
|4,024,927
|96.27%
|4,768,730
|96.40%
|-
|[[Sikhism in Pakistan|Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|19x19px]]
|76,035
|16.31%
|{{N/a}}
|{{N/a}}
|134
|~0%
|-
| [[Hinduism in Pakistan|Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]{{efn|name=ad-dharmi|1931-1941: Including [[Ad-Dharmi]]s}}
|58,343
|12.51%
|255
|0.01%
|916
|0.02%
|-
| [[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
|44,596
|9.56%
|150,943
|3.61%
|172,863
|3.49%
|-
|[[Ahmadiyya|Ahmadi]]
|{{N/a}}
|{{N/a}}
|4,432
|0.11%
|3,892
|0.08%
|-
| Others
|1,429
|0.31%
|237
|~0%
|226
|0.01%
|-
!Total Population
!466,248
!100%
!4,180,794
!{{Percentage | 2756289 | 2756289 | 2 }}
!4,946,761
!100%
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religious groups in Gujranwala District ([[British Punjab province]] era)
! rowspan="2" |[[Religion in India|Religious]]<br>group
! colspan="2" |1881<ref name="Census1881A">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057656 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057656 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I. |year=1881 }}</ref><ref name="Census1881B">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057657 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057657 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II. |year=1881 |pages=14 }}</ref><ref name="Census1881C">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057658 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057658 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. III. |year=1881 |pages=14 }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1891<ref name="Census1891">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25318669 |jstor=saoa.crl.25318669 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=The Punjab and its feudatories, part II--Imperial Tables and Supplementary Returns for the British Territory |year=1891 |pages=14}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1901<ref name="Census1901">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25363739 |jstor=saoa.crl.25363739 |access-date=23 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province. |year=1901 |pages=34}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1911<ref name="Census1911">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25393788 |jstor=saoa.crl.25393788 |access-date=23 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1911 |pages=27}}</ref><ref name="Census1911B">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62718 |access-date=23 March 2024 |title=Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II |year=1911 |pages=27 |author=Kaul, Harikishan}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1921<ref name="Census1921">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25430165 |jstor=saoa.crl.25430165 |access-date=23 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1921 |pages=29}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1931<ref name="Census1931">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25793242 |jstor=saoa.crl.25793242 |access-date=23 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1931 |pages=277}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1941<ref name="Census1941">{{cite web |year=1941 |title=Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.28215541 |pages=42 |jstor=saoa.crl.28215541 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
! [[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]]
| 452,640
| {{Percentage | 452640 | 616892 | 2 }}
| 475,494
| {{Percentage | 475494 | 690169 | 2 }}
| 531,908
| {{Percentage | 531908 | 756797 | 2 }}
| 622,430
| {{Percentage | 622430 | 923419 | 2 }}
| 443,147
| {{Percentage | 443147 | 623581 | 2 }}
| 521,343
| {{Percentage | 521343 | 736138 | 2 }}
| 642,706
| {{Percentage | 642706 | 912234 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]{{efn|name=ad-dharmi|1931-1941: Including [[Ad-Dharmi]]s}}
| 127,322
| {{Percentage | 127322 | 616892 | 2 }}
| 166,278
| {{Percentage | 166278 | 690169 | 2 }}
| 169,594
| {{Percentage | 169594 | 756797 | 2 }}
| 176,075
| {{Percentage | 176075 | 923419 | 2 }}
| 101,566
| {{Percentage | 101566 | 623581 | 2 }}
| 92,764
| {{Percentage | 92764 | 736138 | 2 }}
| 108,115
| {{Percentage | 108115 | 912234 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]]
| 36,159
| {{Percentage | 36159 | 616892 | 2 }}
| 45,316
| {{Percentage | 45316 | 690169 | 2 }}
| 51,607
| {{Percentage | 51607 | 756797 | 2 }}
| 107,748
| {{Percentage | 107748 | 923419 | 2 }}
| 50,802
| {{Percentage | 50802 | 623581 | 2 }}
| 71,595
| {{Percentage | 71595 | 736138 | 2 }}
| 99,139
| {{Percentage | 99139 | 912234 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Jainism]] [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg|15px]]
| 577
| {{Percentage | 577 | 616892 | 2 }}
| 727
| {{Percentage | 727 | 690169 | 2 }}
| 932
| {{Percentage | 932 | 756797 | 2 }}
| 950
| {{Percentage | 950 | 923419 | 2 }}
| 754
| {{Percentage | 754 | 623581 | 2 }}
| 1,071
| {{Percentage | 1071 | 736138 | 2 }}
| 1,445
| {{Percentage | 1445 | 912234 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
| 194
| {{Percentage | 194 | 616892 | 2 }}
| 2,353
| {{Percentage | 2353 | 690169 | 2 }}
| 2,748
| {{Percentage | 2748 | 756797 | 2 }}
| 16,215
| {{Percentage | 16215 | 923419 | 2 }}
| 27,308
| {{Percentage | 27308 | 623581 | 2 }}
| 49,364
| {{Percentage | 49364 | 736138 | 2 }}
| 60,829
| {{Percentage | 60829 | 912234 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Zoroastrianism]] [[File:Faravahar.svg|15px]]
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 616892 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 690169 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 756797 | 2 }}
| 1
| {{Percentage | 1 | 923419 | 2 }}
| 4
| {{Percentage | 4 | 623581 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 736138 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 912234 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Buddhism]] [[File:Dharma_Wheel_(2).svg|15px]]
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 616892 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 690169 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 756797 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 923419 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 623581 | 2 }}
| 1
| {{Percentage | 1 | 736138 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 912234 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Judaism]] [[File:Star_of_David.svg|15px]]
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 690169 | 2 }}
| 8
| {{Percentage | 8 | 756797 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 923419 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 623581 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 736138 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 912234 | 2 }}
|-
! Others
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 616892 | 2 }}
| 1
| {{Percentage | 1 | 690169 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 756797 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 923419 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 623581 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 736138 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 912234 | 2 }}
|-
! Total population
! 616,892
! {{Percentage | 616892 | 616892 | 2 }}
! 690,169
! {{Percentage | 690169 | 690169 | 2 }}
! 756,797
! {{Percentage | 756797 | 756797 | 2 }}
! 923,419
! {{Percentage | 923419 | 923419 | 2 }}
! 623,581
! {{Percentage | 623581 | 623581 | 2 }}
! 736,138
! {{Percentage | 736138 | 736138 | 2 }}
! 912,234
! {{Percentage | 912234 | 912234 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="15" | {{small|Note1: [[British Punjab province]] era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province region]] during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases. <br><br> Note2: Population decrease between 1911 and 1921 census due to the creation of [[Sheikhupura District]], as a result of the large population increase in the region, primarily due to the [[Punjab Canal Colonies#Chenab Colony|Chenab Canal Colony]].}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religion in the [[Tehsil]]s of Gujranwala District (1921)<ref name="Census1921"/>
! rowspan="2" |[[Tehsil]]
! colspan="2" |[[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Jainism]] [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |Others{{efn|name=othersC|Including [[Buddhism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Judaism]], [[Tribal religions in India|Tribals]], others, or not stated}}
! colspan="2" |Total
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
! Gujranwala Tehsil
| 181,657
| {{Percentage | 181657 | 294567 | 2 }}
| 53,392
| {{Percentage | 53392 | 294567 | 2 }}
| 38,299
| {{Percentage | 38299 | 294567 | 2 }}
| 20,496
| {{Percentage | 20496 | 294567 | 2 }}
| 723
| {{Percentage | 723 | 294567 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 294567 | 2 }}
! 294,567
! {{Percentage | 294567 | 294567 | 2 }}
|-
! Wazirabad Tehsil
| 109,652
| {{Percentage | 109652 | 146248 | 2 }}
| 23,699
| {{Percentage | 23699 | 146248 | 2 }}
| 6,893
| {{Percentage | 6893 | 146248 | 2 }}
| 5,973
| {{Percentage | 5973 | 146248 | 2 }}
| 27
| {{Percentage | 27 | 146248 | 2 }}
| 4
| {{Percentage | 4 | 146248 | 2 }}
! 146,248
! {{Percentage | 146248 | 146248 | 2 }}
|-
! Hafizabad Tehsil
| 151,838
| {{Percentage | 151838 | 182766 | 2 }}
| 24,475
| {{Percentage | 24475 | 182766 | 2 }}
| 5,610
| {{Percentage | 5610 | 182766 | 2 }}
| 839
| {{Percentage | 839 | 182766 | 2 }}
| 4
| {{Percentage | 4 | 182766 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 182766 | 2 }}
! 182,766
! {{Percentage | 182766 | 182766 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="15" | {{small|Note: [[British Punjab province]] era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province region]] during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religion in the [[Tehsil]]s of Gujranwala District (1941)<ref name="Census1941" />
! rowspan="2" |[[Tehsil]]
! colspan="2" |[[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]{{efn|name=ad-dharmi}}
! colspan="2" |[[Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Jainism]] [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |Others{{efn|name=othersB|Including [[Anglo-Indian people|Anglo-Indian Christians]], [[British Christianity|British Christians]], [[Buddhism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Judaism]], [[Tribal religions in India|Tribals]], others, or not stated}}
! colspan="2" |Total
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
! Gujranwala Tehsil
| 285,845
| {{Percentage | 285845 | 466248 | 2 }}
| 58,343
| {{Percentage | 58343 | 466248 | 2 }}
| 76,035
| {{Percentage | 76035 | 466248 | 2 }}
| 44,596
| {{Percentage | 44596 | 466248 | 2 }}
| 1,411
| {{Percentage | 1411 | 466248 | 2 }}
| 18
| {{Percentage | 18 | 466248 | 2 }}
! 466,248
! {{Percentage | 466248 | 466248 | 2 }}
|-
! Wazirabad Tehsil
| 157,961
| {{Percentage | 157961 | 205952 | 2 }}
| 22,451
| {{Percentage | 22451 | 205952 | 2 }}
| 13,543
| {{Percentage | 13543 | 205952 | 2 }}
| 11,829
| {{Percentage | 11829 | 205952 | 2 }}
| 18
| {{Percentage | 18 | 205952 | 2 }}
| 150
| {{Percentage | 150 | 205952 | 2 }}
! 205,952
! {{Percentage | 205952 | 205952 | 2 }}
|-
! Hafizabad Tehsil
| 198,900
| {{Percentage | 198900 | 240034 | 2 }}
| 27,321
| {{Percentage | 27321 | 240034 | 2 }}
| 9,561
| {{Percentage | 9561 | 240034 | 2 }}
| 3,955
| {{Percentage | 3955 | 240034 | 2 }}
| 16
| {{Percentage | 16 | 240034 | 2 }}
| 281
| {{Percentage | 281 | 240034 | 2 }}
! 240,034
! {{Percentage | 240034 | 240034 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="15" | {{small|Note1: [[British Punjab province]] era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province region]] during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.<br><br>Note2: [[Tehsil]] religious breakdown figures for Christianity only includes local Christians, labeled as "Indian Christians" on [[Census in British India|census]]. Does not include [[Anglo-Indian people|Anglo-Indian Christians]] or [[British Christianity|British Christians]], who were classified under "Other" category.}}
|}

Revision as of 19:05, 22 February 2025

Gujranwala district
Hindi: गुजराँवाला जनपद
ضلع گوجرانوالہ (Urdu)
District
Clock Tower view06, Link Hafizabad road Pigeon market, Gujranwala..jpg
Inner view of Baraari(bara dari) Sheranwala Garden,Gujranwala,Punjab ,Pakistan.jpg
Top: Gujranwala Clock Tower
Bottom: Baraari in Sheranwala Garden
Map of Punjab with Gujranwala District highlighted
Map of Punjab with Gujranwala District highlighted
Coordinates: 32°10′N 73°50′E / 32.167°N 73.833°E / 32.167; 73.833Coordinates: 32°10′N 73°50′E / 32.167°N 73.833°E / 32.167; 73.833
Country Pakistan
ProvinceTemplate:Country data Punjab
DivisionGujranwala
Established1852; 173 years ago (1852)
Founded byBritish Raj
HeadquartersGujranwala
Administrative Subdivisions
04
  • Gujranwala City Tehsil
    Gujranwala Saddar Tehsil
    Kamoke Tehsil
    Nowshera Virkan Tehsil
Government
 • TypeDistrict Administration
 • District Police OfficerN/A
 • District Health OfficerN/A
Area
[1]
 • District2,426 km2 (937 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)[2]
 • District4,966,338
 • Rank7th, Punjab
7th, Pakistan
 • Density2,000/km2 (5,300/sq mi)
 • Urban
3,224,962 (64.94%)
 • Rural
1,741,376 (35.06%)
Literacy
[3]
 • Literacy rate
  • Total:
    (76.65%)
  • Male:
    (77.94%)
  • Female:
    (75.31%)
Time zoneUTC+5 (PKT)
Area code055
Number of Tehsils4
LanguagesPunjabi (predominant, native)
Urdu (minority)
Websitegujranwala.punjab.gov.pk

Gujranwala District is located in the Majha region of Punjab, Pakistan. It shares its borders with the districts of Wazirabad, Sialkot, Hafizabad, and Sheikhupura. The district is represented by 5 National Assembly constituencies and 12 Punjab Assembly constituencies. Gujranwala is renowned as the "city of wrestlers" and is also famous for its diverse and delicious food offerings.

History

Gujranwala is part of the Majha region of Punjab. The village of Asarur is believed to be the site of Taki, an ancient town that was visited by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsiang, who noted the extensive ruins of Buddhist and Hindu origin present there. Following Tsiang's visit, little is documented about Gujranwala until the Islamic invasion led by Mahmud of Ghazni. By this time, Taki had faded into obscurity, while Lahore emerged as the capital of Punjab, eventually becoming the second capital of the Ghaznavids. Today, Asarur is recognised as the location of this ancient city.

From the early 7th century, the Gujjar kingdoms began to dominate the northwestern region of ancient India. The district thrived during the Mughal era, particularly from Akbar's reign to that of Aurangzeb. During this period, wells were abundant throughout the area, and villages were densely populated across the southern plateau, which is now largely a barren expanse of grassland and scrub jungle. Remnants of this flourishing past can still be found in the most remote and desolate parts of the Bar. Additionally, the Punjab region saw a significant rise in Islam, largely due to the abduction and persecution of Hindus.

Demographics

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1951 578,179—    
1961 745,393+2.57%
1972 1,245,258+4.78%
1981 1,665,872+3.29%
1998 2,756,707+3.01%
2017 5,011,066+3.20%
2023 5,959,750+2.93%
Sources:[4] District was bifurcated in 2022

According to the 2023 census, the remaining Gujranwala district comprises 706,796 households and has a total population of 4,966,338. The district exhibits a sex ratio of 103.96 males for every 100 females and boasts a literacy rate of 76.65%, with 77.94% for males and 75.31% for females. Notably, 1,322,407 individuals, or 26.73% of the surveyed population, are under the age of 10. Additionally, 3,224,962 people, accounting for 64.95%, reside in urban areas.

Religion

Religion in Gujranwala district 2023 [5]
Religion Percent
Islam
 
 96.40%
Christianity
 
 3.49%
Other or not stated
 
 0.11%
Religion in Gujranwala District
Religious
group 		1941[6][lower-alpha 1] 2017[7] 2023[8]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 285,845 61.31% 4,024,927 96.27% 4,768,730 96.40%
Sikhism Khanda.svg 76,035 16.31% N/A N/A 134 ~0%
Hinduism Om.svg[lower-alpha 2] 58,343 12.51% 255 0.01% 916 0.02%
Christianity Christian cross.svg 44,596 9.56% 150,943 3.61% 172,863 3.49%
Ahmadi N/A N/A 4,432 0.11% 3,892 0.08%
Others 1,429 0.31% 237 ~0% 226 0.01%
Total Population 466,248 100% 4,180,794 100% 4,946,761 100%
Religious groups in Gujranwala District (British Punjab province era)
Religious
group 		1881[9][10][11] 1891[12] 1901[13] 1911[14][15] 1921[16] 1931[17] 1941[6]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 452,640 73.37% 475,494 68.9% 531,908 70.28% 622,430 67.4% 443,147 71.06% 521,343 70.82% 642,706 70.45%
Hinduism Om.svg[lower-alpha 2] 127,322 20.64% 166,278 24.09% 169,594 22.41% 176,075 19.07% 101,566 16.29% 92,764 12.6% 108,115 11.85%
Sikhism Khanda.svg 36,159 5.86% 45,316 6.57% 51,607 6.82% 107,748 11.67% 50,802 8.15% 71,595 9.73% 99,139 10.87%
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 577 0.09% 727 0.11% 932 0.12% 950 0.1% 754 0.12% 1,071 0.15% 1,445 0.16%
Christianity Christian cross.svg 194 0.03% 2,353 0.34% 2,748 0.36% 16,215 1.76% 27,308 4.38% 49,364 6.71% 60,829 6.67%
Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 0% 4 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 0% 0 0%
Judaism Star of David.svg N/A N/A 0 0% 8 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Others 0 0% 1 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Total population 616,892 100% 690,169 100% 756,797 100% 923,419 100% 623,581 100% 736,138 100% 912,234 100%
Note1: British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.

Note2: Population decrease between 1911 and 1921 census due to the creation of Sheikhupura District, as a result of the large population increase in the region, primarily due to the Chenab Canal Colony.
Religion in the Tehsils of Gujranwala District (1921)[16]
Tehsil Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others[lower-alpha 3] Total
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Gujranwala Tehsil 181,657 61.67% 53,392 18.13% 38,299 13% 20,496 6.96% 723 0.25% 0 0% 294,567 100%
Wazirabad Tehsil 109,652 74.98% 23,699 16.2% 6,893 4.71% 5,973 4.08% 27 0.02% 4 0% 146,248 100%
Hafizabad Tehsil 151,838 83.08% 24,475 13.39% 5,610 3.07% 839 0.46% 4 0% 0 0% 182,766 100%
Note: British Punjab province era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.
Religion in the Tehsils of Gujranwala District (1941)[6]
Tehsil Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg[lower-alpha 2] Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others[lower-alpha 4] Total
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Gujranwala Tehsil 285,845 61.31% 58,343 12.51% 76,035 16.31% 44,596 9.56% 1,411 0.3% 18 0% 466,248 100%
Wazirabad Tehsil 157,961 76.7% 22,451 10.9% 13,543 6.58% 11,829 5.74% 18 0.01% 150 0.07% 205,952 100%
Hafizabad Tehsil 198,900 82.86% 27,321 11.38% 9,561 3.98% 3,955 1.65% 16 0.01% 281 0.12% 240,034 100%
Note1: British Punjab province era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.

Note2: Tehsil religious breakdown figures for Christianity only includes local Christians, labeled as "Indian Christians" on census. Does not include Anglo-Indian Christians or British Christians, who were classified under "Other" category.
  1. ↑ "Gujranwala | Punjab Portal". Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "Population by Mother Tongue, Sex and Rural/Urban, Census-2023" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
  3. ↑ "Literacy rate, enrolments, and out-of-school population by sex and rural/urban, CENSUS-2023" (PDF).
  4. ↑ "Population by administrative units 1951-1998" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
  5. ↑ "Population by Sex, Religion and Rural/Urban, Census - 2023" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab". 1941. p. 42. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215541. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "District And Tehsil Level Population Summary With Region Breakup" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Government of Pakistan website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "Pakistan Census 2023 Table 9: Punjab" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
  9. ↑ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I." 1881. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057656. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II". 1881. p. 14. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057657. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  11. ↑ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. III". 1881. p. 14. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057658. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "The Punjab and its feudatories, part II--Imperial Tables and Supplementary Returns for the British Territory". 1891. p. 14. JSTOR saoa.crl.25318669. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. p. 34. JSTOR saoa.crl.25363739. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  14. ↑ "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. p. 27. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393788. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  15. ↑ Kaul, Harikishan (1911). "Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II". p. 27. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. p. 29. JSTOR saoa.crl.25430165. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1931. p. 277. JSTOR saoa.crl.25793242. Retrieved 23 March 2024.


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