Gilgit Population 2026

Gilgit has a population of 216,760, making it the #58 biggest city in 🇵🇰 Pakistan, located in Gilgit-Baltistan. Roughly 0.1% of Pakistan's population lives here. It is about 60× smaller than Lahore, the country's biggest city.

Location of Gilgit (capital Islamabad shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

216,760

Rank in Pakistan

#58

Coordinates

35.92°N, 74.31°E

~1,467 m elevation · Asia/Karachi

Distance to capital (Islamabad)

270 km

168 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Gilgit-Baltistan

City	Population	Rank in Pakistan
Skardu	260,000	#48
Jaglot	27,000	#287
Karimabad	16,000	#355

Cities near Gilgit

Jaglot27,000 people · ~38 km away
Karimabad16,000 people · ~55 km away
Skardu260,000 people · ~138 km away
Battagram700,000 people · ~181 km away
Muzaffarābād725,000 people · ~188 km away
Buni50,000 people · ~189 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Gilgit?

Gilgit has a population of 216,760 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #58 biggest city in Pakistan.

What region is Gilgit in?

Gilgit is located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

Is Gilgit the capital of Pakistan?

No, the capital of Pakistan is Islamabad, about 270 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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