The district consists of 18 tehsils: Thathri, Bhaderwah, Doda, Mohalla, Bhagwa, Assar, Bhalla, Gundna, Marmat, Kahara, Gandoh (Bhalessa), Bhella, Bharat Bagla, Chiralla, Chilly Pingal, Phagsoo and Kastigarh.

In the past, Doda was largely inhabited by a Sarazi population before people started settling here from Kashmir and other adjoining areas.

[10] Sumantra Bose says repression by feudal classes elsewhere drew people to the districts of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar.

[13] The district of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir has a long history intertwined with legends and stories of various rulers and dynasties.

He was persuaded by one of the ancient rulers of Kishtwar to settle in the area and establish a utensil factory.

The settlement reports indicate that the area was ruled by various groups including Ranas, Rajas, and independent chiefs from time to time, including the Jaral, Ranas, Katoch Rajas, Bhaus Manhases, Chibs, Thakkars, Wanis, and Gakkars.

In 1822 AD, Doda was conquered by Maharaja Gulab Singh and became the winter capital of the Kishtwar state.

The fort served as the office of the Thanedar and provided storage space for armaments and food grains.

The fort was demolished in 1952 and as of 2023, the Government Boys Higher Secondary School occupies its site.

Vigne writes about the bridge in Doda, a strong rope stretched from one bank to the other, tied to rocks.

[14][16] The area that includes the tehsil of Bhaderwah has a long history dating back to the 10th century.

When Raja Hari Singh became the Maharaja of J&K in 1925, he dissolved his Jagirs and converted Bhaderwah into a tehsil of Udhampur in 1931.

This incident also triggered the Terrorist organisations to target those who supported the VDCs, believing them to be anti-Muslim.

[33] Doda has a sex ratio of 922 females for every 1000 males[33] (this varies with religion), and a literacy rate of 65.97%.

[33] The district has a Muslim majority 53.82%, with Hindus constituting 45.77% of the population and the remainder consisting of Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains.

[11][10][36] Prominent Scholar Sumantra Bose states that the plurality of population of Doda speaks Kashmiri as their mother language.

Doda's population comprises different communities who live together peacefully despite following different religions and speak different languages.