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1.4 The share of urban population in Kerala is 47.7 per cent of the total, representing a decadal MACRO ECONOMIC PROFILE
increase of 21.74 per cent since 2001. As many as 1,59,34,926 persons in the state are living in
urban areas, while the rural population is 1,74,71,135 representing 52.3 per cent of the total. The
highest per cent of urban population (68.07per cent) is in Ernakulam district and the lowest (3.86 per
cent) is in Wayanad.

Literacy

1.5 Kerala has the highest literacy rate of 94 per cent among Indian states. It was 90 per cent during
2001 census. Kottayam tops in the literacy chart with 97.2 per cent and Pathanamthitta is just behind
with 96.5 per cent. Wayanad has the least literacy rate of 89 per cent and Palakkad is just above with
89.3 per cent. Even the lowest literacy rate of Wayanad (89) is higher than national rate of literacy
(72 per cent). All districts have a score above 90 except Palakkad (89.3) and Wayanad (89). The
difference between the lowest and the highest value is just 8.2. When compared with the literacy rate
of 2001, all the districts are showing better performance.Details are in Appendix 1.1

Sex Ratio

1.6 The sex ratio ( number of females per thousand males ) of Kerala according to census 2011, has
improved by 26 points to reach 1084.The sex ratio of Kerala was 1022 in 1961. After 1971 it started
moving to more favorable levels. Sex ratio of India is 943.

1.7 Among the districts, Kannur has the highest sex ratio (1136) followed by Pathanamthitta (1132).
While Idukki has the lowest score (1006), Ernakaulam is just above with 1027. All the districts have
the index above 1000. In 2001, only Wayanad had the index score below 1000 (994). The difference
between the lowest (Idukki-1006) and highest (Kannur-1136) is 130 points. Details are in Appendix 1.2

Child Sex Ratio ( 0-6 Years)

1.8 Child sex ratio in Kerala is 964 as per the 2011 census data. It was 960 in 2001. Pathanamthitta
has the highest score (976) followed by Kollam (973) and Kannur (971). Thrissur has the lowest
score of 950. Alappuzha is just above with the score of 951. The distance from lowest to highest is
just 26 points. All the districts have the score below 1000. This is alarming as it indicates that there
is a change in the general trend of more females than males in the overall population. Further
examination is required to study the reason behind this fall in child sex ratio. When analysing the
decadal change, the highest gain is for Kollam (13) and Kozhikode followed with a score of 10. All
other districts have the score below 10 points. Thrissur (-8), Idukki (-5) and Alappuzha (-5) have
negative decadal change in sex ratio. Details are in Appendix 1.2

Density of Population

1.9 Kerala’s density of population as per 2011 census is 860 persons / sq. km. It is much higher
than that of India (382). Thiruvananthapuram is the most densely populated district (1508) while,
Idukki is the least densely populated district (255). Density of population has increased in all districts
compared to 2001 census but for Pathanamthitta (-16) and Idukki (-4), it has declined. Details are in
Appendix 1.1

Economic Review 2014