Kerala · Districts
District-wise population of Kerala
Kerala has 14 districts today. Malappuram is the most populous, estimated at ≈47.22 lakh in 2026. Census 2011 figures are shown on each district's current boundaries, so districts created after 2011 have comparable numbers too.
| # | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malappuram | ≈ 47.22 lakh | 41,12,920 | +13.5% | 1098 | 93.6% | 44.2% | 1,157 |
| 2 | Thiruvananthapuram | ≈ 35.02 lakh | 33,01,427 | +2.1% | 1087 | 93.0% | 53.7% | 1,508 |
| 3 | Ernakulam | ≈ 35.74 lakh | 32,82,388 | +5.7% | 1027 | 95.9% | 68.1% | 1,072 |
| 4 | Thrissur | ≈ 33.8 lakh | 31,21,200 | +4.9% | 1108 | 95.1% | 67.2% | 1,031 |
| 5 | Kozhikode | ≈ 33.96 lakh | 30,86,293 | +7.2% | 1098 | 95.1% | 67.2% | 1,316 |
| 6 | Palakkad | ≈ 30.95 lakh | 28,09,934 | +7.4% | 1067 | 89.3% | 24.1% | 627 |
| 7 | Kollam | ≈ 27.93 lakh | 26,35,375 | +1.9% | 1113 | 94.1% | 45.1% | 1,061 |
| 8 | Kannur | ≈ 27.28 lakh | 25,23,003 | +4.7% | 1136 | 95.1% | 65.0% | 852 |
| 9 | Alappuzha | ≈ 22.37 lakh | 21,27,789 | +0.9% | 1100 | 95.7% | 54.0% | 1,504 |
| 10 | Kottayam | ≈ 20.79 lakh | 19,74,551 | +1.1% | 1039 | 97.2% | 28.6% | 895 |
| 11 | Kasaragod | ≈ 14.52 lakh | 13,07,375 | +8.6% | 1080 | 90.1% | 38.9% | 657 |
| 12 | Pathanamthitta | ≈ 12.23 lakh | 11,97,412 | −3.0% | 1132 | 96.6% | 11.0% | 452 |
| 13 | Idukki | ≈ 11.43 lakh | 11,08,974 | −1.8% | 1006 | 92.0% | 4.7% | 255 |
| 14 | Wayanad | ≈ 8.84 lakh | 8,17,420 | +4.7% | 1035 | 89.0% | 3.9% | 384 |
* 2026: our estimates (method M1), constrained to the official Kerala projection. ≈ density uses an area apportioned from 2011 sub-districts.
Districts of Kerala by population, 2026
- Malappuram 47.22 lakh
- Thiruvananthapuram 35.02 lakh
- Ernakulam 35.74 lakh
- Thrissur 33.8 lakh
- Kozhikode 33.96 lakh
- Palakkad 30.95 lakh
- Kollam 27.93 lakh
- Kannur 27.28 lakh
- Alappuzha 22.37 lakh
- Kottayam 20.79 lakh
- Kasaragod 14.52 lakh
- Pathanamthitta 12.23 lakh
- Idukki 11.43 lakh
- Wayanad 8.84 lakh
Frequently asked questions
How many districts are there in Kerala?
14, according to the Local Government Directory (14 listed). Census 2011 had fewer in several states; this page shows every current district.
Which district of Kerala has the highest population?
Malappuram, with 41,12,920 people in Census 2011 and an estimated ≈47.22 lakh in 2026. The smallest is Wayanad (8,17,420 in 2011).
Sources and method
- Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (ORGI)
- Census 2011 village and town population figures (ORGI)
- How 2011 figures are rebuilt on today’s district boundaries
- Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections 2011–2036 (July 2020)
- Our estimation method M1 (formulas and checks)
- Local Government Directory (current district boundaries)
Data updated: · Report a correction