Thoothukkudi district is one of the important southern districts of Tamil Nadu, known for its port, salt production and coastal economy. As per Census 2011, the district had a total population of 17.50 lakh, with females slightly outnumbering males. Recent estimate pages suggest the 2026 population may be around 18.75 lakh to 19.77 lakh, depending on the projection model used. The district covers around 4,745 sq km and recorded a population density of 369 persons per sq km in 2011. Literacy performance is also strong here, with the overall literacy rate at 86.16 percent. Children in the 0–6 age group formed 10.50 percent of the district population. Religion-wise, Hindus form a large majority, Christians make up a significant minority, and Muslims account for a smaller share. Unlike many Tamil Nadu districts, Thoothukkudi shows a near-balanced urban and rural population distribution.
Quick Overview of District Census 2011
| Item |
Figure |
| District Name |
Thoothukkudi / Thoothukudi |
| State |
Tamil Nadu |
| Census Year |
2011 |
| Total Population |
1,750,176 |
| Male Population |
865,021 |
| Female Population |
885,155 |
| Sex Ratio (female per 1000 male) |
1023–1024 |
| Child Population 0–6 years |
183,763 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
963–964 |
| Total Area (sq km) |
4,745 |
| Population Density (per sq km) |
369 |
| Average Literacy Rate |
86.16 % |
| Male Literacy Rate |
91.14 % |
| Female Literacy Rate |
81.33 % |
| Urban Population Share |
50.10 % |
| Rural Population Share |
49.90 % |
| Total Households |
462,010 |
| Houseless Families |
273 |
| Houseless Population |
735 |
Historic Census Data and Population Projections
Population from 1901 to 2011
| Census Year |
Population |
| 1901 |
705,534 |
| 1911 |
762,625 |
| 1921 |
787,166 |
| 1931 |
840,656 |
| 1941 |
910,729 |
| 1951 |
957,735 |
| 1961 |
1,052,970 |
| 1971 |
1,228,295 |
| 1981 |
1,370,289 |
| 1991 |
1,475,872 |
| 2001 |
1,572,273 to 1,592,769 |
| 2011 |
1,750,176 |
Key Census Indicators 2001 and 2011
| Indicator |
2001 |
2011 |
| Actual Population |
1,572,273 |
1,750,176 |
| Population (in lakh) |
15.72 |
17.50 |
| Population Growth (%) |
7.92 |
11.32 |
| Area (sq km) |
4,594 |
4,745 |
| Density (persons per sq km) |
342 |
369 |
| Sex Ratio (female per 1000 male) |
1050 |
1023 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
953 |
963 |
| Average Literacy (%) |
81.52 |
86.16 |
| Male Literacy (%) |
88.32 |
91.14 |
| Female Literacy (%) |
75.13 |
81.33 |
| Total Child Population 0–6 |
184,411 |
183,763 |
| Child Share in Population (%) |
11.73 |
10.50 |
Population Projections up to 2031
| Year |
Projected Population (Census2011 method) |
Projected Population (Censusofindia.net) |
| 2021 |
1,910,000 |
– |
| 2024 |
1,950,000 |
– |
| 2025 |
1,960,000 |
– |
| 2026 |
1,970,000 |
18.75 lakh (18,75,139) |
| 2027 |
1,980,000 |
18.78 lakh (18,77,724) |
| 2030 |
2,000,000 |
18.85 lakh (18,85,480) |
| 2031 |
2,000,000 to 2,004,000 |
18.87 lakh (18,86,519) |
Population, Child Population and Sex Ratio
Basic Population Structure 2011
| Category |
Male |
Female |
| Total Population |
865,021 |
885,155 |
| Child Population 0–6 years |
93,605 |
90,158 |
| Total Child Population 0–6 |
183,763 |
| Child Share in Total Population (%) |
10.50 |
| Sex Ratio (female per 1000 male) |
1023–1024 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
963–964 |
Urban and Rural Child Data 2011
| Area Type |
Child Population 0–6 |
Child Sex Ratio |
Child Share in Area Population (%) |
| Urban |
92,647 |
970 |
10.57 |
| Rural |
91,116 |
957 |
10.43 |
Literacy Rate, Male Literacy and Female Literacy
Overall and Gender Wise Literacy
| Indicator |
Rate (%) |
| Average Literacy |
86.16 |
| Male Literacy |
91.14 |
| Female Literacy |
81.33 |
Urban and Rural Literacy Pattern
| Area Type |
Average Literacy (%) |
Male Literacy (%) |
Female Literacy (%) |
| Total |
86.16 |
91.14 |
81.33 |
| Urban |
90.16 |
93.74 |
86.66 |
| Rural |
82.16 |
88.52 |
76.03 |
Literacy by Religion
| Religion |
Average Literacy (%) |
Male Literacy (%) |
Female Literacy (%) |
| Hindu |
84.35 |
90.20 |
78.65 |
| Muslim |
93.18 |
96.17 |
90.44 |
| Christian |
92.81 |
94.29 |
91.39 |
| Religion not stated |
82.97 |
92.04 |
75.95 |
Religion and Caste (SC / ST)
Religion Wise Population 2011
| Religion |
Population |
Percentage |
| Hindu |
1,373,920 |
78.50 % |
| Christian |
291,908 |
16.68 % |
| Muslim |
80,740 |
4.61 % |
| Sikh |
127 |
0.01 % |
| Buddhist |
286 |
0.02 % |
| Jain |
53 |
0.00 % |
| Other religions |
112 |
0.01 % |
| Religion not stated |
3,030 |
0.17 % |
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Population
| Group |
Population |
Share in District (%) |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) |
347,895 |
19.88 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
4,911 |
0.28 |
SC and ST Population by Gender
| Group |
Male Population |
Female Population |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) |
172,663 |
175,232 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
2,466 |
2,445 |
Urban and Rural Population, Density and Households
Urban–Rural Split 2011
| Area Type |
Population |
Share of Total (%) |
| Urban |
876,802 |
50.10 |
| Rural |
873,374 |
49.90 |
| Total |
1,750,176 |
100.00 |
Gender Split in Urban and Rural Areas
| Area Type |
Male |
Female |
Sex Ratio |
| Urban |
434,660 |
442,142 |
1017–1018 |
| Rural |
430,361 |
443,013 |
1029–1030 |
Area, Density and Household Details
| Indicator |
Figure |
| District Area |
4,745 sq km |
| Population Density |
369 per sq km |
| Total Households |
462,010 |
| Number of Towns |
35 |
| Number of Villages |
439 |
| Houseless Families |
273 |
| Houseless Population |
735 |
Extra District Facts
| Topic |
Detail |
| District Headquarters |
Thoothukkudi |
| Formation |
Formed in 1986 after bifurcation of Tirunelveli district |
| Main Language |
Tamil is the dominant mother tongue |
| Important Coast |
Bounded by the Gulf of Mannar on the east |
| Economic Identity |
Known for V.O. Chidambaranar Port, salt production, fisheries and industries |