Wayanad District Population 2011–2025: Religion | Literacy | Density | Sex Ratio

Wayanad District Kerala Census 2025/2011 – Population, Growth, Religion, Sex Ratio, Literacy, SC/ST, Rural/Urban, Language, Tehsil/Taluk Data

Wayanad​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ in Kerala is spread over 2,130 km² of a mostly forested plateau. The population stood at 8.17 lakh in 2011 and is estimated to be 9.01 lakh by 2036. The population density ranged between 384 and 397 per km², and only 3.86% of people were living in urban areas. Malayam is the principal language along with tribal dialects, Tamil, and Kannada. The district is still largely agrarian and its growth is quite ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌slow.

Quick Overview of District Census 2021 & Projections

• District: Wayanad, Kerala
• Area: 2,130 km² (plateau, forested: ~886 km²)
• Coordinates: 11°37′N 76°05′E
• Population (2011 census): 817,420 (8.17 lakh)
• Population (2021 projected): 850,100 (8.5 lakh)
• Population (2025 projected): 859,400 – 880,878 (8.59 – 8.81 lakh)
• Population (2036 projected): 901,129 (9.01 lakh)
• Population Density (2011): 384 – 397/km²
• Urban population (2011): 31,580 (3.86%)
• Rural population (2011): 785,840 (96.14%)
• Main languages: Malayalam (90.64%), tribal dialects, Tamil (1.1%), Kannada

Historic Population & Growth (1901–2036)

Year	Population	Variation	% Change	Male	Female
1901	75,149	–	–	41,630	33,520
1961	275,255	106,350	62.60%	145,000	131,000
2001	780,619	108,491	16.14%	391,273	389,346
2011	817,420	36,801	4.71%	401,684	415,736
2025	859,400 – 880,878	41,980–63,458	7.76%	433,000	447,000
2036	901,129	41,729	10.24%	444,039	457,146

Religion & Caste-wise Population (2011)

Religion	Population	%
Hindu	404,460	49.48%
Muslim	234,185	28.65%
Christian	174,453	21.34%
Jain	1,797	0.22%
Buddhist	312	0.04%
Sikh	61	0.01%
Other/not stated	2,152	0.26%

Group	Total	%	Male	Female	Sex Ratio
SC	32,578	3.99%	16,406	16,172	986
ST	151,443	18.53%	74,476	76,967	1,034

• Paniyas, Uraali Kurumas, Kurichiyans, Adiyan, Kattuniakkan, Mullukkurman, Vettakkuruman, Wayanad Kadar, Thachaanadan Mooppan: main tribes (Paniyan is largest at ~92k in 2011)

Sex Ratio, Child Population & Literacy

• Sex ratio (2011): 1035 (overall), Urban: 1051, Rural: 1034
• Child sex ratio (0–6 years): 965 girls/1000 boys
• Total child population (0–6 years, 2011): 92,324 (11.29%)
• Urban child population (0–6 yrs): 3,597 (11.4% of urban)
• Rural child population (0–6 yrs): 88,727 (11.7% of rural)

Category	Population	%	Male	Female	Sex Ratio
Urban	31,580	3.86%	15,401	16,179	1,051
Rural	785,840	96.14%	386,283	399,557	1,034

Literacy Rate (2011, Urban/Rural, Religion)

Category	Average Literacy Rate	Male Literacy	Female Literacy
Total Population	89.03%	92.51%	85.7%
Urban	91.18%	94.13%	88.4%
Rural	88.95%	92.45%	85.59%

Religion	Avg Literacy	Male Literacy	Female Literacy
Hindu	84.71%	88.76%	80.78%
Muslim	90.58%	95.11%	86.49%
Christian	96.91%	97.83%	95.99%
Other/not stated	86.58%	90.61%	82.54%

Workforce & Households

• Total workers (2011): 340,077 (41.6%)
• Male workers: 228,639
• Female workers: 111,438
• Total households: 190,894
• Houseless: 148 families, 320 persons (0.039%)

Subdistricts, Taluks & City/Town/Villages

• 3 Taluks: Mananthavady, Vythiri, Sulthan Bathery
• Main towns: Kalpetta (HQ), Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery, Meenangadi, Ambalavayal, Muttil, Pozhuthana, Padinjarathara, Vythiri, Muppainad, Thirunelli, Thavinjal, Thondernadu, Panamaram, Pulpally, Muthanga
• Revenue villages: 49
• Panchayats: 23 Gram, 4 Block, 3 Municipalities

Taluk	Main Villages
Mananthavady	Thirunelli, Thavinjal, Thondernadu, Panamaram, Mananthavady
Vythiri	Vythiri, Kalpetta, Padinjarathara, Meppadi, Pozhuthana, Muttil, Muppainad
Sulthan Bathery	Meenangadi, Ambalavayal, Sultan Bathery, Muthanga, Pulpally

Languages Spoken

• Malayalam (90.64%)
• Paniya (1.82%), Tamil (1.11%), Kannada (0.91%), tribal dialects

Geography, Rivers, Hills, Wildlife

• Plateau, Western Ghats; Chembra Peak (2,100 m), Vellari Mala (2,240 m), Banasura Hill
• Major rivers: Kabini, Chaliyar, Panamaram, Mananthavady
• Banasura Sagar Dam (largest earth dam in India), Karapuzha Dam
• Wildlife: tiger, elephant, bear, laughingthrush (named for district)

Education, Institutions & Notable People

• Kerala Agricultural University Regional Station, various government colleges and technical institutes
• Notables: M.P. Veerendra Kumar (politician), Sreedhanya Suresh (IAS), Sunny Wayne (actor), Vinod Jose (journalist), etc.

Tourism & Places of Interest

• Edakkal Caves (prehistoric engravings), Chembra Peak, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Banasura Sagar Dam, Karapuzha Dam, Thirunelli Temple, Pulpally Lava-Kusha Temple, Varambetta Mosque, Jain Mirror Temple, plantain, tea, coffee estates, tribal villages, trekking points

Government, Administration & Legislative

• District HQ: Kalpetta
• 3 taluks: Mananthavady, Vythiri, Sulthan Bathery
• 3 municipalities: Kalpetta, Mananthavady, Sultan Bathery
• MP: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (INC, Wayanad LS seat)
• MLAs: Kalpetta (T. Siddique), Sulthan Bathery (I.C. Balakrishnan), Mananthavady (O.R. Kelu)

FAQs

• Q: What is the population of Wayanad in 2025?
  A: 8.59–8.81 lakh projected
• Q: Main religions?
  A: Hindu ~49.5%, Muslim ~28.7%, Christian ~21.3%, significant Jain population
• Q: Sex ratio?
  A: 1035 overall
• Q: SC/ST proportion?
  A: SC 4%, ST 18.5% (highest in Kerala), most populous tribal district
• Q: Child population & ratio?
  A: 92,324 (11.3%), child sex ratio 965
• Q: Literacy rate?
  A: 89.03% (urban 91.18%, rural 88.95%)
• Q: Main languages?
  A: Malayalam, tribal languages, Tamil, Kannada
• Q: Urban/rural breakdown?
  A: Urban: 4%, Rural: 96%
• Q: Notable towns/cities?
  A: Kalpetta, Mananthavady, Sultan Bathery, Ambalavayal, Meppadi
• Q: Workforce proportion?
  A: 41.6% are workers
• Q: Major tourist attractions?
  A: Wildlife Sanctuary, Edakkal Caves, Chembra Peak, Banasura Sagar Dam
• Q: Largest tribes?
  A: Paniyan (~92k), Kurichyan, Mullukkurman, Adiyan, etc.