Mardan district is a major administrative district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan with the city of Mardan serving as its administrative headquarters. Historically part of the Yousafzai tribe, with it's plain land, the district is an important agricultural, commercial and cultural centre in the north-west of the country.
Mardan is located in the central part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa covering approximately 1,632 km², and bordered by Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshera, Malakand, and Buner districts. The district is situated in the fertile Peshawar Valley, which makes it agriculturally rich. Major rivers and canals pass through the district, including the Kalpani River, making irrigation widespread. The district landscape includes extensive irrigated plains used for intensive agriculture, with some low hills on the periphery; its location makes it an important transit and market area for surrounding rural tehsils.
Mardan has a large scale of population of approximately 2.5 million people, making it one of the most populous districts in KP. The population is predominantly rural, but Mardan city is rapidly urbanizing and is the second-largest city of the province after Peshawar. According to the 2023 Population and Housing Census, Mardan district’s population is 2,744,898 with about 400,859 households. The district remains predominantly rural (over 80% rural population) while the urban share is roughly 16–17%. These figures reflect continued population growth since the 2017 census.
The climate of Mardan is semi-arid with hot summers and mild winters. Summer temperatures can rise above 40°C, while winters are generally moderate with occasional rainfall. The monsoon season plays a vital role in agriculture, especially in the cultivation of tobacco, sugarcane, wheat, and maize.
Mardan has a rich cultural and historical heritage. It is home to the ancient Buddhist site of Takht-i-Bahi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Jamāl Garhi ruins. The famous Shahbaz Garhi rock edicts of Ashoka also lie within the district, highlighting its historical importance. Traditional Pashtun customs, hospitality, and festivals such as Eid, Jirga, sports and Hujra gatherings remain integral to social life.
The district is predominantly Pashtun; the Yousafzai are the principal tribe and form a significant social and cultural core. Other Pashtun clans and groups historically including Momand, Utmankhel and smaller groups also live in the district and contribute to its tribal and social mosaic. Traditional tribal structures, Jirgas and local customs continue to shape social life. The society is deeply rooted in Pashtunwali (the traditional Pashtun code of conduct), emphasizing values such as hospitality, honor, and courage.
Languages
Pashto is overwhelmingly the mother tongue of the district’s population over 90% of residents speaks in daily life, commerce and cultural expression. Urdu and English are used for official, educational and inter-ethnic communication as in other parts of the country.
District Statistics (Education & Literacy)
Mardan is considered one of the leading districts of KP in terms of literacy. The literacy rate stands at nearly 59%, with significant progress in both male and female education. The district has a growing number of schools, colleges, and higher education institutions. The district has a network of government and private schools, colleges, Universities and some vocational institutions, improving educational access.
Mardan hosts some of the most reputed institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These include Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), which is one of the largest universities in the province with multiple campuses, Women University Mardan, Bacha Khan Medical College, and Mardan Medical Complex Teaching Hospital. In addition, Government Postgraduate College Mardan, Agriculture Research Institute Mardan, and numerous public and private schools provide quality education. These institutions contribute significantly to higher education, research, and professional training in the region.
Agriculture is the economic backbone — major crops include wheat, maize, sugarcane, tobacco and various fruits like plum, orange, guava and pear. The district also has small-scale industry like marble extraction in the hills and established local markets (mandis) that serve a wider region. Mardan’s archaeological tourism (Takht-i-Bahi, Shahbaz Garhi, Mardan Museum) adds cultural and economic value.
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