Kohat District | Facts & Overview

Kohat is an important district located in the Kohat Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The city of Kohat serves as the administrative headquarters and capital of the district. A large majority of the population belongs to the Bangash tribe, forming a strong Pashtun cultural identity in the region. Kohat District covers a total area of about 2,545 square kilometers and is administratively divided into two tehsils: Kohat Tehsil and Lachi Tehsil.

Kohat Tehsil spans approximately 1,414 square kilometers, while Lachi Tehsil covers around 1,131 square kilometers. The district features a mix of urban settlements, rural landscapes, and hilly terrain, contributing to its strategic and cultural significance in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

History of Kohat

Kohat District has a long and layered history shaped by ancient civilizations, regional kingdoms, and colonial rule. The area was part of the Gandhara civilization and later came under the influence of Hindu Shahi rulers. Over centuries, Kohat witnessed invasions by Muslim rulers, including the Ghaznavids and later the Mughals, which strengthened Islamic culture in the region.

In the early 19th century, Kohat came under Sikh control before being annexed by the British in 1849. During British rule, Kohat developed as a military cantonment. After 1947, it became part of Pakistan and evolved into an important administrative district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Population of Kohat District

According to the 2023 census, the population of Kohat District has reached 1,234,661, reflecting steady demographic growth over recent years. The district records an average household size of 7.27 persons, indicating a strong prevalence of joint and extended family systems. The annual population growth rate stands at 1.78 percent, showing moderate but consistent expansion. The total number of households in the district is 169,734, spread across both urban and rural areas.

In comparison, the 2017 census reported a population of 1,111,266, highlighting a noticeable increase over six years due to natural growth and gradual urbanization.

Villages of Kohat District

There are 141 rural localities / rural towns / villages in Kohat district. 42 of its villages / rural towns have population of 5000 and above, 46 localities have between 2000 to 4999 residents, while 23 villages have between 1000 to 1999 inhabitants. Here is the list of villages/ rural towns of Kohat.

S. No	Name of Village		Population (2017)	Male	Female
1	ALI ZAI		5,663	2,571	3,092
2	ARAZI NASRAT KH		1,322	622	700
3	CHAKAR KOT		4,784	2,382	2,402
4	DARVI KHEL		4,377	2,032	2,345
5	BARH		4,970	2,350	2,620
6	JABI		2,997	1,309	1,687
7	GARHI MAWAZ KHA		9,906	4,919	4,987
8	REGI SHINO KHEL		2,553	1,275	1,278
9	JANGLE MIR ASGH		4,767	2,136	2,630
10	CHICHANA		3,821	1,898	1,923
11	GADA KHEL(MUSLI		12,192	6,132	6,060
12	JARMA		42,569	21,310	21,256
13	LANDI KACHAI		1,752	859	893
14	MUSA KHEL		2,320	1,121	1,199
15	TORA WARI		1,427	676	751
16	MARAI BALA		3,783	1,931	1,852
17	MARAI PAYAN		2,932	1,429	1,502
18	BAMA		2,515	1,290	1,225
19	BORAKA		4,846	2,310	2,536
20	SHAHPUR		27,068	13,196	13,871
21	CHILI BADA BER		1,094	509	585
22	JAB GABRO		66	35	31
23	KHADI ZAI		9,868	4,776	5,090
24	SHER KOT		1,728	854	874
25	SUMARI BALA		2,589	1,224	1,365
26	SUMARI PAYAN		7,954	3,805	4,147
27	CHAMBAI		7,283	3,473	3,810
28	KAMAR DHAND		3,902	1,897	2,002
29	SUR GUL		11,377	5,338	6,036
30	BAQI ZAI		10,544	5,119	5,425
31	MIRO ZAI		9,893	5,058	4,835
32	TAPI		21,893	11,029	10,864
33	USTURZAI BALA		4,828	2,224	2,604
34	USTURZAI PAYAN		8,391	4,105	4,279
35	BAHADUR KOT		7,844	3,886	3,958
36	BEZADI CHAKAR K		4,396	2,118	2,277
37	KURD		10,886	5,459	5,426
38	BILI TANG		24,197	11,842	12,351
39	GANDIVALI BALA		4,789	2,306	2,482
40	GANDIVALI PAYAN		6,317	3,060	3,257
41	GAHMGOL SHARIF		153	84	69
42	KHARMATU		35,720	17,450	18,263
43	KOT		8,999	4,479	4,519
44	KALU CHANA		1,747	842	904
45	MIAN KHEL MIR AH		6,966	3,667	3,299
46	MOHD ZAI		30,641	14,941	15,698
47	BANDA MIRZA HAS		2,392	1,159	1,233
48	KAGHAZI		5,792	2,829	2,963
49	NASRAT KHEL		6,725	3,105	3,620
50	BAZID KHEL		9,103	4,447	4,656
51	CHAK MALAYAN		2,098	1,045	1,053
52	SHEIKHAN		8,987	4,641	4,343
53	TOGH BALA		44,344	21,901	22,442
54	CHOR LAKI		10,360	5,075	5,283
55	JABBAR		6,168	3,057	3,111
56	KERI SHEIKHAN		2,056	1,017	1,039
57	BAHAWAL GARH		721	366	355
58	BANDA ABDUSSAM		847	397	450
59	BANDA MUSA KHA		828	413	415
60	DODHA		11,666	5,661	6,005
61	GHURE ZAI PAYAN		8,071	3,827	4,243
62	GUMBAT		20,427	9,750	10,676
63	TOLANG		5,188	2,506	2,682
64	DAUD KHEL		4,138	2,049	2,087
65	KAMAL KHEL		7,301	3,705	3,596
66	KHUSHAL GARH		2,732	1,334	1,398
67	QAMAR		1,497	733	764
68	QASABA		243	109	134
69	KANDAR		2,238	1,106	1,130
70	NAKBAND		7,718	3,772	3,945
71	PAR SHAI		9,219	4,498	4,721
72	RESI, KOHAT		532	268	264
73	TILKAN		1,879	911	968
74	TOI BANDA		67	41	26
75	MANDA KHEL		1,859	915	944
76	SHADI KHEL		7,511	3,736	3,775
77	MANDONI		6,731	3,174	3,556
78	PASTA CHANDA		3,051	1,422	1,629
79	SAIN		854	380	474
80	SHADI PUR		2,403	1,160	1,243
81	TORASATTI		3,175	1,545	1,630
82	KATA KANA		1,252	583	669
83	KOTERI		2,087	985	1,102
84	MARCHONG		1,326	635	691
85	SIAB		9,602	4,532	5,070
86	DRASITA KHEL		1,499	705	794
87	KHAWAJA KHEL		2,381	1,131	1,250
88	ZIARAT SHEIKH AL		2,745	1,335	1,410
89	ALI KATCH		862	407	455
90	CHISHMI MIANGAN		–	–	–
91	DARMALAK		3,000	1,491	1,509
92	GHURE ZAI BALA		1,028	532	496
93	GHURZANDI		3,162	1,548	1,614
94	HOTI		594	306	288
95	WALAI		2,533	1,269	1,264
96	BANDA BATHERAN		1,392	653	739
97	GUL SHAH KHEL		2,931	1,514	1,416
98	KHADAR KHEL		2,769	1,365	1,404
99	MAHMANDI		2,006	1,036	970
100	MAN KHEL		2,822	1,395	1,427
101	MANDOORI		7,954	4,071	3,883
102	BANDA FATEH KHA		1,812	951	861
103	HINDKI BANDA		1,878	930	948
104	KHANDA FATEH KH		1,028	448	580
105	LACHI BALA		4,670	2,296	2,374
106	LACHI PAYAN		183	132	51
107	CHAGHA GHANDA		3,847	1,944	1,902
108	DARABO KATCH		441	221	220
109	DARTAPI		3,051	1,492	1,559
110	MALGIN		2,426	1,150	1,276
111	TARVA BERA		1,452	711	741
112	WAR SHAND		5,945	3,057	2,887
113	WIROSOSAM		1,085	542	542
114	BRAGHZI KALAN		2,060	991	1,069
115	DHAND GUZARA N		754	376	378
116	DOOPAR		144	69	75
117	JANAK		312	144	168
118	NANDRAKHA		5,085	2,347	2,738
119	SHAKAR DARA NO.		2,044	1,008	1,036
120	SHARKI		360	185	175
121	ZERKOHI		377	185	192
122	BADDO		147	71	76
123	BORI, KOHAT		1,502	715	787
124	CHORLACKY		2,170	951	1,219
125	DHAND NO. 1		11,690	5,714	5,976
126	RAKH SOBAN		18	11	7
127	RAKH TOPI		55	27	28
128	RAKHWAN		1,522	771	751
129	SHAKAR DARA NO.		843	394	449
130	TORA JOGI WALA		57	23	34
131	BARGHAZI KHURD		711	336	375
132	CHAK ALWARD		439	214	225
133	CHAK PAYAL                –			–	–
134	DOLI BANDA       1,274			625	649
135	KARBOGHI GORA K		142	81	61
136	KERERO SAM		2,493	1,217	1,276
137	SAWERI BANDA		318	178	140
138	SHAHZADI BANDA		214	113	101
139	SHEWAKI		3,016	1,452	1,562
140	SOODAL		3,606	1,790	1,816
141	TAKHT		1,835	935	900

Kohat Map | Location: