GlobeMetrics
EN

Try “Pune”, “Poona” or “पुणे”

Tamil Nadu · Districts

District-wise population of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has 38 districts today. Chennai is the most populous, estimated at ≈65.44 lakh in 2026. Census 2011 figures are shown on each district's current boundaries, so districts created after 2011 have comparable numbers too.

District-wise population of Tamil Nadu
#
1 Chennai≈ 65.44 lakh61,97,479+13.3%98890.1%99.4%≈22,055
2 Salem≈ 37.29 lakh34,82,056+15.4%95472.9%51.0%665
3 Coimbatore≈ 37.8 lakh34,60,059+18.6%100084.0%75.7%≈730
4 Thiruvallur≈ 38.39 lakh31,82,032+35.3%98983.3%59.3%≈942
5 Madurai≈ 33.04 lakh30,38,252+17.8%99083.5%60.8%819
6 Tiruchirappalli≈ 28.6 lakh27,22,290+12.6%101383.2%49.2%604
7 Cuddalore≈ 27.65 lakh26,05,914+14.0%98778.0%34.0%704
8 Tiruppur≈ 28.84 lakh24,76,925+29.1%98978.7%61.4%≈479
9 Tiruvannamalai≈ 25.93 lakh24,64,875+12.8%99474.2%20.1%398
10 Thanjavur≈ 24.6 lakh24,05,890+8.6%103582.6%35.4%705
11 Erode≈ 23.52 lakh22,51,744+11.7%99372.6%51.4%391
12 Dindigul≈ 22.66 lakh21,59,888+12.3%99876.3%37.4%≈358
13 Viluppuram≈ 22.36 lakh20,69,005+16.8%99174.6%15.6%≈484
14 Virudhunagar≈ 20.18 lakh19,42,288+10.9%100780.2%50.5%458
15 Krishnagiri≈ 20.78 lakh18,79,809+20.4%95871.5%22.8%367
16 Kanniyakumari≈ 19.53 lakh18,70,374+11.6%101991.8%82.3%1,111
17 Chengalpattu≈ 22.06 lakh17,93,102+39.0%98583.1%51.8%≈676
18 Thoothukkudi≈ 17.83 lakh17,28,330+9.9%102386.3%50.7%≈374
19 Namakkal≈ 18.51 lakh17,26,601+15.6%98674.6%40.3%505
20 Tirunelveli≈ 17.34 lakh16,36,438+13.8%102986.6%55.4%≈521
21 Pudukkottai≈ 16.81 lakh16,18,345+10.9%101577.2%19.6%348
22 Vellore≈ 16.52 lakh15,65,988+13.2%101680.8%50.0%≈736
23 Dharmapuri≈ 16.23 lakh15,06,843+16.3%94668.5%17.3%335
24 Tenkasi≈ 15.49 lakh14,62,641+13.8%101877.9%42.0%≈398
25 Kallakurichi≈ 15.02 lakh13,89,868+16.8%98167.9%14.2%≈476
26 Ramanathapuram≈ 14.35 lakh13,53,445+14.0%98380.7%30.3%330
27 Sivaganga≈ 14.38 lakh13,39,101+15.9%100379.9%30.8%316
28 Thiruvarur≈ 12.89 lakh12,64,277+8.1%101782.9%20.4%556
29 Theni≈ 13.21 lakh12,45,899+13.9%99177.3%53.8%434
30 Kancheepuram≈ 14.77 lakh12,00,475+39.0%98881.4%52.8%≈690
31 Ranipet≈ 12.66 lakh11,99,984+13.2%100779.6%40.3%≈616
32 Tirupathur≈ 12.35 lakh11,70,359+13.2%99476.6%37.1%≈585
33 Karur≈ 11.27 lakh10,64,493+13.8%101575.6%40.8%367
34 Mayiladuthurai≈ 9.39 lakh9,18,356+8.6%102983.4%19.2%≈603
35 Ariyalur≈ 7.72 lakh7,54,894+8.5%101571.3%11.1%389
36 The Nilgiris≈ 6.88 lakh7,35,394−3.5%104285.2%59.2%≈287
37 Nagapattinam≈ 7.14 lakh6,98,094+8.6%102183.9%26.9%≈667
38 Perambalur≈ 6.02 lakh5,65,223+14.5%100374.3%17.2%322

* 2026: our estimates (method M1), constrained to the official Tamil Nadu projection. ≈ density uses an area apportioned from 2011 sub-districts.

Districts of Tamil Nadu by population, 2026

District-wise population of Tamil Nadu
  1. Chennai 65.44 lakh
  2. Salem 37.29 lakh
  3. Coimbatore 37.8 lakh
  4. Thiruvallur 38.39 lakh
  5. Madurai 33.04 lakh
  6. Tiruchirappalli 28.6 lakh
  7. Cuddalore 27.65 lakh
  8. Tiruppur 28.84 lakh
  9. Tiruvannamalai 25.93 lakh
  10. Thanjavur 24.6 lakh
  11. Erode 23.52 lakh
  12. Dindigul 22.66 lakh
  13. Viluppuram 22.36 lakh
  14. Virudhunagar 20.18 lakh
  15. Krishnagiri 20.78 lakh
  16. Kanniyakumari 19.53 lakh
  17. Chengalpattu 22.06 lakh
  18. Thoothukkudi 17.83 lakh
  19. Namakkal 18.51 lakh
  20. Tirunelveli 17.34 lakh
  21. Pudukkottai 16.81 lakh
  22. Vellore 16.52 lakh
  23. Dharmapuri 16.23 lakh
  24. Tenkasi 15.49 lakh
  25. Kallakurichi 15.02 lakh
  26. Ramanathapuram 14.35 lakh
  27. Sivaganga 14.38 lakh
  28. Thiruvarur 12.89 lakh
  29. Theni 13.21 lakh
  30. Kancheepuram 14.77 lakh
  31. Ranipet 12.66 lakh
  32. Tirupathur 12.35 lakh
  33. Karur 11.27 lakh
  34. Mayiladuthurai 9.39 lakh
  35. Ariyalur 7.72 lakh
  36. The Nilgiris 6.88 lakh
  37. Nagapattinam 7.14 lakh
  38. Perambalur 6.02 lakh

Largest cities →

Frequently asked questions

How many districts are there in Tamil Nadu?
38, according to the Local Government Directory (38 listed). Census 2011 had fewer in several states; this page shows every current district.

Which district of Tamil Nadu has the highest population?
Chennai, with 61,97,479 people in Census 2011 and an estimated ≈65.44 lakh in 2026. The smallest is Perambalur (5,65,223 in 2011).

Sources and method

Data updated: · Report a correction