Skardu Population 2026

Skardu has a population of 260,000, making it the #48 biggest city in 🇵🇰 Pakistan, located in Gilgit-Baltistan. Roughly 0.1% of Pakistan's population lives here. It is about 50× smaller than Lahore, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

260,000

Rank in Pakistan

#48

Coordinates

35.30°N, 75.63°E

~2,241 m elevation · Asia/Karachi

Distance to capital (Islamabad)

295 km

183 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Gilgit-Baltistan

City	Population	Rank in Pakistan
Gilgit	216,760	#58
Jaglot	27,000	#287
Karimabad	16,000	#355

Cities near Skardu

Jaglot27,000 people · ~101 km away
Gilgit216,760 people · ~138 km away
Karimabad16,000 people · ~144 km away
Muzaffarābād725,000 people · ~223 km away
Bāgh33,548 people · ~224 km away
Khai Gala19,119 people · ~231 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Skardu?

Skardu has a population of 260,000 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #48 biggest city in Pakistan.

What region is Skardu in?

Skardu is located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

Is Skardu the capital of Pakistan?

No, the capital of Pakistan is Islamabad, about 295 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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