The autonomous prefecture covers an area of 268,591 square kilometers, accounting for 16.18% of Xinjiang.[1] As of 2018, the prefecture has a registered population (户籍人口) of 4,582,500, of which 2,745,500 are minorities (or 59.91% of registered population). Direct-administered regions (直辖区域) within the prefecture cover 56,622 square kilometers (21.08% of total area) and have a population of 2,930,600 (or 63.95% of registered population).[2]