# Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu – Sub-districts & Towns

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/

District · Tamil Nadu 

# Tirunelveli district

Tirunelveli is a district of Tamil Nadu, 8th of 32 districts there. At the 2011 Census it had **3,077,233 people** in 11 sub-districts, 53 towns and 465 villages; 49% lived in towns. The largest town is [Tirunelveli](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/tirunelveli/tirunelveli/) (473,637).

- 3,077,233people (2011)
- 11sub-districts
- 53towns
- 82.5%literacy

## Who lives in Tirunelveli?

Tirunelveli had **3,077,233 people** at the 2011 Census — 4.3% of Tamil Nadu's population and 8th of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu by population. There were 1,023 women for every 1,000 men (above the Tamil Nadu figure of 996; 4th of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu). Among children under 7 the ratio was 960 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 Tirunelveli?

82.5% of people aged 7 and over could read and write in 2011 (above Tamil Nadu's 80.1%), 13th of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu. Men were at 89.2% and women at 76.0% — a gap of 13.3 points (it is 13.3 points across Tamil Nadu). Among its sub-districts, literacy is highest in [Radhapuram](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/radhapuram/) (88.6%) and lowest in [Sivagiri](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/sivagiri/) (73.6%).

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 Tirunelveli do for a living?

46.7% of people worked in 2011 (women: 36.0%). Of all workers, 8% farmed their own land, 22% were farm labourers, 15% worked in household industry and 44% in other work such as services, trade and factories; 11% were marginal workers with less than six months' work. Farming employs 30% of workers here, against 34% across Tamil Nadu. The most farm-dependent of its sub-districts is [Sankarankoil](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/sankarankoil/) (53% of workers in farming) and the least is [Tirunelveli](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/tirunelveli/) (14% of workers in farming).

**********

**■** Cultivators 8 (8%) · **■** Farm labourers 22 (22%) · **■** Household industry 15 (15%) · **■** Other work 44 (44%) · **■** 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 Tirunelveli

49.4% of people lived in towns and cities (above Tamil Nadu's 48.4%), 14th of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu. The Census counted 53 towns: 44 statutory towns with a municipality and 9 census towns — places urban in character but still governed as villages. 1 city has 1 lakh (100,000) people or more. The largest is [Tirunelveli](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/tirunelveli/tirunelveli/) with 473,637 people, home to 31% 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 Tirunelveli

Tirunelveli had 465 census villages, 430 of them inhabited. The average inhabited village had 3,621 people; 99 villages had 5,000 people or more. The largest: [Chockampatti](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/tenkasi/chockampatti/) (18,220), [Palavoor](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/radhapuram/palavoor/) (17,780), [Kallurani](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/tenkasi/kallurani/) (16,699), [Avudaiyanoor](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/tenkasi/avudaiyanoor/) (15,948) and [Sendamangalam](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/sankarankoil/sendamangalam/) (15,613).

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Tirunelveli district in history

The 11th edition of the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* (1911) described Tirunelveli district as follows. Its wording reflects its time; spellings are as printed.

> The District of Tinnevelly has an area of 5389 sq. m. It is for the most part a plain with an average elevation of 200 ft., sloping to the east with sh'ght undulations. It is watered by numerous short streams, the principal being the Tambraparni with a length of 80 m. The chief irrigation work is the Srivaikuntam anicut or dam on this river. In the north the scenery is unattractive and the soil poor; in the south red sandy soil prevails in which little save the Palmyra palm will grow. This palm yields toddy as well as a coarse sugar. Along the banks of the rivers are rice-fields and a variety of trees and crops; and coffee is grown on the slopes of the Travancore hills. The district contains many ancient and magnificent buildings. But the most interesting antiquities are the large sepulchral earthen urns of prehistoric races, which have been found at several places, especially along the course of the Tambraparni; they contain bones, pottery, beads and bronze ornaments, iron weapons, implements, &c. The South Indian railway has its maritime terminus at Tuticorin, the chief seaport. The principal exports are rice to Ceylon and cotton to Japan and Europe. In 1901 the population was 2,059,607, showing an increase of 8 % in the decade.

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 Tirunelveli compared with Tamil Nadu

■ Tirunelveli · ■ Tamil Nadu

Literacy (age 7+) ****82.5%**

**80.1%

Sex ratio (F per 1,000 M) ****1023**

**996

Child sex ratio (0–6) ****960**

**943

Working population ****46.7%**

**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 Tirunelveli

Of every 100 households in Tirunelveli in 2011, 95 had electricity, 48 a toilet at home and 44 cooked with LPG; 64 had a mobile phone, 24 a two-wheeler and 3 a car.

■ Tirunelveli · ■ 

Electricity for lighting ****95%**

Toilet within the home ****48%**

No toilet (open defecation) ****43%**

Tap water ****89%**

Drinking water within premises ****36%**

Cooking with LPG / PNG ****44%**

Cooking with firewood / dung / crop residue ****47%**

Use banking services ****58%**

Television ****85%**

Mobile phone ****64%**

Computer with internet ****2%**

Two-wheeler ****24%**

Car / jeep / van ****3%**

None of these assets ****6%**

Own their home ****78%**

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 Tirunelveli

Sub-district People Villages Towns 

[Sivagiri](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/sivagiri/) 194,156 20 4 

[Sankarankoil](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/sankarankoil/) 350,144 85 2 

[Veerakeralamputhur](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/veerakeralamputhur/) 123,137 22 1 

[Tenkasi](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/tenkasi/) 399,946 30 8 

[Shenkottai](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/shenkottai/) 141,416 14 6 

[Alangulam](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/alangulam/) 176,138 31 3 

[Tirunelveli](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/tirunelveli/) 642,835 63 3 

[Palayamkottai](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/palayamkottai/) 91,176 41 0 

[Ambasamudram](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/ambasamudram/) 428,031 64 14 

[Nanguneri](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/nanguneri/) 225,602 59 5 

[Radhapuram](https://wherepedia.org/india/tamil-nadu/tirunelveli/radhapuram/) 304,652 36 7 

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 Tirunelveli

- Tirunelveli · 473,637
- Kadayanallur · 90,364
- Tenkasi · 70,545
- Puliankudi · 66,034
- Sankarankoil · 57,277
- Vikramasingapuram · 47,241
- Ambasamudram · 35,645
- Surandai · 35,272
- Kalakad · 30,921
- Panagudi · 29,895
- Vadakkuvalliyur · 29,417
- Shenkottai · 26,823
- Kalladaikurichi · 26,398
- Thisayanvilai · 23,702
- Sivagiri · 23,040
- Kilapavoor · 22,231
- Vasudevanallur · 21,361
- Alangulam · 20,948
- Vadakarai Keezhpadugai · 20,821
- Veeravanallur · 19,585
- Cheranmadevi · 18,327
- Eruvadi · 18,067
- Naranammalpuram · 17,094
- Sambavar Vadagarai · 16,709
- Pathamadai · 16,625
- Aygudi · 15,129
- Mukkudal · 14,983
- Melagaram · 14,535
- Sivanthipuram · 14,281
- Achampudur · 13,566
- Pudur · 12,457
- Manimutharu · 11,323
- Rayagiri · 11,223
- Moolakaraipatti · 11,112
- Gopalasamudram · 10,694
- Ilanji · 10,282
- Alwarkurichi · 10,045
- Thirukarungudi · 9,342
- Panpoli · 9,313
- Vaddakkankulam · 9,220

## Largest villages in Tirunelveli

- Chockampatti · 18,220
- Palavoor · 17,780
- Kallurani · 16,699
- Avudaiyanoor · 15,948
- Sendamangalam · 15,613
- Kilakadayam · 15,135
- Levinjipuram · 14,020
- Chettikulam · 13,866
- Kulasekarapatti · 13,075
- Gunaramanallur · 12,982
- Koondankulam · 12,957
- Thippampatti · 12,933
- Kalppakulam · 12,470
- Keelanatham · 11,570
- Pethanadarpatti · 10,996
- Suttamalli · 10,954
- Vijayapathi · 10,854
- Perungudi · 10,720
- Karivalamvandanallur · 10,581
- Viswanathapperi · 10,483

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 Tirunelveli?11: Sivagiri, Sankarankoil, Veerakeralamputhur, Tenkasi, Shenkottai, Alangulam, Tirunelveli, Palayamkottai, Ambasamudram, Nanguneri, Radhapuram
- What is the population of Tirunelveli district?3,077,233 (Census 2011)
- Which is the largest town in Tirunelveli?Tirunelveli