The Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu had a population of 7,35,394 approx. in 2011 and it is expected to grow steadily to reach a population of about 7,87,902 by 2026. It has an area of 2,565 sq km and population density of 287 persons per sq km. The sex ratio is close to 1042 females per 1000 males and the literacy rate is around 85.2%. The child sex ratio is about 986 girls per 1000 boys. The major religion Hindu has a share of nearly 77.44% and Tamil is the main language spoken by most residents. The district population is 59.24% urban and 40.76% rural, and Hindu population accounts for 77.44% of the total population. There are about 1,97,653 households in the district.
Quick Overview of District Census 2021
| Item |
Figure |
| District name | The Nilgiris |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Total population (2011) | 7,35,394 |
| Male population | 3,60,143 |
| Female population | 3,75,251 |
| Population growth 2001–2011 | -3.51% |
| Area (sq km) | 2,565 |
| Population density (per sq km) | 287 |
| Sex ratio (females per 1000 males) | 1042 |
| Child sex ratio (0–6 years) | 985–986 |
| Average literacy rate | 85.20% |
| Male literacy rate | 91.72% |
| Female literacy rate | 78.98% |
| Total households | 1,97,653 |
| Urban population share | 59.24% |
| Rural population share | 40.76% |
Population and Historical Census Data
| Census year |
Population |
| 1901 | 1,12,882 |
| 1911 | 1,19,624 |
| 1921 | 1,27,520 |
| 1931 | 1,69,330 |
| 1941 | 2,10,520 |
| 1951 | 3,12,330 |
| 1961 | 4,09,910 |
| 1971 | 4,94,620 |
| 1981 | 6,30,330 |
| 1991 | 7,10,214 |
| 2001 | 7,62,141 |
| 2011 | 7,35,394 |
Decadal Variation in Population
| Census year |
Variation |
Variation % |
| 1901 | - | - |
| 1911 | 5,742 | 5.08% |
| 1921 | 7,896 | 6.66% |
| 1931 | 41,810 | 33.84% |
| 1941 | 41,190 | 23.85% |
| 1951 | 1,01,810 | 48.65% |
| 1961 | 97,580 | 31.30% |
| 1971 | 84,710 | 20.70% |
| 1981 | 1,35,710 | 27.56% |
| 1991 | 79,884 | 12.70% |
| 2001 | 51,927 | 7.31% |
| 2011 | -26,747 | -3.51% |
Population Projections and Yearly Estimates
| Year |
Estimated / projected population |
| 2026 (site 1) | 7,06,700 |
| 2027 (site 1) | 7,05,900 |
| 2028 (site 1) | 7,05,300 |
| 2029 (site 1) | 7,04,700 |
| 2030 (site 1) | 7,04,200 |
| 2031 (site 1) | 7,03,800 |
Extended Projections up to 2036 (second site)
| Year |
Estimated population |
| 2026 | 7,87,902 |
| 2027 | 7,88,988 |
| 2028 | 7,90,074 |
| 2029 | 7,91,160 |
| 2030 | 7,92,247 |
| 2031 | 7,92,683 |
| 2032 | 7,92,653 |
| 2033 | 7,92,622 |
| 2034 | 7,92,592 |
| 2035 | 7,92,561 |
| 2036 | 7,92,531 |
Sex Ratio and Child Population Details
| Indicator |
Value |
| Overall sex ratio (females per 1000 males) | 1042 |
| Sex ratio in 2001 | 1014 |
| Child sex ratio 0–6 (first site) | 985 |
| Child sex ratio 0–6 (second site) | 986 |
| National average sex ratio (India 2011) | 940 |
Sex Ratio by Area and Religion
| Category |
Sex ratio |
| Urban area | 1034 |
| Rural area | 1055 |
| Sex ratio among SC | 1035 |
| Sex ratio among ST | 1040 |
| Hindu | 1035 |
| Christian | 1084 |
| Muslim | 1055 |
| Religion not stated | 1036 |
Child Population (0–6 years)
| Item |
Figure |
| Total child population (0–6) | 66,799 |
| Male children (0–6) | 33,648 |
| Female children (0–6) | 33,151 |
| Child share in total population (2011) | 9.08% |
| Child population (0–6) in 2001 | 85,860 |
| Child share in 2001 | 11.27% |
| Change in child share 2001–2011 | -2.19 percentage points |
Urban–Rural Child Population Split
| Area |
Child population (0–6) |
| Urban total | 40,507 |
| Urban male children | 20,436 |
| Urban female children | 20,071 |
| Rural total | 26,292 |
| Rural male children | 13,212 |
| Rural female children | 13,080 |
| Urban child share | 9.54% of urban population |
| Rural child share | 8.77–9.05% of rural population |
Literacy Rate and Education Profile
| Category |
Average literacy |
Male literacy |
Female literacy |
| Total population (2011) | 85.20% | 91.72% | 78.98% |
| Total population (2001) | 80.01% | 88.54% | 71.64% |
| Urban area | 87.99% | 93.39% | 82.80% |
| Rural area | 81.17% | 89.27% | 73.53% |
Literate Population Numbers
| Item |
Count |
| Total literates (2011) | 5,69,647 |
| Male literates | 2,99,447 |
| Female literates | 2,70,200 |
| Total literates (2001) | 5,41,099 |
| Urban literates | 3,47,692 |
| Urban male literates | 1,80,984 |
| Urban female literates | 1,66,708 |
| Rural literates | 2,21,955 |
| Rural male literates | 1,18,463 |
| Rural female literates | 1,03,492 |
Literacy by Religion
| Religion |
Average literacy |
Male literacy |
Female literacy |
| Hindu | 83.20% | 90.57% | 76.11% |
| Christian | 93.51% | 96.56% | 90.72% |
| Muslim | 90.74% | 95.01% | 86.75% |
| Religion not stated | 87.05% | 93.07% | 81.59% |
Religion and Caste (SC/ST) Profile
| Religion |
Population |
Percentage |
| Hindu | 5,69,477 | 77.44% |
| Christian | 84,610 | 11.51% |
| Muslim | 78,452 | 10.67% |
| Jain | 910 | 0.12% |
| Buddhist | 382 | 0.05% |
| Sikh | 338 | 0.05% |
| Other religions and persuasions | 87 | 0.01% |
| Religion not stated | 1,138 | 0.15% |
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
| Group |
Population |
Share in district |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 2,35,878 | 32.08% |
| SC males | 1,15,917 | - |
| SC females | 1,19,961 | - |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 32,813 | 4.46% |
| ST males | 16,091 | - |
| ST females | 16,722 | - |
Languages Spoken (Overview)
| Language |
General status |
| Tamil | Main spoken language in most parts |
| Other regional languages | Used by smaller groups and communities |
Urban, Rural and Household Data
| Area type |
Population |
| Urban population | 4,35,655 |
| Urban males | 2,14,234 |
| Urban females | 2,21,421 |
| Rural population | 2,99,739 |
| Rural males | 1,45,909 |
| Rural females | 1,53,830 |
Area and Household Statistics
| Item |
Value |
| Total area (sq km) | 2,565 |
| Population density | 287 persons per sq km |
| Number of towns | 18 |
| Number of villages | 40 |
| Total households | 1,97,653 |
| Families without roof (houseless) | 135 |
| Houseless population | 329 |
Workforce and Economic Activity
| Category |
Workers |
| Total workers | 3,49,974 |
| Male workers | 2,12,172 |
| Female workers | 1,37,802 |
| Worker share in population | 47.59% |
- Total population is moderate
- Work participation is near half
- Many women also work
- Both town and village people work
Administrative Divisions and Sub-Districts
| Unit type |
Details |
| Revenue divisions | Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Gudalur |
| Taluks | Udhagamandalam, Kundah, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Gudalur, Pandalur |
| Panchayat unions | Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Gudalur |
| Municipalities | Udhagamandalam, Coonoor |
| Total towns (statutory and census) | 18 |
| Total villages | 40 |
Sub-District (Taluk / Tahsil) List
| Sub-district / taluk |
Note |
| Coonoor | Sub-district of The Nilgiris |
| Gudalur | Sub-district of The Nilgiris |
| Kotagiri | Sub-district of The Nilgiris |
| Kundah | Sub-district of The Nilgiris |
| Panthalur / Pandalur | Sub-district of The Nilgiris |
| Udhagamandalam | Sub-district of The Nilgiris |
City, Town and Village Overview
| Urban unit |
Type |
| Udhagamandalam | Municipality and main hill town |
| Coonoor | Municipality and major town |
| Nelliyalam | Municipality |
| Wellington | Cantonment town |
| Aruvankadu | Township |
| Other small towns | Several census towns in taluks |
Urban Agglomeration – Udhagamandalam
| Component |
Population (2011) |
| Udhagamandalam Urban Agglomeration total | 2,33,426 |
| UA male population | 1,15,218 |
| UA female population | 1,18,208 |
- Main hill town is Udhagamandalam
- Coonoor is second big centre
- Nelliyalam adds more urban people
- Many villages spread across hills
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Total population in 2011 was 7,35,394
- Question: Hindu people form about 77.44 percent
- Question: Sex ratio is around 1042 females per 1000 males
- Question: Urban population is about 4.36 lakh people
- Question: Overall literacy rate is close to 85.2 percent