Upper Dir’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 2.27% inter-censal annual growth rate to Upper Dir’s census base population of 1,083,566, yielding an estimated 2025 population of 1,133,319. Registration rates are calculated by dividing the number of registered voters by this estimated population.

Voter registration in Upper Dir

The district has 635,428 registered voters — 350,036 males (55.1%) and 285,392 females (44.9%). Among males, 62% of the estimated population is registered; among females, 50%. Upper Dir ranks 79th out of 136 districts nationally by population size and is represented by one Member of the National Assembly.

By voter registration rate, Upper Dir ranks 41st nationally and 17th of 35 within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Why registration exceeds the national ratio

Two rules governing Pakistan’s 2023 Digital Census explain Upper Dir’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 Upper Dir’s permanent residents to major Pakistani cities and Gulf labour markets. These individuals were enumerated at their destination, not in Upper Dir, at census time. They remain registered as voters in Upper Dir 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 44.9% of the registered electorate, with 64,644 more male than female registered voters. Targeted registration campaigns for women in Upper Dir 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.