Orakzai’s voter registration rate stands at 56% of its estimated 2025 population — two percentage points above the national ratio of 54%.

Methodology

These figures are drawn from district-wise electoral roll statistics released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on 30 December 2025. They are cross-referenced against population estimates derived from the 2023 Digital Census. The 2025 population estimate applies the 7.3% inter-censal annual growth rate to Orakzai’s census base population of 387,561, yielding an estimated 2025 population of 446,210. Registration rates are calculated by dividing the number of registered voters by this estimated population.

Voter registration in Orakzai

The district has 247,667 registered voters — 136,628 males (55.2%) and 111,039 females (44.8%). Among males, 58% of the estimated population is registered; among females, 53%. Orakzai ranks 107th out of 136 districts nationally by population size and is covered by one shared National Assembly seat (split with an adjoining district).

By voter registration rate, Orakzai ranks 45th nationally and 20th of 35 within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Why registration exceeds the national ratio

Two rules governing Pakistan’s 2023 Digital Census explain Orakzai’s above-average registration rate. First, household members absent for more than six months were not enumerated at their home address. Second, previous household members living elsewhere were recorded at their present address, not the origin household.

Labour migration — including significant movement to urban centres and abroad — draws a significant share of Orakzai’s permanent residents to major Pakistani cities and Gulf labour markets. These individuals were enumerated at their destination, not in Orakzai, at census time. They remain registered as voters in Orakzai on the basis of their permanent CNIC address. The population denominator is therefore smaller than the registered voter roll — producing a ratio above the national average.

Despite the above-average overall rate, a significant gender gap persists: female voters account for 44.8% of the registered electorate, with 25,589 more male than female registered voters. Targeted registration campaigns for women in Orakzai are needed ahead of the next general elections.

This post is part of FAFEN’s series on voter vs population ratio. Read more of this series here.