# Chennai District, Tamil Nadu – Sub-districts, Towns, Villages & Population > Source: https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/chennai/ District · Tamil Nadu # Chennai district Chennai is a district of Tamil Nadu, the most populous of 32 districts there. At the 2011 Census it had **4,646,732 people** in 1 sub-district, 1 town and 0 villages; 100% lived in towns. The largest town is [Chennai](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/chennai/area-not-under-any-sub-district/chennai/) (4,646,732). - 4,646,732people (2011) - 1sub-districts - 1towns - 90.2%literacy ## Who lives in Chennai? Chennai had **4,646,732 people** at the 2011 Census — 6.4% of Tamil Nadu's population and the largest of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu by population. There were 989 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Tamil Nadu figure of 996; 23rd of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu). Among children under 7 the ratio was 950 girls per 1,000 boys (the Tamil Nadu figure is 943). An average household had 4.0 people, against 3.9 across Tamil Nadu. ## How literate is Chennai? 90.2% of people aged 7 and over could read and write in 2011 (above Tamil Nadu's 80.1%), 2nd of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu. Men were at 93.7% and women at 86.6% — a gap of 7.1 points (it is 13.3 points across Tamil Nadu). Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog). ## What do people in Chennai do for a living? 39.1% of people worked in 2011 (women: 19.4%). Of all workers, 1% farmed their own land, 1% were farm labourers, 2% worked in household industry and 86% in other work such as services, trade and factories; 11% were marginal workers with less than six months' work. Farming employs 1% of workers here, against 34% across Tamil Nadu. ********** **■** Cultivators 1 (1%) · **■** Farm labourers 1 (1%) · **■** Household industry 2 (2%) · **■** Other work 86 (86%) · **■** Marginal 11 (11%) Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog). ## Cities and towns of Chennai 100.0% of people lived in towns and cities (above Tamil Nadu's 48.4%), the most urban of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu. The Census counted 1 towns: 1 statutory towns with a municipality and 0 census towns — places urban in character but still governed as villages. 1 city has 1 lakh (100,000) people or more, and 1 passed 10 lakh: [Chennai](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/chennai/area-not-under-any-sub-district/chennai/). The largest is [Chennai](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/chennai/area-not-under-any-sub-district/chennai/) with 4,646,732 people, home to 100% of the urban population. Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog). ## Chennai district in history The 11th edition of the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* (1911) described Chennai district as follows. Its wording reflects its time; spellings are as printed. > MADRAS, a presidency of British India—officially styled Fort St George—occupying, with its dependencies, the entire south of the Indian peninsula. The north boundary is extremely irregular. On the extreme N.E. is the Bengal province of Orissa; then the wild highlands of the Central Provinces; next the dominions of the nizam of Hyderabad; and lastly, on the N.W., the Bombay districts of Dharwar and North Kanara. Geographically Mysore and Coorg lie within the bounds of Madras, and politically it includes the Laccadive Islands, off the Malabar coast, in the Indian Ocean. Its total area, including native states, is 151,695 sq. m., and its population in 1901 was 42,397,522, showing an increase of 7.7% in the decade. The seat of government is at Madras (city) (q.v.). Physical Aspect.—The Madras presidency may be roughly divided into three tracts: (1) the long and broad east coast, (2) the shorter and narrower west coast, and (3) the high interior table-land. These divisions are determined by the great mountain ranges of the Eastern and Western Ghats (q.v.). Between these two ranges lies the central table-land, with an elevation of 1000 to 3000 ft., which includes the whole of Mysore, and extends over about half a dozen districts of Madras. The Anaimudi mountain (8837 ft.) in Travancore is the highest in southern India. The Nilgiri hills, which join the Ghats, culminate in Dodabetta (8760 ft.). - Population in 1901 (as quoted in 1911)42,397,522 - Population in 2011 (Census)4,646,732 - Change0.1× (-89%) Source: [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition (1911) — public domain; transcription via Wikisource](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica). Boundaries in 1901 may differ from today's; sentences describing castes or communities are omitted. ## Population of Chennai compared with Tamil Nadu ■ Chennai · ■ Tamil Nadu Literacy (age 7+) ****90.2%** **80.1% Sex ratio (F per 1,000 M) ****989** **996 Child sex ratio (0–6) ****950** **943 Working population ****39.1%** **45.6% Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog). ## Homes and amenities in Chennai Of every 100 households in Chennai in 2011, 99 had electricity, 96 a toilet at home and 82 cooked with LPG; 82 had a mobile phone, 47 a two-wheeler and 13 a car. ■ Chennai · ■ Electricity for lighting ****99%** Toilet within the home ****96%** No toilet (open defecation) ****1%** Tap water ****82%** Drinking water within premises ****76%** Cooking with LPG / PNG ****82%** Cooking with firewood / dung / crop residue ****3%** Use banking services ****71%** Television ****95%** Mobile phone ****82%** Computer with internet ****20%** Two-wheeler ****47%** Car / jeep / van ****13%** None of these assets ****1%** Own their home ****47%** Source: [Census of India 2011, Houselisting and Housing Census – households by amenities and assets (HH-14)](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog). ## Sub-districts of Chennai Sub-district People Villages Towns [Area not under any Sub-district](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/chennai/area-not-under-any-sub-district/) 4,646,732 0 1 Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog). ## Cities and towns in Chennai - Chennai · 4,646,732 ## Quick answers - How many sub-districts are in Chennai?1: Area not under any Sub-district - What is the population of Chennai district?4,646,732 (Census 2011) - Which is the largest town in Chennai?Chennai