The Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu had a population of about 30.77 lakh in 2011 and it is expected to grow gradually to reach nearly 35.4 lakh by 2026. It spreads over around 6,693 sq km with a population density close to 460 persons per sq km. The sex ratio stands near 1,023 females for every 1,000 males and the overall literacy rate is about 82.50 percent. The child sex ratio is around 960 girls for every 1,000 boys in the age group 0-6 years. Hindu religion has the largest share of people, followed by Christians and Muslims, and Tamil is the main language spoken in almost all parts of the district. The population is almost balanced between rural and urban areas, with villages and towns spread across river plains and dry belts. There are more than 8.15 lakh households in the district as per the last census.
Quick Overview of District Census 2011
| Item |
Figure |
| District Name |
Tirunelveli |
| State |
Tamil Nadu |
| Census Year |
2011 |
| Actual Population |
3,077,233 |
| Male Population |
1,520,912 |
| Female Population |
1,556,321 |
| Sex Ratio (female per 1000 male) |
1,023 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) |
960 |
| Total Area (sq km) |
6,693 |
| Population Density (per sq km) |
460 |
| Average Literacy Rate |
82.50 % |
| Male Literacy Rate |
89.24 % |
| Female Literacy Rate |
75.98 % |
| Urban Population Share |
49.40 % |
| Rural Population Share |
50.60 % |
| Total Households |
815,528 |
Historic Census Data and Population Projections
Population from 1901 to 2011
| Census Year |
Population |
| 1901 |
982,363 |
| 1911 |
1,061,965 |
| 1921 |
1,154,547 |
| 1931 |
1,242,552 |
| 1941 |
1,376,604 |
| 1951 |
1,547,268 |
| 1961 |
1,677,309 |
| 1971 |
1,972,220 |
| 1981 |
2,203,462 |
| 1991 |
2,481,880 |
| 2001 |
2,703,492 |
| 2011 |
3,077,233 |
Key Census Indicators 2001 and 2011
| Indicator |
2001 |
2011 |
| Actual Population |
2,723,988 |
3,077,233 |
| Population (in lakh) |
27.24 |
30.77 |
| Population Growth (%) |
8.93 |
12.97 |
| Area (sq km) |
6,703 |
6,693 |
| Density (persons per sq km) |
406 |
460 |
| Sex Ratio (female per 1000 male) |
1,042 |
1,023 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) |
957 |
960 |
| Average Literacy (%) |
76.09 |
82.50 |
| Male Literacy (%) |
85.21 |
89.24 |
| Female Literacy (%) |
67.43 |
75.98 |
| Total Child Population 0-6 |
320,175 |
321,687 |
| Child Share in Population (%) |
11.75 |
10.45 |
Population Projections up to 2031
| Year |
Projected Population |
| 2021 |
3,410,000 |
| 2022 |
3,440,000 |
| 2023 |
3,470,000 |
| 2024 |
3,490,000 |
| 2025 |
3,510,000 |
| 2026 |
3,530,000 |
| 2027 |
3,550,000 |
| 2028 |
3,560,000 |
| 2029 |
3,570,000 |
| 2030 |
3,580,000 |
| 2031 |
3,590,000 |
Population, Child Population and Sex Ratio
Basic Population Structure 2011
| Category |
Male |
Female |
| Total Population |
1,520,912 |
1,556,321 |
| Child Population 0-6 years |
164,157 |
157,530 |
| Total Child Population 0-6 |
321,687 |
| Child Share in Total Population (%) |
10.45 |
| Sex Ratio (female per 1000 male) |
1,023 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) |
960 |
Urban and Rural Child Data
| Area Type |
Child Population 0-6 |
Child Sex Ratio |
| Urban |
154,323 |
958 |
| Rural |
167,364 |
961 |
Literacy Rate, Male Literacy and Female Literacy
Overall and Gender Wise Literacy
| Indicator |
Rate (%) |
| Average Literacy |
82.50 |
| Male Literacy |
89.24 |
| Female Literacy |
75.98 |
Urban and Rural Literacy Pattern
| Area Type |
Average Literacy (%) |
Male Literacy (%) |
Female Literacy (%) |
| Total |
82.50 |
89.24 |
75.98 |
| Urban |
85.90 |
91.74 |
80.23 |
| Rural |
79.17 |
86.77 |
71.80 |
Literacy by Religion
| Religion |
Average Literacy (%) |
Male Literacy (%) |
Female Literacy (%) |
| Hindu |
80.70 |
88.00 |
73.61 |
| Christian |
91.21 |
94.30 |
88.29 |
| Muslim |
87.08 |
93.46 |
80.79 |
| Religion not stated |
86.53 |
92.01 |
81.16 |
Religion and Caste (SC / ST)
Religion Wise Population 2011
| Religion |
Population |
Percentage |
| Hindu |
2,425,630 |
78.83 % |
| Christian |
342,254 |
11.12 % |
| Muslim |
303,368 |
9.86 % |
| Sikh |
268 |
0.01 % |
| Buddhist |
373 |
0.01 % |
| Jain |
144 |
0.00 % |
| Other religions |
450 |
0.01 % |
| Religion not stated |
4,746 |
0.15 % |
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Population
| Group |
Population |
Share in District (%) |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) |
569,714 |
18.51 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
10,270 |
0.33 |
SC and ST Population by Gender
| Group |
Male Population |
Female Population |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) |
279,570 |
290,144 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
5,109 |
5,161 |
Urban and Rural Population, Density and Households
Urban Rural Split
| Area Type |
Population |
Share of Total (%) |
| Urban |
1,520,229 |
49.40 |
| Rural |
1,557,004 |
50.60 |
Urban and Rural Detailed Profile
| Description |
Rural |
Urban |
| Total Population |
1,557,004 |
1,520,229 |
| Male Population |
768,728 |
752,184 |
| Female Population |
788,276 |
768,045 |
| Sex Ratio (female per 1000 male) |
1,025 |
1,021 |
| Child Population 0-6 |
167,364 |
154,323 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) |
961 |
958 |
| Average Literacy (%) |
79.17 |
85.90 |
| Male Literacy (%) |
86.77 |
91.74 |
| Female Literacy (%) |
71.80 |
80.23 |
Area, Density and Households
| Item |
Figure |
| Total Area (sq km) |
6,693 |
| Population Density (per sq km) |
460 |
| Total Households |
815,528 |
| Houseless Families |
392 |
| Houseless Population |
1,446 |
| Total Towns |
53 |
| Total Villages |
465 |
Workforce and Economic Profile
Workers by Category
| Work Category |
Number of Workers |
| Total Workers |
1,436,454 |
| Cultivators (main) |
107,943 |
| Main Agricultural Labourers |
321,083 |
| Household Industry (main) |
215,667 |
| Other Workers (main) |
626,714 |
| Marginal Workers (total) |
165,047 |
| Marginal Cultivators |
7,772 |
| Marginal Agricultural Labourers |
58,680 |
| Marginal Household Industry Workers |
23,997 |
| Other Marginal Workers |
74,598 |
Worker Profile Overview
| Category |
Number |
| Total Workers |
1,436,454 |
| Male Workers |
876,175 |
| Female Workers |
560,279 |
| Worker Share in Total Population (%) |
46.68 |
Administrative Divisions and Sub-Districts
Sub-Districts (Taluks / Tehsils as per Census)
| Sub-District (Taluk) |
Type |
| Alangulam |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
| Ambasamudram |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
| Nanguneri |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
| Palayamkottai |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
| Radhapuram |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
| Sankarankoil |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
| Shenkottai |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
| Sivagiri |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
| Tenkasi |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
| Tirunelveli |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
| Veerakeralamputhur |
Subdistrict / Taluk |
Revenue and Local Body Structure (Key Points)
| Administrative Unit |
Details |
| Revenue Divisions |
Tirunelveli, Cheranmahadevi (covering multiple taluks) |
| Municipal Corporation |
Tirunelveli |
| Municipalities |
Ambasamudram, Vikramasingapuram, Kalakkad |
| Town Panchayats (selected) |
Cheranmahadevi, Eruvadi, Kallidaikurichi, Manimutharu, Mukkudal, Nanguneri, Panagudi, Thisayanvilai, Veeravanallur, Valliyur and others |
Cities, Towns and Urban Centres
Urban Agglomeration and Main City
| Urban Centre |
Population 2011 |
| Tirunelveli Urban Agglomeration |
497,826 |
| Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation |
473,637 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the total population of Tirunelveli district? It is 30.77 lakh as per 2011 census.
- How is the population divided between rural and urban areas? Rural share is about 50.6 percent and urban share is about 49.4 percent.
- What is the literacy rate in Tirunelveli district? The literacy rate is around 82.5 percent.
- What are the SC and ST shares in Tirunelveli? SC share is 18.51 percent and ST share is 0.33 percent.
- What is the population density of Tirunelveli district? The density is about 460 persons per square kilometre.