The currently defined Wokha district was created in 1973 when the sub-division separated from Mokokchung district along with six administrative circles. The first census of the new district in 1981 counted the population to be 57,583. It is one of the three districts in "Nagaland" currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF). According to the 2011 census Wokha district has a population of 166,343,  roughly equal to the nation of Saint Lucia. This gives it a ranking of 595th in India (out of a total of 640). Wokha has a sex ratio of 968 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 87.7%.