The area of the Nalchiksky okrug made up part of the North Caucasian Federal District of Russia.

The district was eponymously named for its administrative center, Nalchik.

The majority of the population indicated Kabardian to be their mother tongue, with a significant Tatar[b] speaking minority.

[5] According to the 1917 publication of Kavkazskiy kalendar, the Nalchiksky okrug had a population of 180,534 on 14 January [O.S.

1 January] 1916, including 95,010 men and 85,524 women, 163,765 of whom were the permanent population, and 16,769 were temporary residents:[6]