Kerala
District-Level Data & Statistics
- PopulationCensus 2011, the latest complete count; Census 2027 results are expected from 2028
- 3.3 Crore
- 2.8% of India
- Projected 2026: 3.6 CroreOfficial projection for 1 March 2026, not a count: Technical Group on Population Projections, National Commission on Population, MoHFW (2020)
- Districts
- 14
- Avg 23.9 Lakh each
- AreaDensity uses the Census 2011 population
- 38,863 km²
- 860 people /km²
- Literacy RateCensus 2011: literates as a share of people aged 7 and above
- 94.0%
- India: 72.9%
- Sex RatioCensus 2011: females per 1,000 males
- 1,084
- India: 943
- RankBy Census 2011 population
- 13th
- of 36 by population
Kerala is India's 13th most populous state with a population of 3.3 Crore (Census 2011) spread across 14 districts covering 38,863 sq km. The state's literacy rate stands at 94.0%, above the national average of 72.9%. With a sex ratio of 1,084 females per 1,000 males, it is above the national figure of 943.
Credit Growth (5-Year) in Kerala · district average 79.2%, 31st of 36 states
All 14 on the map →MSME Density in Kerala · population-weighted average 33.1 per 1,000 people, 28th of 36 states
Women Literacy in Kerala · population-weighted average 98.3%, 1st of 36 states
All 14 on the map →Health Insurance in Kerala · population-weighted average 56.9%, 22nd of 34 states
All 14 on the map →Demographics
What changed in Kerala, 2019–21 to 2023–24
Got worse
Women Overweight or Obese38% → 46%NFHS-5 → NFHS-6, changes of 5 points or more. Same districts in both rounds.
Health & Development
NFHS-6 (2023–24, provisional)
State and National are population-weighted averages of districts, not official NFHS figures.
Women & Gender
Economy & Infrastructure
Governance
Safety & Crime
Climate Vulnerability
Kerala districts ranked
Population (Census 2011)
- 1Malappuram 41.1 Lakh
- 2Thiruvananthapuram 33 Lakh
- 3Ernakulam 32.8 Lakh
- 4Thrissur 31.2 Lakh
- 5Kozhikode 30.9 Lakh
- 1Wayanad 8.2 Lakh
- 2Idukki 11.1 Lakh
- 3Pathanamthitta 12 Lakh
- 4Kasaragod 13.1 Lakh
- 5Kottayam 19.7 Lakh
Population Density (per km²)
- 1Alappuzha 1,464
- 2Thiruvananthapuram 1,460
- 3Kozhikode 1,305
- 4Malappuram 1,146
- 5Ernakulam 1,054
- 1Idukki 250
- 2Wayanad 382
- 3Pathanamthitta 441
- 4Palakkad 619
- 5Kasaragod 656
Literacy Rate
- 1Kottayam 97.2%
- 2Pathanamthitta 96.5%
- 3Ernakulam 95.9%
- 4Alappuzha 95.7%
- 5Kannur 95.1%
- 1Wayanad 89.0%
- 2Palakkad 89.3%
- 3Kasaragod 90.1%
- 4Idukki 92.0%
- 5Thiruvananthapuram 93.0%
Sex Ratio (females per 1,000 males)
Underweight Children
- 1Wayanad 27.4%
- 2Malappuram 23.5%
- 3Idukki 22.0%
- 4Alappuzha 20.7%
- 5Ernakulam 20.3%
- 1Thiruvananthapuram 11.1%
- 2Kannur 12.1%
- 3Pathanamthitta 13.8%
- 4Kozhikode 14.4%
- 5Kasaragod 14.9%
Electricity Access
- 1Thrissur 100.0%
- 2Palakkad 99.9%
- 3Pathanamthitta 99.9%
- 4Idukki 99.8%
- 5Ernakulam 99.8%
- 1Wayanad 97.8%
- 2Alappuzha 99.5%
- 3Malappuram 99.6%
- 4Thiruvananthapuram 99.7%
- 5Kasaragod 99.7%
Small Business Density
- 1Ernakulam 45.3
- 2Thiruvananthapuram 40.0
- 3Wayanad 36.3
- 4Kozhikode 34.1
- 5Idukki 34.0
- 1Malappuram 24.7
- 2Kollam 28.4
- 3Kasaragod 29.7
- 4Alappuzha 29.9
- 5Pathanamthitta 30.1
All Districts
14 districts| District | Population (2011) | Literacy % | Sex Ratio | Density /km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malappuram | 41,12,920 | 93.6% | 1,098 | 1,146 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 33,01,427 | 93.0% | 1,087 | 1,460 |
| Ernakulam | 32,82,388 | 95.9% | 1,027 | 1,054 |
| Thrissur | 31,21,200 | 95.1% | 1,108 | 1,015 |
| Kozhikode | 30,86,293 | 95.1% | 1,098 | 1,305 |
| Palakkad | 28,09,934 | 89.3% | 1,067 | 619 |
| Kollam | 26,35,375 | 94.1% | 1,113 | 1,032 |
| Kannur | 25,23,003 | 95.1% | 1,136 | 848 |
| Alappuzha | 21,27,789 | 95.7% | 1,100 | 1,464 |
| Kottayam | 19,74,551 | 97.2% | 1,039 | 876 |
| Kasaragod | 13,07,375 | 90.1% | 1,080 | 656 |
| Pathanamthitta | 11,97,412 | 96.5% | 1,132 | 441 |
| Idukki | 11,08,974 | 92.0% | 1,006 | 250 |
| Wayanad | 8,17,420 | 89.0% | 1,035 | 382 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Kerala in crore?
Kerala has a population of 3.3 Crore (3,34,06,061) according to the Census 2011, making it India's 13th most populous state, across 14 districts.
What is the total area of Kerala in sq km?
Kerala covers a total area of 38,863 sq km, divided into 14 districts.
What is the literacy rate of Kerala?
Kerala's literacy rate is 94.0% (Census 2011), above the national average of 72.9%. Kottayam has the highest literacy rate (97.2%) and Wayanad the lowest (89.0%). Female literacy is lowest in Wayanad (85.7%).
What is the population density of Kerala?
Kerala has 860 people per sq km, against a national average of 366. Alappuzha has the highest population density and Idukki the lowest.
What is the sex ratio of Kerala?
Kerala has a sex ratio of 1,084 females per 1,000 males, above the national average of 943. Kannur has the highest sex ratio (1,136) and Idukki the lowest (1,006).
Which district of Kerala has the highest and lowest population?
Malappuram has the highest population in Kerala (41.1 Lakh) and Wayanad the lowest (8.2 Lakh), per the Census 2011.
Which is the largest district of Kerala by area?
Palakkad is the largest district of Kerala by area, and Alappuzha the smallest.
How many children in Kerala are stunted or underweight?
In Kerala, 19.6% of children under 5 are stunted, 11.2% wasted and 17.7% underweight (NFHS-6, 2023–24, provisional). Stunting compares with an India average of 28.0%.
How many households in Kerala have health insurance?
56.9% of households in Kerala have at least one member covered by a health insurance or financing scheme (NFHS-6, 2023–24, provisional). The India average is 58.1%.
What changed in Kerala between NFHS-5 and NFHS-6?
Between NFHS-5 (2019–21) and NFHS-6 (2023–24), Kerala improved most in women internet use (60% to 87%), women with a bank account (78% to 92%), 4+ antenatal visits (78% to 88%), and got worse in women overweight or obese (38% to 46%). Changes under 5 percentage points are not counted.
Is there newer population data for Kerala than the Census 2011?
Not yet. The Census 2011 is the latest complete count. Census 2027 is under way: the population count uses a reference date of 1 March 2027, with provisional results expected by late 2028. Until then, the official projection for Kerala on 1 March 2026 is 3.6 Crore (Technical Group on Population Projections, National Commission on Population, MoHFW, 2020); it is a projection, not a count. Census 2027 timeline
Data Sources
Each indicator keeps its own source and vintage. How they are crosswalked onto one district geography is on the methodology page, with the per-source limits on the caveats page.