Dakshina Kannada District Census 2021–2025: Population, Literacy, Sex Ratio, ST/SC, Urban/Rural, Religion, City/Taluka

Dakshina Kannada District Karnataka Census 2025/2011 – Population, Growth, Religion, Sex Ratio, Literacy, SC/ST, Rural/Urban, Language, Tehsil/Taluk

Quick Overview of Dakshina Kannada District Census 2021 & Projections

• District Name: Dakshina Kannada
• State: Karnataka
• Area: 4,861 sq.km
• 2021 Projected Population: 2,260,000
• 2025 Projected Population: 2,320,000
• 2026 Projected Population: 2,330,000
• 2036 Projected Population: 2,451,337
• 2011 Census Population: 2,089,649
• Population Growth Rate (2001-2011): 10.11%
• Sex Ratio (2011): 1020 females/1000 males
• Child Sex Ratio (0-6): 947 girls/1000 boys
• Density (2011): 430 persons/sq.km
• Urban Population (2011): 47.67% (996,086)
• Rural Population (2011): 52.33% (1,093,563)
• Total Households (2011): 439,733

Historical Population Census (1901–2011)

Year	Population	Variation	Growth %	Male	Female
1901	485,304	-	-	240,000	246,000
1911	516,051	30,747	6.34%	253,000	263,000
1921	546,146	30,095	5.83%	269,000	277,000
1931	596,400	50,254	9.20%	292,000	304,000
1941	666,222	69,822	11.71%	325,000	341,000
1951	755,100	88,878	13.34%	369,000	386,000
1961	915,039	159,939	21.18%	452,000	464,000
1971	1,163,668	248,629	27.17%	580,000	584,000
1981	1,428,028	264,360	22.72%	709,000	719,000
1991	1,656,165	228,137	15.98%	820,000	836,000
2001	1,897,730	241,565	14.59%	938,434	959,296
2011	2,089,649	191,919	10.11%	1,034,714	1,054,935

Population Projections Up to 2036

Year	Population	Total Growth Since 2011	Annual Growth
2025	2,320,000	11.92%	↑
2026	2,330,000	12.53%	0.61% ↑
2036	2,451,337	17.31%	0.42% ↑

Religion-Wise Population (2011)

Religion	Count	Percent
Hindu	1,403,854	67.18%
Muslim	501,896	24.02%
Christian	171,398	8.20%
Jain	10,397	0.50%
Sikh	525	0.03%
Buddhist	445	0.02%
Others	138	0.01%
Religion not stated	996	0.05%

Language Spoken (2011)

• Tulu: 48.6% (largest group, especially Bantwal, Beltangady, Puttur taluks)
• Beary: 22.4% (main Muslim community)
• Konkani: 9.9%
• Kannada: 9.3% (official language)
• Malayalam: 3.6% (border areas)
• Urdu: 1.6% (Mangalore, Moodabidri)
• Billava, Mangalorean Catholic, Brahmin, Bunt, others make up distinct groups

Urban & Rural Population 2011 Split

Area	Population	Male	Female	Sex Ratio	Child Sex Ratio	Child (0-6)	Literacy Rate
Urban	996,086	493,230	502,856	1020	942	97,221	92.12%
Rural	1,093,563	541,484	552,079	1020	951	111,076	85.33%

Literacy Rate (2011 & by Religion/Area)

Category	Avg Literacy	Male Literacy	Female Literacy
Total Population	88.57%	93.13%	84.13%
Urban	92.12%	95.5%	88.83%
Rural	85.33%	90.97%	79.83%
Hindu	87.66%	92.19%	83.21%
Muslim	88.55%	94.45%	82.77%
Christian	95.45%	97.02%	94.05%
Jain	96.77%	97.93%	95.58%

SC/ST & Child Population (2011)

• Scheduled Caste (SC): 148,178 (7.09%) – Sex Ratio: 1021
• Scheduled Tribe (ST): 82,268 (3.94%) – Sex Ratio: 1009
• Child Population (0-6): 208,297 (9.97%)
• Child Sex Ratio (0-6): 947 girls/1000 boys

Households, Density & Workforce

• Total Households: 439,733
• Population Density: 430 persons/sq.km
• Total Workers: 997,721 (47.75%)
• Male Workers: 620,903
• Female Workers: 376,818
• Houseless Families: 1,091 (Population: 2,813)

Taluks / Subdistricts List

Taluk Name
Mangaluru
Bantwal
Belthangady
Puttur
Sullia
Kadaba
Ullala
Mulki
Moodabidri

City List & Major Urban Agglomerations

Urban Area	Population	Male	Female
Mangalore UA	623,841	309,380	314,461
Mangalore (Municipal Corporation)	488,968	242,512	246,456

• Total Number of Towns: 41
• Total Number of Villages: 331

Socio-Economic, Industry & Cultural Highlights

• Major industries: Banking HQs (Canara Bank, Corporation Bank, Syndicate Bank), Mangalore Chemical & Fertilizers, Kudremukh Iron Ore, MRPL, HPCL, BPCL, information technology, chocolate plant (CAMPCO), IT parks/SEZs
• GDP (contribution): 5.8% of Karnataka (second-highest per capita income after Bangalore Urban)
• Primary crops: Paddy, coconut, arecanut, black pepper, cashew, cocoa; horticulture includes grapes, pineapple, bananas
• Main livelihoods: Agriculture, fishing, banking, services, education, healthcare, beedi and tile factories
• Main cities/towns: Mangaluru, Bantwal, Puttur, Moodabidri, Sullia, Ullala, Kadaba, Surathkal
• Tulu, Beary, Konkani are main spoken; Billava, Bunt, Mogaveera, Brahmin, Catholics, Muslims are major ethnic/social communities

Education

• Top institutes: NITK Surathkal, Mangalore University, College of Fisheries, Directorate of Cashew Research
• Multiple medical, engineering, dental colleges; high literacy rate

Tourism & Culture

• Main temples: Sri Manjunatha Temple Dharmasthala, Kukke Subramanya, Kateel, Kudroli, Mangaladevi, etc.
• Historic/heritage: St Aloysius Chapel, Milagres Church, Bahubali statue at Venur, Moodabidri Jain Monastery, Kalikamba temple, etc.
• Folk arts: Yakshagana, Pilivesha (tiger dance), Karadi Vesha (bear dance), Bhuta Kola, Kambala buffalo race
• Festivals: Navaratri, Deepavali, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Bisu, Dasara

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Q: What is the population of Dakshina Kannada in 2025?
  A: Estimated at 2,320,000
• Q: What was Dakshina Kannada's sex ratio in 2011?
  A: 1020 females/1000 males
• Q: What is literacy rate Dakshina Kannada?
  A: 88.57% overall; 93.13% male; 84.13% female
• Q: SC/ST counts and ratios?
  A: SC: 7.09%; ST: 3.94%; high social mix
• Q: Main languages spoken?
  A: Tulu (48.6%), Beary (22.4%), Konkani (9.9%), Kannada (9.3%), Malayalam (3.6%), Urdu (1.6%)
• Q: City & taluk list?
  A: Major taluks: Mangaluru, Bantwal, Belthangady, Puttur, Sullia, Kadaba; City: Mangalore
• Q: Major industry/economy facts?
  A: Banking hub, agriculture, fishing, IT, food processing, tiles, educational focus
• Q: Tourism/culture?
A: Historic temples, churches, festivals, Yakshagana, Kambala, Pilivesha, rich Tulu traditions