View source for Muzaffargarh District

{{pp-pc1}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Muzaffargarh District
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = {{Nastaliq|ضِلع مُظفّرگڑھ}}
| native_name_lang   = ur
| settlement_type    = [[List of districts in Punjab, Pakistan|District]] of [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
|size = 250
|photo1a = Beautiful Tomb of Sheikh Sadan located near District Muzaffargarh ,Pakistan. 02.jpeg
|photo2a = Field in Muzaffargarh.jpg
}}
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Top: Tomb of Sheikh Sadan<br>Bottom: Fields in Muzaffargarh district
| image_blank_emblem = District Government Muzaffargarh.jpg
| blank_emblem_type  = District Government logo
| blank_emblem_alt   = District Government Muzaffargarh
| image_map          = Pakistan - Punjab - Muzaffargarh.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Map of Muzaffargarh District highlighted in red
| coordinates        = {{coord|30|4|10|N|71|11|39|E|region:PK_type:adm3rd_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flagu|Pakistan}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Pakistan|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flagicon|Punjab, Pakistan}}&nbsp;[[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Divisions of Pakistan|Division]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Dera Ghazi Khan Division|Dera Ghazi Khan]]
| founder            = 
| seat_type          = [[Headquarters]]
| seat               = [[Muzaffargarh]]
| government_type    = District Government
| unit_pref          = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 4778
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2023table1"/>
| population_as_of   = [[2023 Pakistani census|2023]]
| population_total   = 3528567
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 662,975 (18.79%)
| population_rural   = 2865592 (81.21%)
| demographics2_title1 = Literacy rate
| demographics2_info1 = {{bulleted list |'''Total:'''<br />(43.74%) |'''Male:'''<br />(51.38%) |'''Female:'''<br />(35.74%) }}
| timezone1          = [[Time in Pakistan|PST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = 
| leader_title       = [[Deputy Commissioner (Pakistan)|Deputy Commissioner]]
| leader_name        = Mian Usman Ali <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mgarh.com/admin.html |title=Administration of Muzaffargarh District |website=mgarh.com |access-date=2017-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224144921/http://mgarh.com/admin.html |archive-date=24 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| leader_title1      = District Police Officer
| leader_name1       = Syed Hasnain Haider<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mgarh.com/police.html |title=DPO Muzaffargarh District Police |website=www.mgarh.com |access-date=2017-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109192501/http://mgarh.com/police.html |archive-date=9 January 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| leader_title2      = District Health Officer
| leader_name2       = Allah Bux Khan
| blank_name_sec1    = District Council
| blank_info_sec1    = 
| blank1_name_sec1   = Number of [[List of tehsils of Punjab, Pakistan|Tehsils]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = 3
| demographics1_title1 = Main language(s)
| demographics_type2 = Literacy
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2023table12"/>
| demographics1_info1 = [[Saraiki language|Saraiki]], and [[Urdu]]
| website            = {{URL|Muzaffargarh.punjab.gov.pk}}
}}

'''Muzaffargarh District''' ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|ضِلع مُظفّرگڑھ}}}}) is a [[Districts of Pakistan|district]] of the [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] province of Pakistan. Its capital is [[Muzaffargarh]] city. It lies on the bank of the [[Chenab River]].

== History ==
[[Muzaffargarh]] ({{literally|Fort of Muzaffar}}) was founded by the [[Sadozai (Pashtun tribe)|Saddozai]] Nawab of Multan, [[Nawab Muzaffar Khan]], in 1794. Muzaffargarh district was annexed by the British from its former [[Sikhs|Sikh]] rulers after the [[Second Anglo-Sikh war|Second Anglo-Sikh War]] of 1848–1849.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Banerjee |first1=Abhijit |url=https://eml.berkeley.edu/~webfac/bardhan/e271_sp03/2_18.pdf |title=History, Institutions and Economic Performance: The Legacy of Colonial Land Tenure Systems in India (BREAD Working Paper No. 003) |last2=Iyer |first2=Lakshmi |date=January 2003 |publisher=Bureau for Research in Economic Analysis of Development |pages=39 |chapter=Appendix Table 1: Districts of British India, With Dates and Mode of Acquisition by the British}}</ref> In 1861 it became a separate Muzaffargarh District. After the [[Partition of India|independence]] of [[Pakistan]] in 1947, the minority [[Hindu]]s and [[Sikh]]s migrated to [[India]] while the [[Muslim]] refugees from India settled in the Muzaffargarh District. Muslim refugees from [[Punjab, India|East Punjab]], Haryana, [[Jammu]] started arriving and crossed the border into Pakistan; many were given land in Muzaffargarh District to settle.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muzaffargarh District |url=https://gazetteers.punjab.gov.pk/muzaffargarh |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=Government of the Punjab: District Gazetteers|first=Ehtasham |last=Anwar |date=2019}}</ref>

== Administration ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Jhang More.jpg|thumb|right|189px| Jhang More Chock ]] -->
The district is administratively divided into the following three [[tehsil]]s (subdivisions), which contain a total of 93 [[Union Councils of Pakistan|Union Councils]]:<ref>[http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=22&dn=Muzaffargarh Tehsils & Unions in the District of Muzaffargarh – Government of Pakistan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209043319/http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=22&dn=Muzaffargarh |date=2012-02-09 }}</ref>
{{static row numbers}}
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-hash"
!Tehsil<ref>[http://www.ecp.gov.pk/content/District.html Divisions/Districts of Pakistan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060930093025/http://www.ecp.gov.pk/content/District.html|date=2006-09-30}} Note: Although divisions as an administrative structure has been abolished, the election commission of Pakistan still groups districts under the division names</ref>
!Area
(km²)<ref name="2023table1" />
!Pop.
(2023)
!Density
(ppl/km²)

(2023)
!Literacy rate
(2023)<ref name="2023table12"/>
!Union Councils
|-
|[[Jatoi Tehsil|Jatoi]]
|1,010
|862,046
|853.51
|40.67%
|16
|-
|[[Alipur Tehsil|Alipur]]
|1,391
|760,526
|546.75
|39.15%
|14
|-
|[[Muzaffargarh Tehsil|Muzaffargarh]]
|2,377
|1,905,995
|801.85
|46.84%
|35
|-
!Total
!4,778
!3,528,567
!738.50
!43.74%
!65
|}
== Demographics ==
=== Population ===
{{Historical populations
|align=center
|percentages=pagr
|1951 |446038
|1961 |532015
|1972 |756221
|1981 |1048243
|1998 |1827465
|2017 |2981048
|2023 |3528567
|footnote= Sources:<ref>{{cite web |title=Population by administrative units 1951-1998 |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/1998/administrative_units.pdf |publisher = [[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2023 Pakistani census|2023 census]], present Muzaffargarh district has 552,926 households and a population of 3,528,567.<ref name="2023table20">{{cite web |title=7th Population and Housing Census - Detailed Results: Table 20 |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/punjab/dcr/table_20.pdf |website=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref> The district has a sex ratio of 104.18 males to 100 females and a literacy rate of 43.74%: 51.38% for males and 35.74% for females.<ref name="2023table1">{{cite web |title=7th Population and Housing Census - Detailed Results: Table 1 |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/punjab/dcr/table_1.pdf |website=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref><ref name="2023table12">{{cite web |title=7th Population and Housing Census - Detailed Results: Table 12 |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/table_12_punjab_district.pdf |website=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref> 1,185,064 (33.60% of the surveyed population) are under 10 years of age.<ref name="2023table5">{{cite web |title=7th Population and Housing Census - Detailed Results: Table 5 |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/punjab/dcr/table_5.pdf |website=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]] |publisher=}}</ref> 662,975 (18.79%) live in urban areas.<ref name="2023table1"/>

=== Religion ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religion in contemporary Muzaffargarh District
! rowspan="2" |[[Religion in Pakistan|Religious]]<br>group
! colspan="2" |1941<ref name="Muzaffargarh1941">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/site/south-asia-open-archives/saoa/censusofindia1941-28216851/|title=CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VI PUNJAB PROVINCE|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>{{rp|62-63}}
! colspan="2" |2017<ref name="2017census">{{cite web |title=District Wise Results / Tables (Census - 2017) |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/census-2017-district-wise |website=www.pbscensus.gov.pk |publisher=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2023<ref name="2023table9">{{cite web |title=7th Population and Housing Census - Detailed Results: Table 9 |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/punjab/dcr/table_9.pdf |website=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
| [[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]] 
|360,868
|{{Percentage|360868|418194|2}}
|2,977,231
|{{Percentage|2977231|2981048|2}}
|3,515,344
|99.68%
|-
| [[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]{{efn|name=ad-dharmi}}
|53,458
|{{Percentage|53458|418194|2}}
|332
|{{Percentage|332|2981048|2}}
|288
|0.01%
|-
| [[Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]]
|3,280
|{{Percentage|3280|418194|2}}
|{{N/a}}
|{{N/a}}
|65
|~0%
|-
| [[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
|162
|{{Percentage|162|418194|2}}
|2,565
|{{Percentage|2565|2981048|2}}
|10,122
|0.29%
|-
|[[Ahmadiyya in Pakistan|Ahmadi]]
|{{N/a}}
|{{N/a}}
|845
|{{Percentage|845|2981048|2}}
|734
|0.02%
|-
| Others
|426
|{{Percentage|426|418194|2}}
|75
|~{{Percentage|75|2981048|2}}
|89
|~0%
|-
!Total Population
!418,194
!{{Percentage|418194|418194|2}}
!2,981,048
!{{Percentage|2981048|2981048|2}}
!3,526,642
!100%
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="7" | {{small|Note: 1941 census data is for Muzaffargarh and Alipur tehsils of erstwhile Muzaffargarh District, which roughly corresponds to contemporary Muzaffargarh district. District and tehsil borders have changed since 1941.}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religious groups in Muzaffargarh District ([[British Punjab province]] era)
! rowspan="2" |[[Religion in Pakistan|Religious]]<br>group
! colspan="2" |1881<ref name="Census1881A">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057656 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057656 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I. |year=1881 }}</ref><ref name="Census1881B">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057657 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057657 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II. |year=1881 |pages=14 }}</ref><ref name="Census1881C">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25057658 |jstor=saoa.crl.25057658 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. III. |year=1881 |pages=14 }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1891<ref name="Census1891">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25318669 |jstor=saoa.crl.25318669 |access-date=26 December 2024 |title=The Punjab and its feudatories, part II--Imperial Tables and Supplementary Returns for the British Territory |year=1891 |pages=14 |last1=Edward Maclagan |first1=Sir |volume=2 }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1901<ref name="Census1901">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25363739 |jstor=saoa.crl.25363739 |access-date=29 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province. |year=1901 |pages=34}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1911<ref name="Census1911">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25393788 |jstor=saoa.crl.25393788 |access-date=29 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1911 |pages=27}}</ref><ref name="Census1911B">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62718 |access-date=23 March 2024 |title=Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II |year=1911 |pages=27 |author=Kaul, Harikishan}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1921<ref name="Census1921">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25430165 |jstor=saoa.crl.25430165 |access-date=29 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1921 |pages=29}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1931<ref name="Census1931">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25793242 |jstor=saoa.crl.25793242 |access-date=29 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1931 |pages=277}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1941<ref name="Census1941">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.28215541 |jstor=saoa.crl.28215541 |access-date=29 March 2024 |title=Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab |year=1941 |pages=42 |author1=India Census Commissioner |volume=6 }}</ref>
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
! [[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]]
| 292,476
| {{Percentage | 292476 | 338605 | 2 }}
| 327,727
| {{Percentage | 327727 | 381095 | 2 }}
| 350,177
| {{Percentage | 350177 | 405656 | 2 }}
| 494,915
| {{Percentage | 494915 | 569461 | 2 }}
| 493,369
| {{Percentage | 493369 | 568478 | 2 }}
| 513,265
| {{Percentage | 513265 | 591375 | 2 }}
| 616,074
| {{Percentage | 616074 | 712849 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]{{efn|name=ad-dharmi|1931-1941: Including [[Ad-Dharmi]]s}}
| 43,297
| {{Percentage | 43297 | 338605 | 2 }}
| 50,625
| {{Percentage | 50625 | 381095 | 2 }}
| 52,221
| {{Percentage | 52221 | 405656 | 2 }}
| 68,158
| {{Percentage | 68158 | 569461 | 2 }}
| 69,878
| {{Percentage | 69878 | 568478 | 2 }}
| 72,577
| {{Percentage | 72577 | 591375 | 2 }}
| 90,643
| {{Percentage | 90643 | 712849 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]]
| 2,788
| {{Percentage | 2788 | 338605 | 2 }}
| 2,715
| {{Percentage | 2715 | 381095 | 2 }}
| 3,225
| {{Percentage | 3225 | 405656 | 2 }}
| 6,322
| {{Percentage | 6322 | 569461 | 2 }}
| 4,869
| {{Percentage | 4869 | 568478 | 2 }}
| 5,287
| {{Percentage | 5287 | 591375 | 2 }}
| 5,882
| {{Percentage | 5882 | 712849 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
| 33
| {{Percentage | 33 | 338605 | 2 }}
| 27
| {{Percentage | 27 | 381095 | 2 }}
| 33
| {{Percentage | 33 | 405656 | 2 }}
| 60
| {{Percentage | 60 | 569461 | 2 }}
| 356
| {{Percentage | 356 | 568478 | 2 }}
| 246
| {{Percentage | 246 | 591375 | 2 }}
| 227
| {{Percentage | 227 | 712849 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Jainism]] [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg|15px]]
| 11
| {{Percentage | 11 | 338605 | 2 }}
| 1
| {{Percentage | 1 | 381095 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 405656 | 2 }}
| 1
| {{Percentage | 1 | 569461 | 2 }}
| 6
| {{Percentage | 6 | 568478 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 591375 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 712849 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Zoroastrianism]] [[File:Faravahar.svg|15px]]
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 338605 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 381095 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 405656 | 2 }}
| 4
| {{Percentage | 4 | 569461 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 568478 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 591375 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 712849 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Buddhism]] [[File:Dharma_Wheel_(2).svg|15px]]
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 338605 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 381095 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 405656 | 2 }}
| 1
| {{Percentage | 1 | 569461 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 568478 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 591375 | 2 }}
| 23
| {{Percentage | 23 | 712849 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Judaism]] [[File:Star_of_David.svg|15px]]
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 381095 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 405656 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 569461 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 568478 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 591375 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 712849 | 2 }}
|-
! Others
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 338605 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 381095 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 405656 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 569461 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 568478 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 591375 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 712849 | 2 }}
|-
! Total population
! 338,605
! {{Percentage | 338605 | 338605 | 2 }}
! 381,095
! {{Percentage | 381095 | 381095 | 2 }}
! 405,656
! {{Percentage | 405656 | 405656 | 2 }}
! 569,461
! {{Percentage | 569461 | 569461 | 2 }}
! 568,478
! {{Percentage | 568478 | 568478 | 2 }}
! 591,375
! {{Percentage | 591375 | 591375 | 2 }}
! 712,849
! {{Percentage | 712849 | 712849 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="15" | {{small|Note: [[British Punjab province]] era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province region]] during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religion in the [[Tehsil]]s of Muzaffargarh District (1921)<ref name="Census1921"/>
! rowspan="2" |[[Tehsil]]
! colspan="2" |[[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Jainism]] [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |Others{{efn|name=othersC|Including [[Buddhism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Judaism]], [[Tribal religions in India|Tribals]], others, or not stated}}
! colspan="2" |Total
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
! Muzaffargarh Tehsil
| 154,990
| {{Percentage | 154990 | 178579 | 2 }}
| 22,629
| {{Percentage | 22629 | 178579 | 2 }}
| 655
| {{Percentage | 655 | 178579 | 2 }}
| 300
| {{Percentage | 300 | 178579 | 2 }}
| 5
| {{Percentage | 5 | 178579 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 178579 | 2 }}
! 178,579
! {{Percentage | 178579 | 178579 | 2 }}
|-
! Alipur Tehsil
| 126,350
| {{Percentage | 126350 | 146711 | 2 }}
| 18,672
| {{Percentage | 18672 | 146711 | 2 }}
| 1,681
| {{Percentage | 1681 | 146711 | 2 }}
| 7
| {{Percentage | 7 | 146711 | 2 }}
| 1
| {{Percentage | 1 | 146711 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 146711 | 2 }}
! 146,711
! {{Percentage | 146711 | 146711 | 2 }}
|-
! Sanawan Tehsil
| 96,325
| {{Percentage | 96325 | 108970 | 2 }}
| 11,317
| {{Percentage | 11317 | 108970 | 2 }}
| 1,279
| {{Percentage | 1279 | 108970 | 2 }}
| 49
| {{Percentage | 49 | 108970 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 108970 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 108970 | 2 }}
! 108,970
! {{Percentage | 108970 | 108970 | 2 }}
|-
! Leiah Tehsil
| 115,704
| {{Percentage | 115704 | 134218 | 2 }}
| 17,260
| {{Percentage | 17260 | 134218 | 2 }}
| 1,254
| {{Percentage | 1254 | 134218 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 134218 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 134218 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 134218 | 2 }}
! 134,218
! {{Percentage | 134218 | 134218 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="15" | {{small|Note: [[British Punjab province]] era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province region]] during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religion in the [[Tehsil]]s of Muzaffargarh District (1941)<ref name="Census1941"/>
! rowspan="2" |[[Tehsil]]
! colspan="2" |[[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]{{efn|name=ad-dharmi}}
! colspan="2" |[[Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Jainism]] [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg|15px]]
! colspan="2" |Others{{efn|name=othersB|Including [[Anglo-Indian people|Anglo-Indian Christians]], [[British Christianity|British Christians]], [[Buddhism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Judaism]], [[Tribal religions in India|Tribals]], others, or not stated}}
! colspan="2" |Total
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
! Muzaffargarh Tehsil
| 192,516
| {{Percentage | 192516 | 221376 | 2 }}
| 27,714
| {{Percentage | 27714 | 221376 | 2 }}
| 962
| {{Percentage | 962 | 221376 | 2 }}
| 161
| {{Percentage | 161 | 221376 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 221376 | 2 }}
| 23
| {{Percentage | 23 | 221376 | 2 }}
! 221,376
! {{Percentage | 221376 | 221376 | 2 }}
|-
! Alipur Tehsil
| 168,352
| {{Percentage | 168352 | 196818 | 2 }}
| 26,144
| {{Percentage | 26144 | 196818 | 2 }}
| 2,318
| {{Percentage | 2318 | 196818 | 2 }}
| 1
| {{Percentage | 1 | 196818 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 196818 | 2 }}
| 3
| {{Percentage | 3 | 196818 | 2 }}
! 196,818
! {{Percentage | 196818 | 196818 | 2 }}
|-
! Kot Adu Tehsil
| 117,005
| {{Percentage | 117005 | 133585 | 2 }}
| 14,803
| {{Percentage | 14803 | 133585 | 2 }}
| 1,720
| {{Percentage | 1720 | 133585 | 2 }}
| 52
| {{Percentage | 52 | 133585 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 133585 | 2 }}
| 5
| {{Percentage | 5 | 133585 | 2 }}
! 133,585
! {{Percentage | 133585 | 133585 | 2 }}
|-
! Leiah Tehsil
| 138,201
| {{Percentage | 138201 | 161070 | 2 }}
| 21,982
| {{Percentage | 21982 | 161070 | 2 }}
| 882
| {{Percentage | 882 | 161070 | 2 }}
| 4
| {{Percentage | 4 | 161070 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 161070 | 2 }}
| 1
| {{Percentage | 1 | 161070 | 2 }}
! 161,070
! {{Percentage | 161070 | 161070 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="15" | {{small|Note1: [[British Punjab province]] era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province region]] during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.<br><br>Note2: [[Tehsil]] religious breakdown figures for Christianity only includes local Christians, labeled as "Indian Christians" on [[Census in British India|census]]. Does not include [[Anglo-Indian people|Anglo-Indian Christians]] or [[British Christianity|British Christians]], who were classified under "Other" category.}}
|}

=== Language ===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Languages of Muzaffargarh district (2023)<ref name="2023table11"/>
|label1 = [[Saraiki language|Saraiki]] |value1 = 93.40 |color1 = firebrick
|label2 = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] |value2 = 3.65 |color2 = red
|label3 = [[Urdu]] |value3 = 2.50 |color3 = green
|label4 = Others |value4 = 0.45 |color4 = grey
}}

At the time of the 2023 census, 93.40% of the population spoke [[Saraiki language|Saraiki]], 3.65% [[Urdu]] and 2.50% [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] as their first language.<ref name="2023table11">{{cite web |title=7th Population and Housing Census - Detailed Results: Table 11 |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/punjab/dcr/table_11.pdf |website=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>

=== Ethnicity ===
The most famous tribes and races are as under; [[Khar (tribe)|Khar]] (offshoot of [[Kharal|Kharal tribe]]), [[Khokhar]], Dasti, [[Qureshi]], [[Jatoi (Baloch tribe)|Jatoi]], Hinjra, [[Langrial clan|Langrial]], Thahim, Gopang, Bukhari, Gilani, [[Rajput]], [[Jats|Jat]] and [[Arain]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fiaz |first1=Hafiz Muhammad |last2=Akhtar |first2=Dr Sohail |last3=Rind |first3=Ayaz Ahmad |date=2021-12-31 |title=Socio-cultural Condition of South Punjab: A Case of Muzaffargarh District |url=http://www.irjei.com/index.php/irjei/article/view/27 |journal=International Research Journal of Education and Innovation |language=en |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=15–34 |doi=10.53575/irjei.v2.03(21)2.15-34 |doi-broken-date=12 July 2025 |issn=2710-0448}}</ref> The major ethnic group are the [[Saraiki language|Saraiki]]-speaking [[Jat people|Jat]] forming the majority, with [[Saraiki language|Saraiki]]-speaking [[Gurjar|Gujjar]], [[Baloch people|Baloch]], [[Rajput]]s and Pathan groups in minority.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eaNLAQAAIAAJ&q=muzaffargarh+tribes&pg=PA67|title=Gazetteer of the Muzaffargarh District|date=19 June 1884|publisher=Punjab Government Press|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book| title = 1998 District Census report of Muzaffargarh| location = Islamabad| publisher = Population Census Organization, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan| series = Census publication | volume =  120| date = 2000| pages = 21–22}}</ref>

== Geography and climate ==
{{Climate chart
|Muzaffargarh
|4.5|21.0|7.2
|7.6|23.2|9.5
|13.5|28.5|19.5
|19.5|35.5|22.9
|24.4|40.4|59.8
|28.6|42.3|92.3
|28.7|39.2|131.3
|28.0|38.0|72.6
|24.9|37.2|40.8
|18.2|34.6|1.7
|10.9|28.5|2.3
|5.5|22.7|6.9
|source=[http://www.worldweather.org/047/c00899.htm World Meteorological Organization]
|float=left
|clear=none
}}

Muzaffargarh spreads over an area of 8,249 km2 and forms a strip between the Chenab River on its east and Indus River on its west, which pass along the Eastern and Western boundaries respectively of the district and  a triangle at Alipur tehsil of the district. The district is bounded on the north by district Layyah, on the south by Bahawalpur and Rahimyar Khan districts across the river Chenab. 

Districts Multan and Khanewal are on the eastern side of district Muzaffargarh, across the river Chenab. District Jhang touches it on the northeast. Dera Gahzi Khan and Rajanpur districts lie on the western side across the river Indus. It is one of oldest districts of Punjab. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the population of the district was 2,635,903, of which 12.75% were urban.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.urckarachi.org/Population%20Table-5.htm|title=Urban Resource Centre|work=urckarachi.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513113007/http://www.urckarachi.org/Population%20Table-5.htm|archive-date=2006-05-13}}</ref> Muzaffargarh is one of oldest established districts of Punjab.

'''2010 floods'''

Muzaffargarh was especially hard hit by the 2010 Pakistan floods, given its position between the Chenab and Indus rivers It is spread over an area of 8,249&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. Muzaffargarh District lies in the strip between the rivers Chenab and Indus.

The city of Muzaffargarh is located in southern [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] province at almost the exact centre of Pakistan. The closest major city is [[Multan]]. The area around the city is a flat, alluvial plain and is ideal for agriculture, with many [[citrus]] and [[mango]] farms. There are many canals that cut across the Muzaffargarh District providing water from nearby farms. This makes the land very fertile. However usually land close to the Chenab are usually flooded in the monsoon season.

'''Climate'''

Muzaffargarh features a [[semi arid]] climate with very hot summers and mild winters. The city witnesses some of the most extreme weather in the country. The highest recorded temperature is approximately {{Convert|54|C}}, and the lowest recorded temperature is approximately {{Convert|-1|C}}. The average rainfall is roughly {{convert|427|mm|in}}. [[Dust storms]] are a common occurrence within the city.

The district's towns include Basti Malik Wala, Taliri, Mauza Bahadur Dawana, Dawana Bahadur Peer Rajan Bukhsh, [[Kot Addu]],   [[Khangarh, Punjab|Khangarh]] and Hayat Nagar.<!--Don't include them all-->

== Education ==
Although Muzaffargarh is one of the oldest and largest districts of Pakistan by area and population, it still has only a single campus of [[Virtual University of Pakistan]]. The literacy rate is among the lowest in the country.<ref name="Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey 2014-15">{{cite web|title=Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey 2014–15 Report|url=http://www.pbs.gov.pk/node/1650}}</ref> District Muzaffargarh has a total of 1,072 male and 1,009 female public sector schools.<ref name="Punjab Annual Schools Census 2014-15">{{cite web|access-date=16 August 2016|title=Punjab Annual Schools Census Data 2014–15|url=http://schoolportal.punjab.gov.pk/schoolInfoNew.asp?distId=323--Muzaffargarh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816225210/http://schoolportal.punjab.gov.pk/schoolInfoNew.asp?distId=323--Muzaffargarh|archive-date=16 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Milkha Singh]], a famous track and field [[athlete]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==


{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Muzaffargarh}}
{{Administrative divisions of Muzaffargarh District}}

{{Districts of Punjab (Pakistan)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Muzaffargarh District| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Punjab, Pakistan]]

[[sv:Muzaffargarh]]