Districts of Punjab, Complete List from 1966 to 2025

Punjab is a state located in northern India covering an area of approximately 50,362 square kilometers, It was formed on November 1, 1966. It is known as the “Land of Five Rivers” as the rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum once flowed through the region. As of now, there are 23 Districts of Punjab, each known for its unique characteristics and features. The most recently formed is Malerkotla, which was created on 14 May 2021.

Districts of Punjab 

There are 23 Districts of Punjab, each supervised by an Indian Administrative Service officer. The Deputy Commissioner or District Magistrate usually handles law and order in the district. Every district has a specific city that functions as its administrative headquarters. The most populous District of Punjab is Ludhiana, with a population of 3,498,739. Barnala district is the least populous district in Punjab. It has a population of 596,294. 

List of Districts of Punjab 

The 23 Districts of Punjab are further divided into five administrative divisions-Faridkot, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Patiala, and Ropar. These divisions are led by Commissioners. Below we have provided details about the population and area of all 23 Districts of Punjab.

Also Read: Districts of Mizoram

Largest District of Punjab

Ludhiana is the Largest District of Punjab in terms of area, It spans over 3767 square kilometers with a population of 1,618,879 as per the 2011 census. Ludhiana stands as the most populous district in Punjab and the 22nd most populous in India. The district is also known as ‘India’s Manchester’ because it is a major industrial centre of northern India.

Also Read: Chief Ministers of Punjab List

Smallest District of Punjab

Malerkotla is the Smallest District of Punjab in terms of area, It spans over 837 square kilometers with a population of 42,061. It is the most recently formed District of Punjab, It was officially formed out of Sangrur district and designated as the 23rd district on June 2, 2021.