Gawar-bati speakers live along the Kunar River, predominantly in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area near the village of Arandu in the Chitral District of Pakistan. The war in Afghanistan forced many people to move north into Chitral. The villages in the border area of Arandu, Barikot, Dokalam, and Pashingar are probably predominantly Gawar-bati speaking. Narai, about 10 kilometers down the Kunar Valley, and Nishagam and neighboring villages further down the valley may also have Gawar-bati-speaking inhabitants. The word bati means speech of, and some experts say that in Pakistan, Gawar-bati speakers call themselves Kohistani while in Afghanistan they are known as Nuristani. The exact number of the Gawarbati speakers is unknown, however, Fazal Akbar, a public sector school teacher and a language researcher estimates the population in the area that is considered to be mostly made up of Gawar-bati speakers is between 6000 and 8000 people.

Most Gawar-bati speakers are farmers. Educationally, there used to be challenges for girls but not any more now. There is a girls high school with other middle and primary schools for girls in the area. Instruction in schools is provided in Urdu, but with explanations in Gawar-bati (as well as some Pashto and Khowar for students from these language communities). Men under the age of 30 have mostly had some education, though few have reached masters. This has now further improved, and Gawarbati speakers are found serving at high positions in various parts of the country and many have joined government services, especially the teaching cadre. Timber is the second largest source of income after agriculture. Fazal Akbar estimates more than 10 percent people are earning from the timber business sector.