Shikarpur’s voter registration rate stands at 53% of its estimated 2025 population — one percentage point below 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 1.97% inter-censal annual growth rate to Shikarpur’s census base population of 1,386,330, yielding an estimated 2025 population of 1,441,489. Registration rates are calculated by dividing the number of registered voters by this estimated population.

Voter registration in Shikarpur

The district has 759,544 registered voters — 402,334 males (53.0%) and 357,210 females (47.0%). Among males, 55% of the estimated population is registered; among females, 50%. Shikarpur ranks 67th out of 136 districts nationally by population size and is represented by one full and one shared National Assembly constituency (the latter split with an adjoining district).

By voter registration rate, Shikarpur ranks 64th nationally and 8th of 30 within Sindh.

Why registration trails the national ratio

Shikarpur’s below-average registration rate reflects the census enumeration pattern common across rural Sindh. In-migrants from surrounding villages and smaller districts are enumerated in Shikarpur at census time but remain registered as voters in their origin locality.

This inflates the census-based population denominator without a corresponding increase in the local voter roll. The effect is more pronounced where internal migration toward the district headquarters is ongoing.

Female voters constitute 47.0% of the registered electorate, reflecting a moderate gender gap of 5.9%. Targeted registration outreach for women in Shikarpur should remain a priority before the next general elections.

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