Shangla is land of natural beauty, long green trees, high mountains, sweet springs, thick forest and streams, was earlier sub-division of Swat District. In 1995 after long movement and endeavors of its people the then Chief Minister of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao upgraded it to the status of a District. According census of 1998 its population was 434563 which are 2.5% of the total population of the Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, while its current population is 541000.