District Anantnag is one of the oldest districts in the Kashmir Valley. Before its bifurcation in 1979 into Anantnag and Pulwama, it covered the entire South Kashmir. Later, in 2007, the districts of Anantnag and Pulwama were further divided into Kulgam and Shopian, respectively. Currently, Pulwama and Kulgam lie to the north and northwest of Anantnag. The districts of Ganderbal and Kargil form its eastern boundary, Kishtwar touches its southern side, and Doda borders it from the west.

According to the 2011 Census, Anantnag district has a population of 1,078,692 people, comprising 153,640 households. The male population stands at 559,767 and the female at 518,925, resulting in a gender ratio of 927 females per 1000 males, which is better than the state average of 889. The rural-to-urban population ratio in the district is 74:26, close to the state’s 73:27 ratio.

The district consists of 386 inhabited and 9 uninhabited revenue villages. It has one Municipal Council and nine Municipal Committees. Administratively, it is divided into 12 tehsils: Anantnag, Anantnag-East, Bijbehara, Dooru, Kokernag, Larnoo, Pahalgam, Qazigund, Sallar, Shahabad Bala, Shangus, and Srigufwara. It also has four sub-divisions—Bijbehara, Kokernag, Dooru, and Pahalgam. For developmental purposes, Anantnag is divided into 16 Community Development (CD) blocks: Achabal, Anantnag, Bijbehara, Breng, Chhittergul, Dachnipora, Hiller Shahabad, Khoveripora, Larnoo, Pahalgam, Qazigund, Sagam, Shahabad, Shangus, Verinag, and Vessu.

The district has been divided into 13 police stations for law and order: Anantnag (Town), Aishmuqam, Achabal, Bijbehara, Dooru, Kokernag, Larnoo, Mattan, Pahalgam, Srigufwara, Uttersoo, Women Police Station (Anantnag), and Anti-Human Trafficking (DPL Anantnag). There are also 9 police posts, including Sherbagh, General Bus Stand Anantnag, Janglat Mandi, Khanabal, Sangam, Damhall Khoshipora, Verinag, Chhittergul (Non-functional), and Peth Dialgam (Non-functional).

Due to its proximity to the Pir Panjal Range, which lies to its south and southeast, the district experiences a temperate climate in summer and cold winters. Spring sees excessive rainfall, summer is moderate, autumn is deficient, and winters bring snow, particularly during the traditional periods of Chillai Kalan, Chillai Khurd, and Chillai Bacha.

Anantnag is enriched with streams such as the Sandran, Brengi, Arapath, and Lidder Nallahs. Lidder Nallah, originating from the Sheshnag and Tarsar lakes, is the most important, irrigating vast agricultural areas and serving as a main tributary to the River Jhelum.

The population is predominantly Kashmiri (89.25%), with Gujjars and Bakerwals comprising 10.75% in the Kandi areas. The district is known for scenic health resorts like Pahalgam, Kokernag, Verinag, Achabal, and Daksum that attract domestic and foreign tourists. The Amarnath Ji Cave, located in the upper valley, is a significant pilgrimage site for Hindu devotees.

Anantnag is also known for historical monuments such as the Martand Sun Temple at Mattan, Mughal gardens at Achabal and Verinag, and Dara Shikoh Garden (Padshahi Bagh) in Bijbehara. It houses several shrines including those of Hazrat Zain-ud-Din Wali (R.A.) in Aishmuqam, Baba Hyder Reshi (R.A.) in Anantnag town, and Naseeb-ud-Din Gazi (R.A.) in Bijbehara.

The district has a strong agricultural base, producing food grains, pulses, fruits, vegetables, and livestock. It is also known for its handicrafts and handlooms like crewel work, embroidered rugs (Gabba), knotted carpets (Kaleen), woodworks such as Kari-Munakash, Kar-i-Kalamkari, Pinjrakari, Khatambund, Sozni, and wickerwork. The area gets its name "Anantnag" from its many springs such as Sheshnag, Tarsar, Nagabal (Anantnag), Kokernag, and Achabal. The Verinag spring is the source of the Jhelum River.

General Information:

• Revenue Villages (including uninhabited): 395

• Municipal Council: 01

• Municipal Committees: 09

• Households (2011): 1.54 lakh

• Average Household Size: 7.02

• Livestock & Poultry (2019-20): 8.64 lakh

• MSME Units (2019-20): 18

• Employment in MSMEs (2019-20): 138

• Bank Branches: 136

• Government Schools: Primary - 691, Middle - 688, High/Hr. Secondary - 177

• Government Colleges: 07

• Private B.Ed Colleges: 05

Administrative Setup:

• Tehsils: 12

• Revenue Villages: 395 (386 inhabited, 9 uninhabited)

• Nayabat Circles: 34

• Patwar Halqas: 99

• CD Blocks: 16

• Panchayat Halqas: 335

• Police Stations: 13

• Police Posts: 09

Agriculture & Cropping Pattern (2019-20):

• Paddy: 21,811 ha

• Maize: 10,283 ha

• Fruits & Vegetables: 13,732 ha

• Pulses: 337 ha

• Spices: 41 ha

• Oil Seeds: 11,734 ha

• Fodder: 9,359 ha

• Total Cropped Area: 67,297 ha

Irrigation (Net Area Irrigated):

• Canals (2019-20): 26,434 ha

• Springs/Tanks: 337 ha

• Others: 1,784 ha

• Total: 28,555 ha

Livestock Statistics (2019-20):

• Cattle: 2.11 lakh

• Sheep: 2.41 lakh

• Goats: 0.195 lakh

• Buffaloes: 0.046 lakh

• Poultry: 3.88 lakh

• Mutton Production: 13.84 lakh kg

• Wool Production: 4.47 lakh kg

Veterinary Services (2019-20):

• District/Sub-district Hospitals: 01

• Veterinary Units/Sub-units: 19

• Dispensaries: 07

• Frozen Semen Centers: 10

• I.C.D. Centers: 40

• Govt. Poultry Farms: 01

• Private Poultry Farms: 372

• Extension Centers: 08

• Mobile Dispensaries: 01

• Trial Centers: 37

• V.A.S Centers: 37

• G.B. Centers: 01

• First Aid Centers: 04

• Seasonal Mobile Dispensaries: 03

• Total: 541

Forests (2019-20):

• Area under Forests & Social Forestry: 1283.91 sq. km

• Area under Wildlife Protection: 1404.07 sq. km

• Firewood Production: 5380.35 quintals

• Firewood Supplied to Cities/Towns: 9131.45 quintals