Search “total population of Islamabad” and you will find three different answers. All of them are correct — they just measure different things. This page gives you every official figure from the 2023 census, clearly labelled, so you can quote the right number with confidence.
Quick answer: The total population of Islamabad is 2,363,863 (Islamabad Capital Territory, 2023 census). The city proper: 1,108,872. The twin-cities metropolitan area (with Rawalpindi): over 5.7 million. Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Census 2023.
In this guide
Every Total, Side by Side
| Geography | 2023 Population | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad city | 1,108,872 | Metropolitan Corporation — the planned urban core |
| Islamabad Capital Territory | 2,363,863 | City + rural areas, villages, suburbs (906.5 km²) |
| Twin-cities metro | 5,700,000+ | Islamabad + Rawalpindi functional urban area |
All census figures are from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ 2023 census publications, including the District Census Report for Islamabad. The twin-cities figure reflects the combined functional metropolitan area.
Which Figure to Use
- Writing about the capital city? Use 1.11 million — and note it ranks 10th in Pakistan.
- Writing about the federal territory? Use 2.36 million — the figure most sources mean by “Islamabad’s population”.
- Writing about the urban economy or commute shed? Use 5.7 million+ for the twin cities.
Mixing them up is the most common error in reporting on the capital. For the full story — growth drivers, density and history — see our Islamabad population landing guide and the population explainer. For the seat of the government these people are administered from, see Secretariat Islamabad: the complete guide.
How the Total Changed Over Time
The territory’s census history: 118,000 (1961) → 238,000 (1972) → 340,000 (1981) → 805,000 (1998) → 2,003,368 (2017) → 2,363,863 (2023). The great surge came between 1981 and 2017, when the population nearly sextupled; the 2017–2023 intercensal increase was 18%, adding about 360,000 people in six years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total population of Islamabad?
2,363,863 for the Islamabad Capital Territory (2023 census). The city proper is 1,108,872; the twin-cities metro with Rawalpindi exceeds 5.7 million.
What was Islamabad’s population in 2017?
2,003,368 in the Capital Territory — the 2023 figure is 18% higher.
Is the 2.36 million figure for the city or the territory?
The territory. The city proper (Metropolitan Corporation) is 1.11 million.
Where do these figures come from?
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Census 2023 — principally the District Census Report for Islamabad.
, 1,108,872 (city), 5.7M+ twin cities - every official 2023 census figure, clearly labelled.){kind=link}