Thus one out of every 30 fishing households in the state is that of a fisherman. The forests yield valuable timbers such as ebony, rosewood, and teak. Besides, the Malayalee citizens in Malaysia is estimated to be 348,000 in year 2020 whereas the population of the Malayalee expatriates is approximately 2,000. Total population of Kerala as per 2011 census is 33,406,061 of which male and female are 16,027,412 and 17,378,649 respectively. The revised definition of urban agglomerations in Kerala led to results for 2011 that are not comparable with previous census results and … Kerala is home to 2.76% of India's population; with a density of 859 persons per km 2, its land is nearly three times as densely settled as the national average of 370 persons per km 2. 1961. God's own country as it is famously known, Kerala gets the … Updates? Thereafter, census was taken every 10 years. Professor of South Asian Geography, University of Missouri, Columbia. The population of Kerala in 2020 as per expected figures is 37.6344 Million + 0.32688 Million = 37.96128 Million. The state is also a national leader in fish production. Kerala is a region of great natural beauty. The average density of population of the state is 819 persons per sq.km. Malayalam is Kerala's official language and is spoken by at least 96% of the people of Kerala; the next most common language is Tamil, spoken mainly by Tamil workers from Tamil Nadu and the local Kerala Iyers. As of 2011 [update] , Thiruvananthapuram is the most populous city in Kerala. This is followed byMuslims who form 24.7 per cent of the population and Christians who constitute Also notable is the high social status that continues to be accorded to women of Kerala, owing to the former strength of a matrilineal kinship system. the Survey of Travancore and Cochin States" conducted by Lieutenants Ward and Conner during the period 1816-20. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The capital is Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). Christians are expected to make up 2.2% of India’s population in 2050. Increasing population and limited participation in higher education are mainly blamed for backwardness of Muslims, but a new report questions this argument, saying the community's population in Kerala rose by 15 lakh between 2001-2011 despite being economically better and literate. Rolling grasslands are typical of the upland region. Population, decadal growth rate and net change of Kerala from 1901 to 2011. The capital is Thiruvananthapuram. They are referred to collectively as St. Thomas (Mar Thoma) Christians in allusion to the tradition that St. Thomas the Apostle first evangelized the region. Therefore, on average, the population each year increases by 0.32688 Million. From 1881 onwards the constitutional units of Kerala State had census taken at 10 year intervals with the rest of the country. The state is currently home to about 2.76% of India's total population. Also living in Kerala is a significant minority of Tamils, a neighbouring people of Dravidian ancestry. 32.3% and non-workers form 67.7%. Kerala stretches for about 360 miles along the Malabar Coast, varying in width from roughly 20 to 75 miles. Elements of Indo-Aryan ancestry remain strongest among the Nambudiri, a prominent caste of orthodox Hindus. Kerala, southwestern coastal state of India. Pop. Of the total population of Kerala, working population (main and marginal workers) constitute Below replacement fertility is one of them. While only about one-fourth of the population was reported as urban in the early 21st century, such statistics are deceptive because of the close proximity of rural houses, especially in the coastal plain. Several factors could be cited for the decline in population of some of the communities in Kerala. King cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) are among the notable reptiles, while peacocks and hornbills are common birds. Kerala is one of the most densely populated states in India. In addition, Kerala’s woodlands supply industrial raw materials such as bamboo (used in the paper and rayon industries), wood pulp, charcoal, gums, and resins. It is the 13th most populous state in India with an overall population density of 2,200 people per square mile or 860 per square kilometer. (2011) 33,387,677. Tulu and Kannada is spoken in most parts of the northern district of Kasaragod, adjoining Karnataka. Assume that rest of all the religions has only replacement rate of fertility. These cottage industries employ almost 3/5th of Kerala's industrial workers Census Data: According to the census report of 2001, Kerala's total population was about 32 million. Out of this, 7,617,584 are males and 8,314,587 are females. Kerala has an estimated population of 35 million, up from 33.38 million in 2011. The sex-ratio of Malappuram district is around 1098 compared to 1084 which is average of Kerala state. It is a small state, constituting only about 1 percent of the total area of the country. Indeed, in parts of the state there are densely populated rural equivalents of urban megalopolises. Thiruvananthapuram is the most densely populated district (1,508) while, Idukki is the least densely populated district (255). Kerala is the state of India or probably the … Regardless of their sect, these indigenous Christians share a common set of early Christian traditions unique to the Malabar Coast. Omissions? Kerala’s density of population as per 2011 census is 860 persons per sq. A second factor would be migration from Kerala to other states in India and to other countries outside India. This diverse natural environment is home to an extraordinary array of wildlife. just 254 persons per sq.km is the least densely populated district followed by Wayanad with a density of 383 persons. However, Kerala's population growth rateis far lower than the national average, although Kerala's population more than doubled between 1951 and 1991 — adding 15.6 million people to reach a total of 29.1 million residents in 1991 — the population stood at 31.8 million by 2001 and 33.3 million in 2011. The Malayalis are a group of people of mixed ethnic heritage who speak Malayalam, a Dravidian language; they constitute the majority of the population of Kerala. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? Among the more important rivers that flow to the Arabian Sea are the Ponnani (Bharatapuzha), Periyar, Chalakudi, and Pamba. In the 2011 census, the population density of Kerala is 860 persons/sq km up from 819 in 2001, next only to Bihar (1106 up from 881) and West Bengal (1028 up from 903). As per the Census 2001 data, Hindus, who constitute 56.20 per cent of the total population, is the most prominent religious community in the state. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The earliest authentic account of census in this part of India is available from the "Geographical and Statistical Memoir of Kerala: Total Geographical Area (in Hectares) 17471135: Total Households: 8408054: Total Village Population: 9063081 : Total Village Male Population: 4149641 : Total Village Female Population… Population of Kerala - Located in South-western part of India, Kerala is the leading state of India in terms of social development. It has a population of approximately 32 million and is one of India’s most densely populated states but it has one of the country’s lowest birth rates. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. attempts were made by the earlier rulers of the State to collect statistics of the population and the resources of the country. That is zero growth. Kerala stretches for about 360 miles (580 km) along the Malabar Coast, varying in width from roughly 20 to 75 miles (30 to 120 km). In the 0-6 year age group, Kerala counted 36.74% of the children as Muslim in the 2011 census. The child population (0-6 years) in Kerala, too, witnessed a negative trend in 2001-11 at -8.44%. The first modern census of Travancore - Cochin was taken in 1875. Density of Population. Kerala being an agricultural state with an agrarian economy, a good percent of its population is confined to agriculture or other agro base industry. Kerala is a state in the south-west of India. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Kerala population in 2020 is estimated to be 36 Million (3.6 Crores), According to Unique Identification Aadhar India, updated 31, May 2020, by mid of … Rural population in Kerala is 1,59,32,171. The city of Chennai has the highest population of Malayalis in a metropolitan area outside Kerala, followed by Bangalore. The first census of this State of Kerala was taken in Commercial plantings on less than half of the total land under cultivation earn a sizable amount of foreign exchange but have necessitated the importation of food for local consumption. Commercial poultry farming is well developed. Throughout the year, daily temperatures usually rise from the low 70s F (low 20s C) into the 80s F (27 to 32 °C). Kerala is among the preferred destinations for nature loving tourists from across the world. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. A Land of Coconut Trees. The current population of Kerala is 33 million. km. District wise … Of the total population of Kerala, working population (main and marginal workers) constitute 32.3% and non-workers form 67.7%. Kerala also has tiny Jain, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jewish communities; there is an ancient synagogue in Kochi. Since 1980, Kerala has overtaken the rest of India and in 2001 the proportion of the old age population rose to 10.5% as against the all India average of 7.5%. Kerala's urban population figures to 1,74,55,506 persons which is about one-fourth of the total population. Precipitation averages about 115 inches (3,000 mm) annually statewide, with some slopes receiving more than 200 inches (5,000 mm). Sardines, tunas, mackerels, and prawns are among the principal products of the industry. Kerala is home to 2.76% of India's population, and at 859 persons per km²; its land is three times as densely settled as the rest of India. 19 percent of the total population. followed by Idukki and Kasargod. Hence, the population of Kerala in the year 2019 is as per estimates is 37.312 Million + 0.3224 Million = 37.6344 Million. Christians, who account for nearly one-fifth of the population, belong broadly to the Syrian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches as well as to various Protestant denominations. Kerala Population 2019 –37.6344 Million. The watery coastal zones of Kerala are interspersed with coconut palm groves, while much of the Western Ghats and riverine areas are covered with rainforests and monsoon forests (tropical deciduous forests). Kerala is an State of India with population of Approximate 3.34 Crores. Details about the population of Kerala based on India Census 2011. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, Settlement patterns and demographic trends, Kerala - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The national average is 382 up from 324 ten years ago. Most Malayalis are descendants of the early inhabitants of India, the so-called Dravidians (speakers of Dravidian languages), who were driven southward between about 2000 and 1500 bce when the Aryans (speakers of Indo-Aryan languages) descended into the Indian subcontinent. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The major urban centres and industrial complexes include Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kollam (Quilon), Alappuzha (Alleppey), Thrissur (Trichur), and Thalassery (Tellicherry). [321] (estimated). Although isolated from the Indian interior by the mountainous belt of the Western Ghats, Kerala has been exposed to many foreign influences via its long coastline; consequently, the state has developed a unique culture within the subcontinent, not only with a diverse religious tradition but also with its own language, Malayalam. The fishing population of Kerala as a whole is about 7,70,000 forming 1,59,000 households. The last census was taken in 2011. Area 15,005 square miles (38,863 square km). Second comes Thiruvananthapuram with a population of 33,07,284 people followed by Ernakulam with 32,79,860 people. Kerala, southwestern coastal state of India. (estimated). Kerala is full of coconut trees. Kerala Population 2020 – 37.96128 Million. Kerala’s principal cash crops are rubber, coffee, and tea, which are cultivated in plantations on the slopes of the foothills, as well as areca nut, cardamom, cashew nut, coconut, ginger, and pepper. A large number of population in Kerala belongs to Malayali ethnicity. The first state to receive rainfall in India. Prior to independence, Kerala formed part of, the two Princely States of Travancore and Cochin and of Madras Presidency. By 2011, 12.6% of Kerala’s population is past 60 years, compared to the all India average of 8.6%. But there are grounds to believe that frequent Putting all this together, if the Muslim population becomes 25 million by 2050, then the share of Muslims will cross 50%. The population of all cities and towns in the State of Kerala by census years. The state has several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, among which the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is the largest. In the eastern part of the state, Anai Peak (8,842 feet [2,695 metres]), the highest peak of peninsular India, crowns the Western Ghats. Rural population in Kerala is 1,59,32,171. Agriculture is the state’s main economic activity. Also, a small number of Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Jews and other religious communities are also present. The total population of the Nair community is disputed, since there has been no caste-based census since 1931. Out of this 8,403,706 are males and 9,051,800 are females whereas urban population in this state is 15,932,171. The population development of all urban agglomerations and single cities in Kerala with more than 20,000 inhabitants by census years. The state’s total child population in 2011 was 3,472,955 compared to 3,793,146 in 2001. So, the population in 2019 as per estimates = 37.6344 Million. The climate of Kerala is equable and varies little from season to season. As per details from Census 2011, Kerala has population of 3.34 Crores, an increase from figure of 3.18 Crore in 2001 census. The population of … It is bordered by the states of Karnataka (formerly Mysore) to the north and Tamil Nadu to the east and by the Arabian Sea to the south and west; it also surrounds Mahe, a segment of the state of Puducherry, on the northwestern coast. Kerala's people are most densely settled in the coastal region, leaving the east… Wayanad is the least populated district Thereafter censuses were taken in Travancore State in 1836 and Cochin State in 1854. Present Population of Kerala is estimated to be 35.1 million. More than half of Kerala’s residents, including most of the Malayalis, follow Hinduism. Descending from the rocky highlands westward toward the coastal plain is a stretch of farmlands, with different crops cultivated at different elevations. Malappuram is the most populated district and has a population of 41,10,956 people. Mammals include sambar deer, gaurs (wild cattle), Nilgiri tahrs (wild goatlike animals; Hemitragus hylocrius, or, by some classifications, Nilgiritragus hylocrius), elephants, leopards, tigers, bonnet monkeys, rare lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus), and Hanuman and Nilgiri langurs (Semnopithecus entellus and Trachypithecus johnii, respectively). Over the millennia, there has been much exchange between the two groups. While density of population in Tamil Nadu is 555, Karnataka 319, Andhra Pradesh 308, and that of India is 382. Kerala's urban population figures to 1,74,55,506 persons which is about one-fourth of the total population. The state is directly exposed to the southwest monsoon, which prevails from July through September, but it also receives rain from the reverse (northeast) monsoon, which blows in October and November. The administrators of the British Raj had an abiding interest in ethnography but in post-independence India the policy has been generally to ignore it in censuses.. As per 2011 Provisional Population Figures, Rural Population in Kerala is 17,455,506. Whereas, Thiruvananthapuram with a population density of 1509 persons per sq.km is the most densely populated district in Kerala followed by Alappuzha with 1501 people per sq.km and Kozhikode with 1318 persons per sq.km. The icon links to further information about a selected place including its population structure (gender, urbanization, population group, literacy (a7+), activity status (a7+)). In 1980, Kerala's 60+ population overtook the national average and by 2001, it had risen to 10.5% against a national average of 7.5%. In 2010, approximately 2.5% of the country’s population was Christian, including members of Scheduled Castes (historically referred to as Untouchables or Dalits) who sometimes identify as Hindu when completing official forms. Between 2001-2011, Hindu population of the state grew by 2.23%, the Christian population grew by 1.38%, while the Muslim population exploded by 13% approx. Govt: Begin surveillance of human population Thousands of birds have died in Kerala (mostly poultry), Himachal Pradesh (mostly migratory birds), and … As per the Census 2011 out of total population of Kerala, 47.7% people lived in urban regionswhile 52.3% in rural areas. The population of children between age 0-6 is 574041 which is 13.96% of total population. Its Government has taken a very different approach in managing population growth. It is a small state, constituting only about 1 percent of the total area of the country. Dam on the Periyar River, Idukki, Kerala, India. The major food crops are rice, pulses (e.g., peas and beans), sorghum, and tapioca. Idukki with a density of The literacy rate of Malappuram district is 80.51% out of which 81.49% … Along the coast, a linked chain of lagoons and backwaters form the so-called Venice of India. About one-fourth of the population practices Islam, with the Moplah (Mapilla) people of the Malabar Coast constituting the state’s largest Muslim community. To conclude it, the population of Kerala in the year 2020 as per estimates = 37.96128 Million.