Browse the place directories and read the reference tables below. Search and interactive comparisons need JavaScript.

district · Census 2011 · code 593

Palakkad population.
Households, literacy and work.

A detailed district profile in Kerala, using the original Primary Census Abstract. Every figure on this page belongs to the source’s 2011 population and geography.

Historical geographic unit. Historical Census 2011 district boundary. This record does not represent a present-day district unless the boundaries are independently shown to match.
Population2,809,934people
Households637,220PCA households
Literacy rate89.31%% of people aged 7+
Work participation37.09%% of all residents

Total, rural and urban population

Scroll the table sideways to see every column.

Indicator · Census 2011TotalRuralUrban
Populationpeople2,809,9342,133,124676,810
Households recorded in the PCAhouseholds637,220482,285154,935
Children aged 0–6people aged 0–6302,297231,89270,405
Children aged 0–6 as a share of population%10.76%10.87%10.4%
Sex ratiofemales per 1,000 males1,0671,0681,063
Child sex ratiogirls per 1,000 boys aged 0–6967969959
Literate populationliterate people aged 7+2,239,4921,678,895560,597
Literacy rate%89.31%88.31%92.45%
Male literacy rate%93.1%92.36%95.43%
Female literacy rate%85.79%84.56%89.67%
Scheduled Castes populationpeople403,833322,95180,882
Scheduled Tribes populationpeople48,97247,0231,949
Total workersCensus workers1,042,340806,903235,437
Work participation rate%37.09%37.83%34.79%
Main workersworked at least 6 months875,540673,510202,030
Marginal workersworked less than 6 months166,800133,39333,407
Non-workerspeople1,767,5941,326,221441,373

Calculated percentages retain the denominator named in each row. Counts are reported people or households, and are not estimates for a later year.

Census of India · original Primary Census Abstract
Sheet1! rows 1877, 1878, 1879; original PCA field codes are documented in field-definitions.json.
Source access notes and archived workbooks

What stands out in this profile?

  • The source records 637,220 households and 2,809,934 residents. These household and person counts are separate measures.
  • Urban residents accounted for 24.09% of this area’s population, compared with 75.91% in rural areas.
  • Children aged 0–6 accounted for 10.76% of residents. This historical age group helps describe the age structure in 2011; it does not measure today’s children.
  • Male literacy was 93.1% and female literacy was 85.79%, each calculated among the corresponding population aged 7 and above.
  • Of 1,042,340 Census workers, 84% were main workers. Census work includes more than salaried employment.

What kinds of work were recorded?

Scroll the table sideways to see every column.

Economic activityMain workersMarginal workers
Cultivators59,1948,611
Agricultural labourers195,39454,555
Household industry workers19,9755,060
Other workers600,97798,574

Cultivators, agricultural labourers, household industry workers and other workers are separate Census activity categories. A worker count is not a count of employees on a company payroll.

Using the profile in research

These are historical counts, not current market estimates or present-day projections for this district. Read the research guidance before choosing a denominator or adding eligibility, adoption and spending assumptions.

Definitions, calculation methods and source access

Literacy uses people aged 7 and above; work participation uses all residents. Main workers worked at least six months. Households are the PCA household count, not houses. Rates with zero denominators are unavailable. Names and boundaries belong to Census 2011.

Read the full definitions and research guidance

Download the field definitions

Towns connected to this district

The population displayed here counts only the source components within this district. A linked full-town profile can include components in other districts.

Census code 803275

Palakkad

130,955 people within this district · Town

Census code 803274

Ottappalam

53,792 people within this district · Town

Census code 803273

Shoranur

43,533 people within this district · Town

Census code 627653

Pirayiri

41,359 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627627

Mannarkad-I

34,839 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627648

Puthuppariyaram

30,895 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627598

Pattambi

28,632 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627649

Hemambikanagar

28,592 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627600

Thrithala

27,796 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627713

Alathur

26,720 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627596

Ongallur -II

26,273 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627652

Marutharode

24,963 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627599

Muthuthala

24,861 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627682

Koduvayur

20,703 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627651

Pudussery West

20,140 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627683

Puthunagaram

17,892 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627597

Ongallur -I

16,998 people within this district · Census town

Census code 627601

Vaniyamkulam- II

16,085 people within this district · Census town