According to the 1951 census the population of Swat was 283,720, Buner 1,099,000, Shangla 108,000, in 1961 it was: Swat 344,860, Buner 123,000, and Shangla 127,000. In 1972: Swat stood at 520,610, Buner 188,000, Shangla 180,000. In the 1981 it was: Swat 715,940, Buner 266,000, and Shangla 252,000, while in 1998 it was: Swat 1,257,600, Buner 506,000 and Shangla 434,563. The average increase in the population every year is stated to be from 3 to 4 per cent.