# Salem District, Tamil Nadu – Sub-districts, Towns, Villages & Population > Source: https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/ District · Tamil Nadu # Salem district Salem is a district of Tamil Nadu, 5th of 32 districts there. At the 2011 Census it had **3,482,056 people** in 9 sub-districts, 68 towns and 585 villages; 51% lived in towns. The largest town is [Salem](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/salem/salem/) (829,267). - 3,482,056people (2011) - 9sub-districts - 68towns - 72.9%literacy ## Who lives in Salem? Salem had **3,482,056 people** at the 2011 Census — 4.8% of Tamil Nadu's population and 5th of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu by population. There were 954 women for every 1,000 men (below the Tamil Nadu figure of 996; 31st of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu). Among children under 7 the ratio was 916 girls per 1,000 boys (the Tamil Nadu figure is 943). An average household had 3.8 people, against 3.9 across Tamil Nadu. ## How literate is Salem? 72.9% of people aged 7 and over could read and write in 2011 (below Tamil Nadu's 80.1%), 27th of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu. Men were at 80.2% and women at 65.2% — a gap of 15.1 points (it is 13.3 points across Tamil Nadu). Among its sub-districts, literacy is highest in [Salem](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/salem/) (79.6%) and lowest in [Yercaud](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/yercaud/) (61.5%). 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 Salem do for a living? 48.7% of people worked in 2011 (women: 35.9%). Of all workers, 15% farmed their own land, 23% were farm labourers, 8% worked in household industry and 46% in other work such as services, trade and factories; 8% were marginal workers with less than six months' work. Farming employs 38% of workers here, against 34% across Tamil Nadu. The most farm-dependent of its sub-districts is [Gangavalli](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/gangavalli/) (69% of workers in farming) and the least is [Salem](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/salem/) (12% of workers in farming). ********** **■** Cultivators 15 (15%) · **■** Farm labourers 23 (23%) · **■** Household industry 8 (8%) · **■** Other work 46 (46%) · **■** Marginal 8 (8%) 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 Salem 51.0% of people lived in towns and cities (above Tamil Nadu's 48.4%), 11th of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu. The Census counted 68 towns: 38 statutory towns with a municipality and 30 census towns — places urban in character but still governed as villages. 1 city has 1 lakh (100,000) people or more. The largest is [Salem](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/salem/salem/) with 829,267 people, home to 47% 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). ## Villages of Salem Salem had 585 census villages, 517 of them inhabited. The average inhabited village had 3,304 people; 120 villages had 5,000 people or more. The largest: [Kaveripuram](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/mettur/kaveripuram/) (21,306), [Desavilakku](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/omalur/desavilakku/) (19,188), [Gonur](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/mettur/gonur/) (18,766), [Soorappalli](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/mettur/soorappalli/) (15,660) and [Kanjanayakanpatti](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/omalur/kanjanayakanpatti/) (15,611). Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog). ## Population of Salem compared with Tamil Nadu ■ Salem · ■ Tamil Nadu Literacy (age 7+) ****72.9%** **80.1% Sex ratio (F per 1,000 M) ****954** **996 Child sex ratio (0–6) ****916** **943 Working population ****48.7%** **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 Salem Of every 100 households in Salem in 2011, 91 had electricity, 35 a toilet at home and 49 cooked with LPG; 67 had a mobile phone, 38 a two-wheeler and 3 a car. ■ Salem · ■ Electricity for lighting ****91%** Toilet within the home ****35%** No toilet (open defecation) ****54%** Tap water ****79%** Drinking water within premises ****25%** Cooking with LPG / PNG ****49%** Cooking with firewood / dung / crop residue ****43%** Use banking services ****39%** Television ****82%** Mobile phone ****67%** Computer with internet ****2%** Two-wheeler ****38%** Car / jeep / van ****3%** None of these assets ****8%** Own their home ****77%** 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 Salem Sub-district People Villages Towns [Mettur](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/mettur/) 419,887 44 10 [Omalur](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/omalur/) 494,355 90 8 [Edappadi](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/edappadi/) 223,756 20 3 [Sankari](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/sankari/) 241,783 41 7 [Salem](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/salem/) 1,272,743 95 25 [Yercaud](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/yercaud/) 41,869 86 1 [Vazhapadi](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/vazhapadi/) 195,412 66 4 [Attur](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/attur/) 430,949 101 5 [Gangavalli](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/salem/gangavalli/) 161,302 42 5 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 Salem - Salem · 829,267 - Attur · 61,793 - Edappadi · 54,823 - Mettur · 52,813 - Edaganasalai · 33,245 - Tharamangalam · 30,222 - Sankari · 29,467 - Mecheri · 25,676 - P.N.Patti · 25,133 - Narasingapuram · 23,084 - Thammampatti · 21,503 - Kondalampatti · 20,318 - Kannankurichi · 19,765 - Pethanaickenpalayam · 17,678 - Vazhapadi · 17,559 - Veerakkalpudur · 16,665 - Omalur · 16,279 - Jalakandapuram · 16,184 - Arasiramani · 14,834 - Sentharapatti · 14,308 - Karuppur · 13,967 - Attayampatti · 13,852 - Kolathur · 12,748 - Maramangalathupatti · 12,448 - Neykkarappatti · 12,090 - Karukkalvadi · 12,052 - Gangavalli · 12,015 - Ilampillai · 11,797 - Veeraganur · 11,624 - Yercaud · 11,582 - Ayothiapattinam · 11,517 - Kadayampatti · 11,390 - Puthur Agraharam · 11,173 - Ethapur · 10,968 - Nangavalli · 10,809 - Mallur · 10,331 - Erumapalayam · 10,220 - Keeripatti · 10,208 - Mallamooppampatti · 10,199 - Avadattur · 9,869 ## Largest villages in Salem - Kaveripuram · 21,306 - Desavilakku · 19,188 - Gonur · 18,766 - Soorappalli · 15,660 - Kanjanayakanpatti · 15,611 - Chittur · 14,466 - Muthunaickenpatti · 13,192 - Idupali · 13,152 - Vellalapuram · 13,143 - Tumbipadi · 12,515 - Manivilundan · 12,115 - Vellarivalli · 12,093 - ChinnakalrayanHillsvadakkunadu · 11,734 - Kachchippalli · 11,443 - Kamalapuram · 11,364 - J.Veeranam · 11,037 - Kattukkottai · 10,568 - Periyasoragai · 10,566 - Kongupatti · 10,400 - Pappambadi · 10,284 Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog). ## Quick answers - How many sub-districts are in Salem?9: Mettur, Omalur, Edappadi, Sankari, Salem, Yercaud, Vazhapadi, Attur, Gangavalli - What is the population of Salem district?3,482,056 (Census 2011) - Which is the largest town in Salem?Salem