Garaad Awal
Former African
Gabiley district in the former Somali Republic (illegal union) was a part of Waqooyi Galbeed which was the most densely populated district of Waqooyi Galbeed after Hargeisa.I don't think these estimates are true if you use Just common sense. Awdal being larger in population than many regions with few considerable cities is unbelievable. Awdal has 2 large cities: Borama & Gabiley and various small towns.
I think Awdal is smaller in population than
Wajaale & Gabiley are the two major urban centres with a rural farming population that is pretty large compared to the empty nomadic rural populations in the rest of SL.
Ofcourse with the fertile Gabiley plains and Hargeisa we would substantially dwarf the Awdal region. You clearly know nothing about the region. Even now under SL provinces which separates Waqooyi Galbeed into two: Maroodi Jeex & Saaxil, Gabiley district remains in Maroodi Jeex/Hargeisa with a clan dispute about Lughaya with Awdal region.
-Togdheer-Has two cities (Burco, Buhodle) and various sizeable towns which Awdal lacks
Toghdheer only has Burco as a major city. Buhoodle is a typical village no different from the other villages in that region except it is a Darod village in an HJ/HY dominated region.