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Kerala is a state on the of . It was formed on 1 November 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act, which unified the country's -speaking regions into a single state. Covering , it is bordered by to the north and northeast, to the east and south, and the to the west. With 33 million inhabitants according to the 2011 census, Kerala is the 13th-most populous state in India. It is divided into 14 districts, with Thiruvananthapuram as the capital. Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and, along with English, serves as an official language of the state.

Kerala has been a prominent exporter of spices since 3000 . The , the first major kingdom in the region, rose to prominence through maritime commerce but often faced invasions from the neighbouring and dynasties. In the 15th century, the attracted Portuguese traders to Kerala, initiating in India. After Indian independence in 1947, and Cochin acceded to the newly formed republic and were merged in 1949 to form the state of Travancore-Cochin. In 1956, the modern state of Kerala was formed by merging the , Travancore-Cochin (excluding four southern ), and the taluk of .

Kerala has the lowest positive population growth rate in India (3.44%); the highest Human Development Index, at 0.784 in 2018; the highest literacy rate, 96.2% in 2018; the highest life expectancy, at 77.3 years; and the highest , with 1,084 women per 1,000 men. It is the least impoverished and the second-most urbanised state in the country. The state has witnessed significant emigration, particularly to the Arab states of the Persian Gulf during the Gulf Boom of the 1970s and early 1980s, and its economy relies heavily on remittances from a large expatriate population. Hinduism is practised by more than 54% of the population, followed by Islam and Christianity. The culture is a synthesis of and Dravidian traditions, shaped over millennia by influences from across India and abroad.

The production of and contributes significantly to the national output. In the agricultural sector, coconut, tea, coffee, cashew, and spices are important crops. The state's coastline extends for , and 1.1 million people depend on the fishing industry, which accounts for around 3% of the state's income. The economy is largely service-oriented, while the primary sector contributes a comparatively smaller share. Kerala has the highest media exposure in India, with newspapers published in nine languages, primarily Malayalam and English. Named as one of the ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler, Kerala is one of the prominent tourist destinations of India, with coconut-lined sandy beaches, backwaters, , and greenery as its major attractions.

Etymology
The word Kerala is first recorded as Keralaputo ('son of s') in a 3rd-century-BCE rock inscription left by the (274–237 BCE), one of his edicts pertaining to welfare. At that time, one of three states in the region was called in Classical Tamil: and are variants of the same word. The word refers to the oldest known dynasty of Kerala kings and is derived from the word for 'lake'. may stem from the Classical 'declivity of a hill or a mountain slope'
(2025). 9781443861908, Cambridge Scholars Publishing. .
or 'land of the Cheras'. One derives Kerala from the word 'coconut tree' and 'land'; thus, 'land of coconuts',
(2025). 9788176481700, APH Publishing. .
which is a nickname for the state used by locals due to the abundance of coconut trees.
(2025). 9780123756893, Academic Press. .
Kerala was alternatively called in the foreign trade circles. From the time of Cosmas Indicopleustes (6th century CE) itself, the sailors used to call Kerala Male.

History
Legend
In stories of the from mythology, the lands of Kerala were recovered from the sea by the axe-wielding warrior sage , the sixth (incarnation) of . As a result, Kerala is traditionally referred to as Parashurama Kshetram ("The Land of Parashurama").S. C. Bhatt, Gopal K. Bhargava (2006) "Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: Volume 14.", p.18 According to legend, Parashurama threw his axe across the sea, and the water receded to the point where it landed. This land that emerged extended from Gokarna to . The land that emerged was saline and uninhabitable, so Parashurama invoked the snake king , who spat holy poison to purify the soil, transforming it into fertile land. Out of respect, Vasuki and all snakes were appointed as guardians of the land. The legend was expanded and codified in the 17th or 18th century text . It links the origin of early Kerala institutionssuch as land tenure and administrationto Parashurama's story.
(2003). 9788172111359, Northern Book Centre. .
In medieval times, the king may have emulated the Parashurama tradition by throwing his spear into the sea to symbolise his lordship over it.
(2025). 9788120601451, Asian Educational Services.

A prominent figure associated with Kerala is , an and archetypal just king who is said to have ruled the earth from Kerala. He defeated the devas in battle, driving them into exile. In response, the devas appealed to Vishnu, who assumed his fifth avatar as and, to restore order, pushed Mahabali down to (the netherworld). According to popular belief, Mahabali returns to Kerala once a year, which is commemorated as the festival.

(2025). 9781576079058, ABC-CLIO. .
The , one of the oldest among the 18 ,
(2025). 9780791453254, SUNY Press. .
(2025). 9780199912551, Oxford University Press. .
situates the story of first avatar of Vishnuand king Manu, the first man and ruler of the regionin the of Kerala and .
(2025). 9780143414216, Penguin Books India. .
(2025). 9781417944637, Kessinger Publishing. .

Pre-history
A substantial portion of present-day Kerala is believed to have been submerged under the sea in ancient times. The discovery of marine fossils near Changanassery supports this hypothesis.
(2007). 9788126415786, DC Books. .
Prehistoric archaeological discoveries in Kerala include -era in the region of the Idukki district, locally known as muniyarafrom muni (hermit or sage) and ara (dolmen). Rock engravings in the in date back to the Neolithic period, around 6000 BCE.
(2002). 9788177552577, Cosmo Publications. .
Archaeological studies have identified , Neolithic and sites throughout the region.
(1999). 9788186565445, Anamika Publishers & Distributors. .
These findings indicate that the development of early Kerala society and culture began in the and progressed through the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Megalithic periods.
(1999). 9788186565445, Anamika Publishers & Distributors. .
Foreign cultural interactions also played a role in shaping this development;
(1999). 9788186565445, Anamika Publishers & Distributors. .
some historians suggest possible connections with the Indus Valley Civilisation during the late and early .

Ancient history
Kerala has been a major spice exporter since at least 3000 BCE, according to , and it is continues to be referred to as the "Garden of Spices" or as the "Spice Garden of India". Striving for sustainability, environmental stress and democratic initiatives in Kerala, p. 79; ISBN 81-8069-294-9, Srikumar Chattopadhyay, Richard W. Franke; Year: 2006. The region's spices attracted ancient , , and to the Malabar Coast during the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. and also established trade links with Kerala during this period.
(2007). 9788126415786, DC Books. .
The land of Keralaputra was one of four independent kingdoms in southern India during the time of Emperor Ashoka, alongside the , , and kingdoms.
(2008). 9781605204925, Cosimo, Inc.. .
Scholars generally identify Keralaputra as another name for the , the earliest major dynasty based in Kerala.
(1994). 9788172110598, Northern Book Centre. .
These southern territories once shared a common language and cultural framework, within a region historically known as .
(1997). 9788120601505, Asian Educational Services. .
While the Cheras governed most of what is now Kerala, the southern tip of the region fell under the control of the ,
(2025). 9788131716779, Pearson Education India. .
whose trading port is sometimes identified in ancient Western sources as (or Neacyndi).
(2025). 9780819601438, Biblo & Tannen Publishers, 1948. .
Later, control of the region alternated among the Pandyas, Cheras, and Cholas. The and were two other dynasties of ancient Kerala, located to the south and north of the Chera territory, respectively.
(1996). 9788170418597, Anmol Publications. .
(1993). 9788172110529, Northern Book Centre. .

By the last centuries BCE, the coast had become an important hub for Greek and Roman trade, particularly in . The Cheras maintained commercial links with , , , , and the . In foreign trade records, the region was referred to as Male or . Principal ports of the time included , Berkarai, and Nelcynda.

(1987). 9788170990260, Mittal Publications. .
The value of Rome's annual trade with Kerala has been estimated at around 50 million .According to Pliny the Elder, goods from India were sold in the Empire at 100 times their original purchase price. See [2] Contemporary Sangam literature describes Roman ships arriving at Muziris, laden with gold in exchange for pepper. One of the earliest Western traders to navigate the monsoon winds to reach Kerala was Eudoxus of Cyzicus, who made the voyage around 118 or 166 BCE under the patronage of Ptolemy VIII, king of the Hellenistic Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. Roman establishments in the region's port citiesincluding a temple of and barracks for garrisoned Roman soldiersare recorded in the Tabula Peutingeriana, the only surviving map of the Roman .
(2011). 9780670084784, Penguin Books India. .
(2025). 9788120601451, Asian Educational Services. .

Merchants from West Asia and Southern Europe established coastal posts and settlements in Kerala.

(2025). 9788120601451, Asian Educational Services. .
The Jewish connection with Kerala is believed to date back to 573 BCE. The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities by Orpa Slapak. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 2003. p. 27. ISBN 965-278-179-7.
(1976). 9780837126159, Greenwood Press. .
Arab traders had links with Kerala from at least the 4th century BCE; (484–413 BCE) noted that goods brought by Arabs from Kerala were sold to Jews in Eden. These Arab traders intermarried with local communities, leading to the formation of the Muslim community.
(1993). 9788120811584, Motilal Banarsidass Publications. .
In the 4th century CE, some Christians migrated from and joined the early Syrian Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelistic activities of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century CE. The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5 by Erwin Fahlbusch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing - 2008. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-8028-2417-2.
(2025). 9780195138863, Oxford University Press. .
The term Mappilaoriginally an honorific applied to esteemed foreign visitorslater became associated with the descendants of Jewish, Syrian Christian, and Muslim immigrants, leading to the terms , Nasrani Mappilas, and , respectively.* Bindu Malieckal (2005) Muslims, Matriliny, and A Midsummer Night's Dream: European Encounters with the Mappilas of Malabar, India; The Muslim World Volume 95 Issue 2
(1982). 9780521212588, Cambridge University Press.
According to the traditions of these communities, some of the earliest religious establishments in India were built in Kerala. These include the Saint Thomas Christian churches,
(2025). 9780521891035, Cambridge University Press. .
the Cheraman Juma Masjid (established in 629 CE), India's first mosque,
(1999). 9780765601049, M.E. Sharpe. .
and the Paradesi Synagogue (built in 1568 CE), the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations.
(2025). 9780520213234, University of California Press. .

Medieval period
A second Chera kingdom (c. 800–1102), also known as the Kulasekhara dynasty of , was founded by Kulasekhara Varman and governed over a territory comprising most of present-day Kerala and parts of modern Tamil Nadu. During the early phase of the Kulasekara period, the southern regionfrom to controlled by the Ay dynasty. By the 10th century, however, the Ays had lost their power, and the region was incorporated into the Kulashekara realm.
(2007). 9788126415786, DC Books. .
Under Kulashekhara rule, Kerala experienced a flourishing period marked by developments in art, literature, trade, and the within Hinduism.
(2007). 9788126415786, DC Books. .
It was during this time that a distinct Keralite identity began to emerge, separate from Tamil culture, particularly through linguistic differentiation.
(1997). 9780415022422, Psychology Press. .
For administrative purposes, the kingdom was divided into provinces governed by local chieftains called . Each province was further subdivided into desams, which were overseen by Desavazhis.

A series of Chera–Chola conflicts in the 11th century disrupted foreign trade through Kerala's ports. During this period, and , which had previously coexisted with Hinduism, declined and eventually disappeared from the region. Social structures became increasingly rigid, and caste divisions deepened.

(2007). 9788126415786, DC Books. .
The Kulashekhara dynasty ultimately fell in 1102 CE following a combined assault by the and . In the 14th century, Ravi Varma Kulashekhara (r. 1299–1314) of the southern briefly established a short-lived supremacy over much of southern India. Following his death, and in the absence of a strong central authority, the region fragmented into thirty small, frequently warring principalities. Among the most powerful were the kingdom of (Zamorin) in the north, Venad in the south and Kochi in the central region. In the 18th century, King Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma of Travancore launched a series of military campaigns and annexed territories up to northern Kerala, establishing Travancore as the dominant power in the region. The Kochi ruler sued for peace, and the Malabar region eventually came under direct until Indian independence in 1947.
(2010). 9781615302024, The Rosen Publishing Group. .

Colonial rule
During the High and Late Middle Ages, Arab traders held a maritime monopoly over the spice trade in the . This dominance was challenged during the European Age of Discovery when the spice tradeparticularly in black pepperbecame a major focus of European commercial activity.
(1999). 9781568362496, Kodansha America.
By the 15th century, the Portuguese had begun asserting control over eastern maritime routes, culminating in Vasco Da Gama's arrival at , near (Calicut), in 1498.
(2025). 9789057024535, CRC Press. .
(1984). 9780521269315, Cambridge University Press. .
The of Kozhikode granted the Portuguese permission to trade with his subjects, leading to the establishment of a prosperous Portuguese factory and fort.

However, tensions arose when the Portuguese attacked Arab traders operating under the Zamorin's protection, causing a breakdown in relations. Seizing the opportunity presented by rivalry between the Zamorin and the King of Kochi, the Portuguese allied with Kochi. When Francisco de Almeida was appointed Viceroy of Portuguese India in 1505, he established his headquarters at (), rather than in Kozhikode. Under his administration, the Portuguese consolidated their influence by building several fortifications along the Malabar Coast.

(2005). 9781932705546, Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. .
Despite these advances, the Portuguese faced significant resistance from the Zamorin's naval forces, particularly under the command of the of Kozhikodewho launched effective maritime campaigns. This resistance eventually forced the Portuguese to seek a treaty. In 1571, the Zamorin's forces defeated the Portuguese in the Battle of Chaliyam Fort, marking a major setback for Portuguese ambitions in the region.
(1997). 9788172110833, Northern Book Centre. .

The Portuguese were eventually supplanted by the Dutch East India Company, which capitalised on ongoing conflicts between the Kozhikode and Kochi to gain control over trade in the region. However, the Dutch too faced military resistance, most notably from of the Travancore royal family. After a decisive Dutch defeat at the Battle of Colachel in 1741,

(1993). 9788172110529, Northern Book Centre. .
the Treaty of Mavelikkara was signed in 1753, forcing the Dutch to withdraw from regional political affairs and confining their role to trade.
(2010). 9789004168169, BRILL. .
(1995). 9788185381428, CBH Publications. .
(1997). 9789073782921, Leiden University. .
Marthanda Varma continued his military campaigns, establishing Travancore as the preeminent power in Kerala.
(1987). 9788126421565, D C Books. .

In 1766, , ruler of Mysore, invaded northern Kerala,

9788187139690, FK Publications. .
and his son and successor, , launched military campaigns against the expanding British East India Company. These confrontations contributed to two of the four Anglo-Mysore Wars.
(2010). 9780714124247, Mapin Publishing Pvt Ltd. .
9788131758304, Pearson Education India. .
By the early 1790s, Tipu Sultan was forced to cede the and to the British, and these regions were annexed into the Madras Presidency of in 1792.
(2003). 9788170170341, Abhinav Publications. .
The British East India Company also secured tributary alliances with Kochi in 1791 and Travancore in 1795. By the end of 18th century, the entirety of Kerala was either directly administered by the British or under their .

In the 20th century, Kerala was the site of several major uprisings during the Indian independence movement. Among the most notable was the 1921 Malabar Rebellion, in which Mappila Muslims of the Malabar region rioted against Hindu (landlords) and British colonial authorities.

(1999). 9789004113718, BRILL. .
Social reform moments also gained momentum during this period, particularly those challenging caste-based discrimination. A major milestone was the Temple Entry Proclamation of 1936 in Travancore, which granted lower-caste Hindus the right to enter temples previously restricted to upper castes.
(1976). 9789004045101, BRILL. .

State of India
After the Partition of India in 1947 into the independent dominions of India and Pakistan, the princely states of Travancore and Kochi acceded to the Union of India. On 1 July 1949, the two states were merged to form Travancore-Cochin.
(2025). 9780143102748, Penguin Books India. .
On 1 November 1956, the of Kasargod from the South Kanara district of Madras, the of (excluding of Nilgiris district, , , and the forest east of Anakatti), and the state of Travancore-Cochinexcluding four southern taluks (Kanyakumari district and Shenkottai taluks), which were transferred to Tamil Naduwere merged to form the state of Kerala under the States Reorganisation Act.
9780070699397, Tata McGraw-Hill Education. .
(2009). 9781741791556, Lonely Planet. .
A -led government under E. M. S. Namboodiripad was formed following the first elections for the new Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1957. It was among the earliest democratically elected Communist governments in the world, following Communist electoral success in the Republic of San Marino in 1945.
(2006). 9780203967744, Taylor & Francis. .
(1997). 9788170248361, APH Publishing. .

Geography
The state is wedged between the and the . Lying between northern latitudes 8°18' and 12°48' and eastern longitudes 74°52' and 77°22', Kerala experiences humid tropical rainforest climate with some cyclones. The state has a coast of and the width of the state varies between .
(1994). 9788185880501, M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.. .
Geographically, Kerala can be divided into three climatically distinct regions: the eastern highlands; rugged and cool mountainous terrain, the central mid-lands; rolling hills, and the western lowlands; coastal plains.
(2025). 9788180692949, Concept Publishing Company. .
and geological formations compose the bulk of Kerala's terrain.
(2025). 9788183563260, Discovery Publishing House. .
A catastrophic flood in Kerala in 1341 CE drastically modified its terrain and consequently affected its history; it also created a natural harbour for spice transport.
(2025). 9781741964387, Murdoch Books. .
The eastern region of Kerala consists of high mountains, gorges and deep-cut valleys immediately west of the Western Ghats' . 41 of Kerala's west-flowing rivers,
(2025). 9788170999133, Mittal Publications. .
and 3 of its east-flowing ones originate in this region.
(2025). 9788174781642, Sura Books. .
The Western Ghats form a wall of mountains interrupted only near ; hence also known Pal ghat, where the breaks. The Western Ghats rise on average to above sea level,
(2025). 9788183241298, Mittal Publications. .
while the highest peaks reach around .
9780070667723, Tata McGraw-Hill Education. .
in the district is the highest peak in south India, is at an elevation of . The Western Ghats mountain chain is recognised as one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity and is listed among World Heritage Sites. The chain's forests are considered to be older than the Himalaya mountains. The Athirappilly Falls, which is situated on the background of Western Ghat mountain ranges, is also known as The of India. It is located in the and is the largest waterfall in the state. is the sole in Kerala. The eastern regions in the districts of , Malappuram ( valley at ), and Palakkad ( Valley), which together form parts of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and a continuation of the , are known for natural fields, along with the adjoining districts of . Minerals including , , , and , are found in the coastal belt of Kerala. Kerala's coastal belt of is known for high background radiation from -containing sand. In some coastal panchayats, median outdoor radiation levels are more than 4 mGy/yr and, in certain locations on the coast, it is as high as 70 mGy/yr.

Kerala's western coastal belt is relatively flat compared to the eastern region, and is criss-crossed by a network of interconnected canals, lakes, ,

(2025). 9780415773362, Taylor & Francis. .
and rivers known as the Kerala Backwaters.
(2025). 9788131767344, Pearson Education India. .
, also known as The Rice Bowl of Kerala, has the lowest altitude in India, and is also one of the few places in world where cultivation takes place below sea level. The country's longest lake , dominates the backwaters; it lies between and and is about in area.
(2025). 9780070702882, Tata McGraw-Hill Education. .
Around eight percent of India's waterways are found in Kerala. Kerala's 44 rivers include the ; , ; , ; , ; , Kadalundipuzha; , ; , Valapattanam; and the ; . The average length of the rivers is . Many of the rivers are small and entirely fed by monsoon rain.
(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .
As Kerala's rivers are small and lacking in , they are more prone to environmental effects. The rivers face problems such as sand mining and pollution. The state experiences several natural hazards like landslides, floods and droughts. The state was also affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami,
(2025). 9789048124978, Springer. .
and in 2018 received the worst flooding in nearly a century. In 2024, Kerala experienced its worst landslides in history.

Climate
With around 120–140 rainy days per year, Kerala has a wet and maritime tropical climate influenced by the seasonal heavy rains of the southwest summer monsoon and northeast winter monsoon.
(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .
Around 65% of the rainfall occurs from June to August corresponding to the Southwest monsoon, and the rest from September to December corresponding to Northeast monsoon. The moisture-laden winds of the Southwest monsoon, on reaching the southernmost point of the , because of its topography, divides into two branches; the "Arabian Sea Branch" and the "Bay of Bengal Branch".
9788183320818, Ratna Sagar. .
The "Arabian Sea Branch" of the Southwest monsoon first hits the Western Ghats,
9788181373991, Rachna Sagar. .
making Kerala the first state in India to receive rain from the Southwest monsoon.
9788131758304, Pearson Education India. .
9788120914667, Pitambar Publishing. .
The distribution of pressure patterns is reversed in the Northeast monsoon, during this season the cold winds from North India pick up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and precipitate it on the east coast of peninsular India.
(2025). 9781741791556, Lonely Planet. .
In Kerala, the influence of the Northeast monsoon is seen in southern districts only.
(2025). 9788120333383, PHI Learning. .
Kerala's rainfall averages 2,923 mm (115 in) annually. Some of Kerala's drier lowland regions average only 1,250 mm (49 in); the mountains of the eastern receive more than 5,000 mm (197 in) of orographic precipitation: the highest in the state. In eastern Kerala, a drier tropical wet and dry climate prevails. During the summer, the state is prone to gale-force winds, storm surges, cyclone-related torrential downpours, occasional droughts, and rises in sea level. The mean daily temperature ranges from 19.8 °C to 36.7 °C. Mean annual temperatures range from 25.0 to 27.5 °C in the coastal lowlands to 20.0–22.5 °C in the eastern highlands.

Flora and fauna
Most of the is concentrated and protected in the . Three-quarters of the land area of Kerala was under thick forest up to the 18th century. , over 25% of India's 15,000 plant species are in Kerala. Out of the 4,000 species; 1,272 of which are endemic to Kerala, 900 are , and 159 are threatened. Its 9,400 km2 of forests include tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests (lower and middle elevations—3,470 km2), tropical moist and dry deciduous forests (mid-elevations—4,100 km2 and 100 km2, respectively), and montane subtropical and ( shola) forests (highest elevations—100 km2). Altogether, 24% of Kerala is forested. Four of the world's Ramsar Convention listed —Lake Sasthamkotta, , Thrissur-Ponnani Kole Wetlands, and the Vembanad-Kol wetlands—are in Kerala, as well as 1455.4 km2 of the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and 1828 km2 of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. Subjected to extensive clearing for cultivation in the 20th century, much of the remaining forest cover is now protected from .
(2025). 9780470756836, John Wiley & Sons. .
Eastern Kerala's windward mountains shelter tropical moist forests and tropical dry forests, which are common in the Western Ghats.
(2025). 9788180697746, Concept Publishing Company. .
(2025). 9789004168190, Brill. .
The world's oldest teak plantation 'Conolly's Plot' is in .

Kerala's fauna are notable for their diversity and high rates of endemism: it includes 118 species of (1 endemic), 500 species of birds, 189 species of freshwater fish, 173 species of reptiles (10 of them endemic), and 151 species of (36 endemic). These are threatened by extensive habitat destruction, including soil erosion, landslides, , and resource extraction. In the forests, sonokeling, latifolia, anjili, mullumurikku, , and Cassia number among the more than 1,000 species of trees in Kerala. Other plants include , wild black pepper, wild , the calamus palm, and aromatic vetiver grass, Vetiveria zizanioides. , , , , common palm civet, and grizzled giant squirrels are also found in the forests. Reptiles include the , , , and . Kerala's birds include the , the , Kerala laughingthrush, and southern hill myna. In the lakes, wetlands, and waterways, fish such as Kadu, Red Line Torpedo Barb and choottachi; — Etroplus maculatus are found.

(2025). 9788185041544, Kerala Forest Research Institute. .
Recently, a newly described tardigrade (water bears) species collected from Vadakara coast of Kerala named after Kerala State; Stygarctus keralensis.

Divisions, districts and cities
The state's 14 districts are distributed among six regions: (far-north Kerala), (north-central Kerala), (central Kerala), Northern Travancore (south-central Kerala), Central Travancore (southern Kerala) and Southern Travancore (far-south Kerala). The districts that serve as administrative regions for taxation and land revenue purposes are further subdivided into 27 revenue subdivisions and 77 taluks, which have fiscal and administrative powers over settlements within their borders, including maintenance of local land records. Kerala's taluks are further subdivided into 1,674 .

The following map of Kerala shows its 14 administrative districts.

Since the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, local self-government institutions in Kerala function as the third tier of government, comprising 14 District Panchayats, 152 , and 941 for rural governance, and 87 Municipalities, six Municipal Corporations, and one for urban governance.

Mahé, a part of the Indian of Puducherry, though away from it,

(2025). 9783642276187, Springer. .
is a coastal exclave surrounded by Kerala on all of its landward approaches. The surrounds Mahé on three sides with the Kozhikode District on the fourth.
(2025). 9788177648713, Allied Publishers. .

In 1664, the municipality of was established by , making it the first municipality in the Indian subcontinent, which was dissolved when the Dutch authority got weaker in the 18th century. The municipalities of , , , , and , were founded on 1 November 1866 of the British Indian Empire, making them the first modern municipalities in the state of Kerala. The Municipality of Thiruvananthapuram came into existence in 1920. After two decades, during the reign of Sree Chithira Thirunal, Thiruvananthapuram Municipality was converted into Corporation on 30 October 1940, making it the oldest Municipal Corporation of Kerala. Year of becoming a corporation The first Municipal Corporation founded after the independence of as well as the second-oldest Municipal Corporation of the state is at Kozhikode in the year 1962. Https://www.hindu.com/2008/02/05/stories/2008020561140500.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Kozhikode Lok Sabha constituency redrawn Delimitation impact, The Hindu 5 February 2008 There are six Municipal corporations in Kerala that govern Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kochi, Kollam, Thrissur, and Kannur. The Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation is the largest corporation in Kerala while Kochi metropolitan area named is the largest urban agglomeration. According to a survey by economics research firm Indicus Analytics in 2007, Thiruvananthapuram, , , , are among the "best cities in India to live"; the survey used parameters such as health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment to rank the cities.

Government and administration
The state is governed by a parliamentary system of representative democracy. Kerala has a legislature. The Kerala Legislative Assembly also known as Niyamasabha, consists of 140 members who are elected for five-year terms. The state elects 20 members to the , the lower house of the Indian Parliament, and 9 members to the , the upper house.

The Government of Kerala is a elected body in India with the governor as its constitutional head and is appointed by the president of India for a five-year term. The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as the chief minister by the governor, and the council of ministers is appointed by the governor on the advice of the chief minister. The governor remains a ceremonial head of the state, while the chief minister and his council are responsible for day-to-day government functions. The council of ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State (MoS). The Secretariat headed by the Chief Secretary assists the council of ministers. The Chief Secretary is also the administrative head of the government. Each government department is headed by a minister, who is assisted by an Additional Chief Secretary or a Principal Secretary, who is usually an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). The Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries serve as the administrative heads of the department to which they are assigned. Each department also has officers of the rank of Secretary, Special Secretary, Joint Secretary, and other supporting officials, who assist the Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary in carrying out departmental functions and ensuring effective coordination.

Each Secretariat department is in charge of a number of executive departments. The executive departments or agencies (known as directorates, commissionerates, and similar entities) are responsible for implementing government policies and carrying out work at the field level. These entities are headed by a Director, Commissioner, Chief, or Director General, who functions as the Head of Department. Each of these departments has its owns administrative subdivisions.

The state is divided into fourteen districts, each headed by a District Collector appointed by the government. The District Collector is responsible for land revenue administration, disaster management, elections, maintenance of law and order, and coordination of various government departments within the district. For administrative convenience, each district is further divided into revenue divisions, , and , primarily for the purpose of land revenue administration.

Auxiliary authorities, known as and municipalities, manage local affairs. These bodies are regularly constituted through local body elections.

(2025). 9788180696220, Concept Publishing Company. .

The consists of the Kerala High Court and a system of lower courts. The High Court, located in ,

(2025). 9780160868245, Government Printing Office. .
has a Chief Justice along with 35 permanent and twelve additional justices . The high court also hears cases from the Union Territory of .
(2025). 9788177648720, Allied Publishers. .
(2025). 9788120332461, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.. .
The state’s subordinate judiciary consists of District Courts in each of the 14 districts, headed by District Judges, along with civil courts ( Munsiff and Senior Civil Judges) and criminal courts ( Judicial Magistrates, Chief Judicial Magistrates, and Sessions Courts) handling cases according to their jurisdiction.

Local government
In Kerala, local government bodies such as Panchayats, Municipalities, and Corporations have existed since 1959. However, a significant decentralization initiative began in 1993, aligning with constitutional amendments by the union government. The Kerala Panchayati Raj Act and the Kerala Municipality Act were enacted in 1994, establishing a three-tier system for rural governance and a single-tier system for urban governance.

The rural governance structure consists of , , and District Panchayats.

(2025). 9780761934677, Sage. .
The Acts define clear powers for these institutions. For urban areas, the Kerala Municipality Act provides a single-tier system, comprising Municipalities and Municipal Corporations, which are responsible for local governance and civic administration. These bodies receive substantial administrative, legal, and financial powers to ensure effective decentralization. Currently, the state government allocates around 40% of the state plan outlay to local governments.
(2025). 9780742516076, Rowman & Littlefield. .
Kerala has 1,200 local bodies, including 941 Gram Panchayats, 152 Block Panchayats, 14 District Panchayats, 87 Municipalities, and 6 Municipal Corporations.

Kerala was declared the first digital state of India in 2016 and, according to the India Corruption Survey 2019 by Transparency International, is considered the least corrupt state in India. The Public Affairs Index-2020 designated Kerala as the best-governed state in India.

Politics
Kerala hosts two major political alliances: the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress; and the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, the LDF is the ruling coalition; of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is the Chief Minister, while V. D. Satheesan of the Indian National Congress is the Leader of the Opposition. According to the Constitution of India, Kerala has a parliamentary system of representative democracy; universal suffrage is granted to residents.

Economy
After independence, the state was managed as a . The "Kerala phenomenon" or " of development" of very high human development and in comparison low economic development has resulted from a strong service sector. In 2019–20, the economy of Kerala was the 8th-largest in India with in gross state domestic product (GSDP) and a per capita net state domestic product of . In 2019–20, the tertiary sector contributed around 63% of the state's GSVA, compared to 28% by secondary sector, and 8% by primary sector. In the period between 1960 and 2020, Kerala's economy was gradually shifting from an agrarian economy into a service-based one.

The state's service sector which accounts for around 63% of its revenue is mainly based upon hospitality industry, tourism, and medical services, pilgrimage, information technology, transportation, financial sector, and education. Major initiatives under the industrial sector include , shipbuilding, oil refinery, software industry, coastal mineral industries, food processing, marine products processing, and Rubber based products. The primary sector of the state is mainly based upon . Kerala produces a significant amount of the national output of cash crops such as , , , , , , and in India. The cultivation of food crops began to reduce since the 1950s.

Kerala's economy depends significantly on emigrants working in foreign countries, mainly in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, and the annually contribute more than a fifth of GSDP. The state witnessed significant emigration during the Gulf Boom of the 1970s and early 1980s. In 2012, Kerala still received the highest remittances of all states: US$11.3 billion, which was nearly 16% of the US$71 billion remittances to the country. In 2015, NRI deposits in Kerala have soared to over , amounting to one-sixth of all the money deposited in NRI accounts, which comes to about . Malappuram district has the highest proportion of emigrant households in state. A study commissioned by the Kerala State Planning Board, suggested that the state look for other reliable sources of income, instead of relying on remittances to finance its expenditure.

(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .

As of March 2002, Kerala's banking sector comprised 3341 local branches: each branch served 10,000 people, lower than the national average of 16,000; the state has the third-highest bank penetration among Indian states. On 1 October 2011, Kerala became the first state in the country to have at least one banking facility in every village. Unemployment in 2007 was estimated at 9.4%; chronic issues are , low employability of youth, and a low female of only 13.5%,

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as was the practice of , "wages for looking on". By 1999–2000, the rural and urban poverty rates dropped to 10.0% and 9.6%, respectively.

The state's budget of 2020–2021 was . The state government's tax revenues (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) amounted to in 2020–21; up from in 2019–20. Its (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) of the Government of Kerala reached in 2020–2021. However, Kerala's high ratio of taxation to GSDP has not alleviated chronic budget deficits and unsustainable levels of government debt, which have impacted social services. A record total of 223 were observed in 2006, resulting in a revenue loss of over . Kerala: Hartals Own Country? 6 July 2008 Kerala's 10% rise in GDP is 3% more than the national GDP. In 2013, capital expenditure rose 30% compared to the national average of 5%, owners of two-wheelers rose by 35% compared to the national rate of 15%, and the teacher-pupil ratio rose 50% from 2:100 to 4:100.

The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board is a government-owned financial institution in the state to mobilise funds for infrastructure development from outside the state revenue, aiming at overall infrastructure development of the state. In November 2015, the Ministry of Urban Development selected seven cities of Kerala for a comprehensive development program known as the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). A package of was declared for each of the cities to develop service level improvement plan (SLIP), a plan for better functioning of the local urban bodies in the cities of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Palakkad. The Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF) was started in 2007, covering more than 3000 outlets across the nine cities of Kerala with huge tax discounts, VAT refunds and huge array of prizes. Lulu International Mall at Thiruvananthapuram is the largest in India.

Despite many achievements, Kerala faces many challenges like high levels of unemployment that disproportionately impact educated women, a high degree of global exposure and a very fragile environment.

Industries
Traditional industries manufacturing items; , , and employ around one million people.
(2025). 9788177081435, University of Kerala. .
Kerala supplies 60% of the total global produce of white coir fibre. India's first coir factory was set up in in 1859–60. The Central Coir Research Institute was established there in 1959. As per the 2006–2007 census by , there are micro, small and medium enterprises in Kerala employing people. The has promoted more than 650 medium and large manufacturing firms in Kerala, creating employment for 72,500 people. A mining sector of 0.3% of GSDP involves extraction of , , , , , , , and . Other major sectors are tourism, medical sector, educational sector, banking, , , infrastructure, manufacturing, home gardens, animal husbandry and business process outsourcing.

Agriculture
The major change in agriculture in Kerala occurred in the 1970s when production of rice fell due to increased availability of rice all over India and decreased availability of labour.
(2025). 9788176254106, Sarup & Sons. .
Consequently, investment in rice production decreased and a major portion of the land shifted to the cultivation of perennial tree crops and seasonal crops.
(2025). 9788180696602, Concept Publishing Company. .
(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .
Profitability of crops fell due to a shortage of farm labour, the high price of land, and the uneconomic size of operational holdings.
(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .
Only 27.3% of the families in Kerala depend upon agriculture for their livelihood, which is also the least corresponding rate in India.

Kerala produces 97% of the national output of black pepper and accounts for 85% of the in the country.

(2025). 9781857433180, Taylor & Francis. .
, , , , and spices—including cardamom, , , and are the main agricultural products.
(2025). 9781476123080, Springwood emedia. .
(2025). 9788189422486, New India Publishing. .
(2025). 9780070152564, Tata McGraw-Hill Education. .
(2025). 9788189422493, New India Publishing. .
(2025). 9780745316932, Pluto Press. .
Around 80% of 's export quality cashew kernels are prepared in . The key cash crop is and Kerala ranks first in the area of coconut cultivation in India. Around 90% of the total produced in India is from Kerala. India is the second-largest producer of Cardamom in world. About 20% of the total produced in India are from Kerala. The key agricultural staple is rice, with varieties grown in extensive paddy fields.
(1976). 9789061935568, Springer. .
Home gardens made up a significant portion of the agricultural sector.
(2025). 9781905226856, Melrose Press. .

Fisheries
With of coastal belt, 400,000 hectares of inland water resources and approximately 220,000 active fishermen, Kerala is one of the leading producers of fish in India.
(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .
According to 2003–04 reports, about 11 lakh(1.1 million) people earn their livelihood from fishing and allied activities such as drying, processing, packaging, exporting and transporting fisheries. The annual yield of the sector was estimated as 6,08,000 tons in 2003–04.
(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .
This contributes to about 3% of the total economy of the state. In 2006, around 22% of the total Indian marine fishery yield was from Kerala. During the southwest monsoon, a suspended mud bank develops along the shore, which in turn leads to calm ocean water, peaking the output of the fishing industry. This phenomenon is locally called .
(1984). 9789221036265, International Labour Organization. .
The waters provide a large variety of fish: ; 59%, ; 23%, , and others for 18%.
(2025). 9780195370287, Oxford University Press. .
Around 1050,000(1.050 million) fishermen haul an annual catch of 668,000 tonnes as of a 1999–2000 estimate; 222 fishing villages are strung along the coast. Another 113 fishing villages dot the hinterland.

Transportation
Roads
Kerala has of roads, which accounts for 5.6% of India's total. This translates to about of road per thousand people, compared to an average of in the country. Roads in Kerala include of national highway; 1.6% of the nation's total, of state highway; 2.5% of the nation's total, of district roads; 4.7% of the nation's total, of urban (municipal) roads; 6.3% of the nation's total, and of rural roads; 3.8% of the nation's total. Kottayam has the maximum length of roads among the districts of Kerala, while accounts for minimum. Most of Kerala's west coast is accessible through the NH 66 (previously NH 17 and 47); and the eastern side is accessible through state highways. New projects for hill and coastal highways were recently announced under KIIFB. National Highway 66, with the longest stretch of road () connects to ; it enters Kerala via in and passes through , , , , , , , Thiruvananthapuram before entering . Palakkad district is generally referred to as the Gateway of Kerala, due to the presence of the Palakkad Gap in the Western Ghats, through which the northern () and southern (Travancore) parts of Kerala are connected to the rest of India via road and rail. The state's largest checkpoint, , is on NH 544, in the border town between Kerala and , through which a large amount of public and commercial transportation reaches the northern and central districts of Kerala.

The Department of Public Works is responsible for maintaining and expanding the state highways system and major district roads. The Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), which includes the -based Road Information and Management Project (RIMS), is responsible for maintaining and expanding the state highways in Kerala. It also oversees a few major district roads. Traffic in Kerala has been growing at a rate of 10–11% every year, resulting in high traffic and pressure on the roads. Traffic density is nearly four times the national average, reflecting the state's high population. Kerala's annual total of road accidents is among the nation's highest. The accidents are mainly the result of the narrow roads and irresponsible driving. National Highways in Kerala are among the narrowest in the country and will remain so for the foreseeable future, as the state government has received an exemption that allows narrow national highways. In Kerala, highways are wide. In other states, national highways are grade separated, wide with a minimum of four lanes, as well as 6 or 8-lane access-controlled expressways. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has threatened the Kerala state government that it will give higher priority to other states in highway development since political commitment to better highways in Kerala has been lacking. , Kerala had the highest road accident rate in the country, with most fatal accidents taking place along the state's national highways.

Railways
Southern Railway zone of operates all railway lines in the state connecting most major towns and cities except those in the highland districts of and . The railway network in the state is controlled by two out of six divisions of the Southern Railway; Thiruvananthapuram Railway division headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad Railway Division headquartered at . Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC) is the busiest railway station in the state. Kerala's major railway stations are:

Airports
Kerala has four international airports: , established under the Madras Presidency, but since closed, was the first airport in Kerala. had an airstrip used for commercial aviation as early as 1935 when airlines operated weekly flights between and Thiruvananthapuram – stopping at and Kannur. Trivandrum International Airport, managed by the Airport Authority of India, is among the oldest existing airports in South India. Calicut International Airport, which was opened in 1988, is the second-oldest existing airport in Kerala and the oldest in the . Cochin International Airport is the busiest in the state and the seventh busiest in the country. It is also the first airport in the world to be fully powered by solar energy and has won the coveted Champion of the Earth award, the highest environmental honour instituted by the . Cochin International Airport is also the first Indian airport to be incorporated as a public limited company; it was funded by nearly 10,000 non-resident Indians from 30 countries. Other than civilian airports, has a naval airport named . Thiruvananthapuram International Airport shares civilian facilities with the Southern Air Command of the Indian Air Force. These facilities are used mostly by central government VIPs visiting Kerala.

Water transport
Kerala has two major ports, four intermediate ports, and 13 minor ports, 4 of which have immigration checkpoint facilities. The major port in the state is at , which has an area of 8.27 km2. The Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram, which is currently classified as a major port, only completed Phase I as others are under construction. Other intermediate ports include , , and Azheekal. The remaining ports are classified as minor which include , , , , , , , , Manakodam, , , , and . The Kerala Maritime Institute is headquartered at , which has an additional subcentre at too. The state has numerous backwaters, which are used for commercial inland navigation. Transport services are mainly provided by country craft and passenger vessels. There are 67 navigable rivers in the state while the total length of inland waterways is .
(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .
The main constraints to the expansion of inland navigation are; lack of depth in waterways caused by silting, lack of maintenance of navigation systems and bank protection, accelerated growth of the , lack of modern inland craft terminals, and lack of a cargo handling system.

Kerala also have India's first water metro , called 'Kochi water metro'. The Kochi water metro project identified 15 routes, connecting 10 islands along a network of routes that span 78 km with a fleet of 78 fast, and fully electrically propelled hybrid ferries .

The long West-Coast Canal is the longest waterway in state connecting to . It is divided into five sections: long - reach, long - reach, -Kottapuram reach, long National Waterway 3 (Kottapuram- reach), and long - reach. The , which is a part of the West-Coast Canal, connects the city of with through , passing through the districts of Malappuram and Thrissur. It begins at . It was constructed in the year 1848 under the orders of then District collector of , H. V. Conolly, initially to facilitate movement of goods to Port from the hinterlands of Malabar through and river systems. It was the main waterway for the cargo movement between Kozhikode and Kochi through , for more than a century. Other important waterways in Kerala include the - Canal, -- Canal, and - Canal.

Demographics
Kerala is home to 2.8% of India's population; with a density of 859 persons per km2, its land is nearly three times as densely settled as the national average of 370 persons per km2. , Thiruvananthapuram is the most populous city in Kerala. In the state, the rate of population growth is India's lowest, and the decadal growth of 4.9% in 2011 is less than one-third of the all-India average of 17.6%. Kerala's population more than doubled between 1951 and 1991 by adding 15.6 million people to reach 29.1 million residents in 1991; the population stood at 33.3 million by 2011. Kerala's coastal regions are the most densely settled with population of 2022 persons per km2, 2.5 times the overall population density of the state, 859 persons per km2, leaving the eastern hills and mountains comparatively sparsely populated. Kerala is the second-most urbanised major state in the country with 47.7% urban population according to the 2011 Census of India. Around 31.8 million Keralites are predominantly Malayali. The state's 321,000 indigenous tribal , 1.1% of the population, are concentrated in the east.
(2025). 9788187621690, Centre for Development Studies. .

Gender
There is a tradition of matrilineal inheritance in Kerala, where the mother is the head of the household. As a result, women in Kerala have had a much higher standing and influence in the society. This was common among certain influential castes and is a factor in the value placed on daughters. Christian missionaries also influenced Malayali women in that they started schools for girls from poor families. Opportunities for women such as education and gainful employment often translate into a lower birth rate, which in turn, make education and employment more likely to be accessible and more beneficial for women. This creates an upward spiral for both the women and children of the community that is passed on to future generations. According to the Human Development Report of 1996, Kerala's Gender Development Index was 597; higher than any other state of India. Factors, such as high rates of female literacy, education, work participation and life expectancy, along with favourable sex ratio, contributed to it.
(1999). 9788170227656, Concept Publishing Company. .

Kerala's sex ratio of 1.084 (females to males) is higher than that of the rest of India; it is the only state where women outnumber men. While having the opportunities that education affords them, such as political participation, keeping up to date with current events, reading religious texts, etc., these tools have still not translated into full, equal rights for the women of Kerala. There is a general attitude that women must be restricted for their own benefit. In the state, despite the social progress, gender still influences .Brenda Maddox mentions in: Maddox, Brenda. "A Marxist Paradise For Women?" New Statesman. (London, England: 1996) 128 no4440 30 January 14, 1999.Antherjanam, Lalithambika. Cast Me Out If You Will. New York: The Feminist Press, 1997.

LGBT rights
Kerala has been at the forefront of LGBT issues in . Kerala is one of the first states in India to form a welfare policy for the transgender community. In 2016, the Kerala government introduced free sex reassignment surgery through government hospitals. is one of the major LGBT organisations in Kerala. It campaigns for increased awareness of LGBT people and sensitisation concerning healthcare services, workplace policies and educational curriculum. Since 2010, Kerala Queer Pride has been held annually across various cities in Kerala.

In June 2019, the Kerala government passed a new order that members of the transgender community should not be referred to as the "" or "other gender" in government communications. Instead, the term "transgender" should be used. Previously, the gender preferences provided in government forms and documents included male, female, and other/third gender.

Human Development Index
Under a democratic communist local government, Kerala has achieved a record of social development much more advanced than the Indian average.
(2025). 9780822337850, Duke University Press.
, Kerala has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.770, which is in the "high" category, ranking it first in the country. It was 0.790 in 2007–08 and it had a consumption-based HDI of 0.920, which is better than that of many developed countries. Comparatively higher spending by the government on primary level education, and the elimination of poverty from the 19th century onwards has helped the state maintain an exceptionally high HDI; the report was prepared by the central government's Institute of Applied Manpower Research. However, the Human Development Report 2005, prepared by Centre for Development Studies envisages a virtuous phase of inclusive development for the state since the advancement in human development had already started aiding the economic development of the state. Kerala is also widely regarded as the and healthiest state in India.
(2025). 9788126413591, D.C. Books. .

According to the 2011 census, Kerala has the highest (94%) among Indian states. In 2018, the literacy rate was calculated to be 96.2% in the 2018 literacy survey conducted by the National Statistical Office, India. In the Kottayam district, the literacy rate was 97%. The in Kerala is 74 years, among the highest in India . Kerala's rural poverty rate fell from 59% (1973–1974) to 12% (1999–2010); the overall (urban and rural) rate fell 47% between the 1970s and 2000s against the 29% fall in overall poverty rate in India. By 1999–2000, the rural and urban poverty rates dropped to 10.0% and 9.6%, respectively. The 2013 Tendulkar Committee Report on poverty estimated that the percentages of the population living below the poverty line in rural and urban Kerala are 9.1% and 5.0%, respectively. These changes stem largely from efforts begun in the late 19th century by the kingdoms of Cochin and Travancore to boost social welfare. This focus was maintained by Kerala's post-independence government. Kerala is the least impoverished state in India according to 's Sustainable Development Goals dashboard and Reserve Bank of India's Handbook of Statistics on Indian Economy.

Kerala has undergone a "demographic transition" characteristic of such as , , and . In 2005, 11.2% of people were over the age of 60. In 2023, the BBC reported on the problems and benefits which have arisen from migration away from Kerala, focussing on the village of Kumbanad.

In 2004, the birthrate was low at 18 per 1,000.

(2025). 9788187621607, Centre for Development Studies. .
According to the 2011 census, Kerala had a total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.6. All districts except Malappuram district had fertility rates below 2. Fertility rate is highest in Malappuram district (2.2) and lowest in Pathanamthitta district (1.3). In 2001, Muslims had the TFR of 2.6 as against 1.5 for Hindus and 1.7 for Christians. The state also is regarded as the "least corrupt Indian state" according to the surveys conducted by CMS Indian Corruption Study (CMS-ICS) Transparency International (2005) and India Today (1997).
(2025). 9780199257492, Oxford University Press. .
Kerala has the lowest rate among Indian states, with 1.1 per 100,000 in 2011. In respect of female empowerment, some negative factors such as higher , lower share of , , complaints of sexual harassment and limited freedom are reported. The child marriage is lower in Kerala. The Malappuram district has the highest number of child marriages and the number of such cases is increasing in Malappuram. Child marriages are particularly higher among the Muslim community. In 2019, Kerala recorded the highest child sex abuse complaints in India.

In 2015, Kerala had the highest conviction rate of any state, over 77%. Kerala has the lowest proportion of homeless people in rural India, <0.1%, and the state is attempting to reach the goal of becoming the first "Zero Homeless State", in addition to its acclaimed "Zero landless project", with private organisations and the expatriate Malayali community funding projects for building homes for the homeless. The state was also among the lowest in the India State Hunger Index next only to Punjab. In 2015 Kerala became the first "complete digital state" by implementing e-governance initiatives.

Healthcare
Kerala is a pioneer in implementing the universal health care program. The sub-replacement fertility level and infant mortality rate are lower compared to those of other states, estimated from 12 to 14
(2025). 9788187621669, Centre for Development Studies. .
deaths per 1,000 live births; as per the National Family Health Survey 2015–16, it has dropped to 6. According to a study commissioned by Lien Foundation, a -based philanthropic organisation, Kerala is considered to be the best place to die in India based on the state's provision of palliative care for patients with serious illnesses. However, Kerala's is higher than that of any other Indian state—118 (rural) and 88 (urban) per 1,000 people. The corresponding figures for all India were 55 and 54 per 1,000, respectively . Kerala's 13.3% of low birth weight is higher than that of many nations. Outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as , , , and among the more than 50% of people who rely on 3 million is an issue worsened by the lack of . As of 2017, the state has the highest number of diabetes patients and also the highest prevalence rate of the disease in India.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization designated Kerala the world's first "baby-friendly state" because of its effective promotion of breastfeeding over formulas. Over 95% of Keralite births are hospital-delivered and the state also has the lowest infant mortality rate in the country. The third National Family Health Survey ranks Kerala first in "Institutional Delivery" with 100% of births being in medical facilities. , , and endangered and endemic modes of traditional medicine, including kalari, marmachikitsa and vishavaidyam, are practised. Some occupational communities such as were known as native medicine men in relation to the practice of such streams of medical systems, apart from their traditional vocation.Angus Stewart, woodburn The Religious attitude: A psychological study of its differentiation, 1927 These propagate via discipleship, and comprise a fusion of both medicinal and alternative treatments. The Arya Vaidya Sala established by Vaidyaratnam P. S. Warrier at (about 10 km from ) in 1902, is the largest Ayurvedic medicinal network and health centre in the state. It is also one of the largest Ayurvedic medicinal brands in the world.

In 2014, Kerala became the first state in India to offer free cancer treatment to the poor, via a program called Sukrutham. People in Kerala experience elevated incidence of , and diseases. In April 2016, the Economic Times reported that 250,000 residents undergo treatment for cancer. It also reported that approximately 150 to 200 liver transplants are conducted in the region's hospitals annually. Approximately 42,000 cancer cases are reported in the region annually. This is believed to be an underestimate as private hospitals may not be reporting their figures. Long waiting lists for kidney donations have stimulated illegal trade in human kidneys, and prompted the establishment of the Kidney Federation of India which aims to support financially disadvantaged patients. As of 2017–18, there are 6,691 modern medicine institutions under the Department of Health Services, of which the total bed strength is 37,843; 15,780 in rural areas and 22,063 in urban.

Language
[[File:Language Map of Kerala (2011 Census).svg|thumb|200px|Languages spoken by district:

Malayalam

]]

is the official language of Kerala and one of the Classical languages of India. There is a significant population throughout Kerala mainly in and Palakkad district in which it accounts for 17.48% and 4.8% respectively of the two districts' populations. and are spoken mainly in the northern parts of Kasaragod district, each of which account for 8.77% and 4.23% of total population in the district, respectively.

Religion
Kerala is very religiously diverse with , and having a significant population throughout the state. Kerala is often regarded as one of the most diverse states in all of India. is the most widely professed faith in Kerala, with significant numbers of adherents to and . In comparison with the rest of India, Kerala experiences relatively little . According to 2011 Census of India figures, 54.7% of Kerala's residents are Hindus, 26.6% are Muslims, 18.4% are Christians, and the remaining 0.3% follow another religion or have no religious affiliation. Hindus represent the biggest religious group in all districts except Malappuram, where they are outnumbered by Muslims. Kerala has the largest population of Christians in India. As of 2016, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and others account for 41.9%, 42.6%, 15.4% and 0.2% of the total childbirths in the state, respectively.

Islam arrived in Kerala, a part of the larger rim, via spice and silk traders from the . Historians do not rule out the possibility of Islam being introduced to Kerala as early as the seventh century CE.Katz 2000; Koder 1973; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; David de Beth Hillel, 1832; Lord, James Henry 1977. Notable has been the occurrence of Cheraman Perumal Tajuddin, the mythical Hindu king who moved to to meet and converted to Islam.

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Minu Ittyipe; to Cheraman; Outlook Indian Magazine; 2012 Kerala Muslims are generally referred to as the . Mappilas are but one among the many communities that form the Muslim population of Kerala.Kunhali, V. "Muslim Communities in Kerala to 1798" PhD Dissertation Aligarh Muslim University (1986) [7]
(2025). 9780330478656, Pan Macmillan. .
According to the Legend of Cheraman Perumals, the first Indian mosque was built in at with the mandate of the last the ruler (the Cheraman Perumal) of , who converted to Islam during the lifetime of (–632).
(1999). 9780765601049, M. E. Sharpe. .
(2025). 9780231700245, Columbia University Press. .
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(2025). 9788190388788, Other Books. .

Ancient Christian tradition says that Christianity reached the shores of Kerala in 52 CE with the arrival of Thomas the Apostle, one of the of Christ. The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5 by Erwin Fahlbusch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing – 2008. p. 285. .

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Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Mundalan, A. M; 1984; Podipara, Placid J. 1970; Leslie Brown, 1956 Saint Thomas Christians include Syro-Malabar Catholic,
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Syro-Malankara Catholic,
(1996). 9780521570169, Cambridge University Press. .
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church,
(2025). 9781870345439, OCMS. .
Mar Thoma Syrian Church,
(2025). 9781444392548, John Wiley & Sons..
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church,
(2025). 9781599428772, Universal-Publishers. .
the Syrian Anglicans of the CSI
(2025). 9780521893329, Cambridge University Press. .
and Pentecostal Saint Thomas Christians.
(2025). 9780802827340, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. .
The origin of the Christians in Kerala is the result of the missionary endeavours of the Portuguese in the 16th century.
(2025). 9788126415786, DC Books. .
(2025). 9780754662617, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. .
(2025). 9780804786850, Stanford University Press. .
As a consequence of centuries of mixing with colonial immigrants, beginning with the Portuguese, Dutch, French, British and other Europeans, there is a community of in Kerala of mixed European and Indian parentage or ancestry. Kerala has the highest population of Christians among all the states of India.Singh, Anjana. "Fort Cochin in Kerala 1750–1830 The Social Condition of a Dutch Community in an Indian Milieu." Brill, Leiden Boston: 2010, 3: 92.

reached Kerala in the 10th century BCE during the time of .Weil, Shalva. "Jews in India." in M.Avrum Erlich (ed.) Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora, Santa Barbara, CA: ABC CLIO. 2008, 3: 1204–12. They are called or Malabar Jews and are the oldest group of Jews in India. The Israelis (Jews) of India: A Story of Three Communities by Orpa Slapak. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 2003. p. 27. .Weil, Shalva. India's Jewish Heritage: Ritual, Art and Life-Cycle, Mumbai: Marg Publications, 2009. first. Katz 200/*Religion */ 0; Koder 1973; Menachery 1998 There was a significant Jewish community which existed in Kerala until the 20th century, when most of them .

(1998). 9780765804396, Transaction Publishers. .
The at is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth. Jainism has a considerable following in the .
(2025). 9781136546495, Routledge. .
(2025). 9788178298603, Sage Publications. .

Education
The Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries. In attempting to solve astronomical problems, the Kerala school independently created a number of important mathematics concepts, including for trigonometric functions. In the early decades of the 19th century, the modern educational transformation of Kerala was triggered by the efforts of the Church Mission Society missionaries to promote mass education.
(1996). 9788126415786, S.Viswanathan Printers and Publishers. .
Following the recommendations of the Wood's despatch of 1854, the princely states of Travancore and Cochin launched mass education drives mainly based on castes and communities, and introduced a system of to attract more private initiatives. Catholic institutions such as St Thomas College Thrissur and SB College Changanasserry were established under the leadership of the Catholic Church. The efforts by leaders such as Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, , , and in aiding the socially discriminated castes in the state—with the help of community-based organisations like Nair Service Society, SNDP, Muslim Educational Society, Muslim Mahajana Sabha, Yoga Kshema Sabha (of Nambudiris) and congregations of Christian churches—led to the further development of mass education in Kerala.
(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .

In 1991, Kerala became the first state in India to be recognised as completely literate, although the effective literacy rate at that time was only 90%.

(2025). 9788171415533, Discovery Publishing House. .
In 2006–2007, the state topped the Education Development Index (EDI) of the 21 major states in India. , enrolment in elementary education was almost 100%; and, unlike other states in India, educational opportunity was almost equally distributed among sexes, social groups, and regions.
(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .
According to the 2011 census, Kerala has a 93.9% literacy, compared to the national literacy rate of 74.0%. In January 2016, Kerala became the first Indian state to achieve 100% primary education through its Athulyam literacy programme.

The educational system prevailing in the state's schools specifies an initial 10-year course of study, which is divided into three stages: lower primary, upper primary, and secondary school—known as 4+3+3, which signifies the number of years for each stage. After the first 10 years of schooling, students typically enroll in in one of the three major streams—, commerce, or science. The majority of public schools are affiliated with the Kerala Board of Public Examination. Other educational boards are the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), and the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

Culture
The culture of Kerala is composite and cosmopolitan in nature and it is an integral part of .
(2025). 9788126419036, D C Books. .
It is a synthesis of Aryan, Dravidian, , and European cultures,
(2025). 9788126415786, DC Books. .
developed over millennia, under influences from other parts of India and abroad. It is defined by its antiquity and the organic continuity sustained by the . It was elaborated through centuries of contact with neighbouring and overseas cultures. However, the geographical insularity of Kerala from the rest of the country has resulted in the development of a distinctive lifestyle, art, architecture, language, literature and social institutions. Over 10,000 festivals are celebrated in the state every year. The Malayalam calendar, a solar sidereal calendar started from 825 CE in Kerala,
(2025). 9788185604749, Popular Prakashan. .
finds common usage in planning agricultural and religious activities.
(2025). 9788179911020, Popular Prakashan. .
, one of the classical languages in India, is Kerala's official language.
(2025). 9783643102317, LIT Verlag Münster. .
Over a dozen other scheduled and unscheduled languages are also spoken. Kerala has the greatest consumption of alcohol in India.

Festivals
Many of the temples in Kerala hold festivals on specific days of the year.
(2025). 9788126419036, D.C. Books. .
A common characteristic of these festivals is the hoisting of a holy flag which is brought down on the final day of the festival after immersing the deity.
(1982). 9788126437986, Department of Public Relations, Government of Kerala. .
Some festivals include Poorams, the best known of these being the .
(2025). 9788171392803, Jnanada Prakashan. .
"Elephants, firework displays and huge crowds" are the major attractions of Thrissur Pooram. Other known festivals are ,
(2025). 9788192128443, Biju Mathew. .
Chinakkathoor Pooram, and Nenmara Vallangi Vela
(2025). 9781909268791, Footprint Travel Guides. .
Other than these, festivals locally known as are conducted by many temples mostly on annual basis. Temples that can afford it will usually involve at least one richly caparisoned elephant as part of the festivities. The idol in the temple is taken out on a procession around the countryside atop this elephant. When the procession visits homes around the temple, people will usually present rice, coconuts, and other offerings to it. Processions often include traditional music such as or .
(2025). 9788188827077, B.R. Rhythms. .
and are celebrated by the Muslim community of the state while the festivals like and are observed by the Christians.
(2025). 9788126415885, DC Books. .
Onam is a harvest festival celebrated by the people of Kerala and is reminiscent of the state's agrarian past.
(2025). 9788126415786, DC Books. .
It is a local festival of Kerala consisting of a four-day public holidays; from Onam Eve (Uthradam) to the fourth Onam Day. Onam falls in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August–September)
(2025). 9788126419036, D.C. Books. .
and marks the commemoration of the homecoming of King . The total duration of Onam is 10 days and it is celebrated all across Kerala. It is one of the festivals celebrated with cultural elements such as , ,
(2025). 9788192128443, Biju Mathew. .
Pookkalam,
(2025). 9789814222396, Armour Publishing Pte Ltd. .
Thumbi Thullal
(2025). 9781482816907, Partridge Pub. .
and .
(1998). 9788172761103, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. .

Music and dance
Kerala is home to a number of . These include five classical dance forms: , , , and , which originated and developed in the temple theatres during the classical period under the patronage of royal houses. , ,"Thirayattam" (Folklore Text-Malayalam), State Institute of language, Kerala , , and are other dance forms associated with the temple culture of the region.
(2025). 9788126419036, D C Books. .
Some traditional dance forms such as and were popular among the Muslims of the state,
(2025). 9788174781642, Sura Books. .
while and are popular among the Syrian Christians and is popular among the Latin Christians.
(1991). 9788123725932, National Book Trust, India. .
(2025). 9781851096367, ABC-CLIO. .
The development of classical music in Kerala is attributed to the contributions it received from the traditional performance arts associated with the temple culture of Kerala.
(1982). 9788126421572, D C Books. .
The development of the indigenous classical music form, Sopana Sangeetham, illustrates the rich contribution that temple culture has made to the arts of Kerala. dominates Keralite traditional music. This was the result of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma's popularisation of the genre in the 19th century. Raga-based renditions known as sopanam accompany kathakali performances.
(1990). 9780521339155, Cambridge University Press. .
Melam, including the paandi and panchari variants, is a more percussive style of music;
(2025). 9781858286365, Rough Guides. .
it is performed at -centered festivals using the . Panchavadyam is a form of percussion ensemble, in which artists use five types of percussion instruments. Kerala's visual arts range from traditional murals to the works of Raja Ravi Varma, the state's most renowned painter. Most of the castes and communities in Kerala have rich collections of folk songs and ballads associated with a variety of themes; Vadakkan Pattukal (Northern Ballads), Thekkan pattukal (Southern Ballads), Vanchi pattukal (Boat Songs), (Muslim songs) and Pallipattukal (Church songs) are a few of them.
(1982). 9788126421572, D C Books. .

Cinema
carved a niche for themselves in the Indian film industry with the presentation of social themes.
(2025). 9788126419036, D C Books. .
(1987). 9788126018031, Sahitya Akademi. .
Directors from Kerala, like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Mankada Ravi Varma, G. Aravindan, , P. Padmarajan, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, K.G. George, , John Abraham, , K S Sethumadhavan, A. Vincent and Shaji N Karun have made a considerable contribution to the Indian . Kerala has also given birth to numerous actors, such as , , , , Madhu, , Sharada, , , , Seema, , , , , , , , , Urvashi, , , , Murali, , , , Prithviraj, Parvathy, , , Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Jagathy Sreekumar, , , Innocent and . Late Malayalam actor Prem Nazir holds the world record for having acted as the protagonist of over 720 movies. Since the 1980s, actors and have dominated the movie industry; Mohanlal has won five National Film Awards (four for acting), while Mammootty has three National Film Awards for acting.
9788172541248, Sura Books. .
Malayalam Cinema has produced a few more notable personalities such as K. J. Yesudas, K.S. Chitra, M.G. Sreekumar, Vayalar Rama Varma, V. Madhusoodanan Nair, M.T. Vasudevan Nair and O.N.V. Kurup, the last two mentioned being recipients of , the highest literary award in India. , who is from Kerala, is the only Indian to win an Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing, for the breakthrough film Slumdog Millionaire. As of 2018, has got 14 awards for the best actor, 6 for the best actress, 11 for the best film, and 13 for the best film director in the National Film Awards, .

Literature
The Sangam literature can be considered as the ancient predecessor of . Malayalam literature starts from the period (9th–13th century CE) and includes such notable writers as the 14th-century (Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar),
(1994). 9789231028137, UNESCO. .
and the 16th-century poet , whose works mark the dawn of both the modern Malayalam language and its poetry.
(1998). 9788126004133, Sahitya Akademi. .
For the first 600 years of , the literature mainly consisted of the oral such as Vadakkan Pattukal in and Thekkan Pattukal in Southern Travancore. Designated a "Classical Language in India" in 2013, it developed into the current form mainly by the influence of the poets Cherusseri Namboothiri, Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, and Poonthanam Nambudiri, in the 15th and the 16th centuries of .Freeman, Rich (2003). "Genre and Society: The Literary Culture of Premodern Kerala". In Literary Cultures in History: Reconstructions from South Asia , a probable poet of the 17th/18th century CE, and , a poet of the 18th century CE, have also influenced a lot in the growth of modern Malayalam literature in its pre-mature form. The river, also known as , and its tributaries, have played a major role in the development of modern Malayalam Literature.

Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar and Kerala Varma Valiakoi Thampuran are noted for their contribution to Malayalam prose.

(2025). 9788126137404, Anmol Publ.. .
The "triumvirate of poets" ( Kavithrayam): , Vallathol Narayana Menon, and Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, are recognised for moving Keralite poetry away from archaic sophistry and metaphysics, and towards a more mode. The poets like Moyinkutty Vaidyar and Pulikkottil Hyder have made notable contributions to the , which is a genre of the literature.Pg 167, Mappila Muslims: a study on society and anti colonial struggles By Husain Raṇdathaṇi, Other Books, Kozhikode 2007 The first travelogue in any Indian language is the Malayalam Varthamanappusthakam, written by Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar in 1785.
(2025). 9788126421572, D C Books.
The prose literature, Malayalam journalism, and criticism began after the latter-half of the 18th century. Contemporary Malayalam literature deals with social, political, and economic life context. The tendency of the modern literature is often towards political radicalism. Malayalam literature has been presented with 6 , the second-most for any Dravidian language and the third-highest for any Indian language. In the second half of the 20th century, winning poets and writers like G. Sankara Kurup, S. K. Pottekkatt, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, M. T. Vasudevan Nair, O. N. V. Kurup, and Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, had made valuable contributions to the modern Malayalam literature.
(2025). 9788177552720, Cosmo. .
(1987). 9780836424232, Sahitya Akademi. .
Later, writers like O. V. Vijayan, , M. Mukundan, , Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, have gained international recognition.
(2025). 9788126018833, Sahitya Akademi. .
(2025). 9788126900930, Atlantic Publishers & Dist. .
(2025). 9781906165017, Peter Lang. .

Cuisine
Kerala cuisine includes a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes prepared using fish, poultry, and meat. Culinary spices have been cultivated in Kerala for millennia and they are characteristic of its cuisine.
(2025). 9781741964387, Murdoch Books. .
Rice is a dominant staple that is eaten at all times of day.
(2025). 9788120339637, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.. .
A majority of the breakfast foods in Kerala are made out of rice, in one form or the other ( , dosa, , , , or ), preparations, or pulse-based vada.
(1970). 9788172240356, Jaico Publishing House. .
These may be accompanied by , , , , , chicken curry, beef fry, egg masala and fish curry. and are also often found in restaurants in Kerala. Thalassery biryani is popular as an ethnic brand. Lunch dishes include rice and curry along with rasam, pulisherry and sambar.
(2025). 9781476123080, Springwood emedia. .
is a vegetarian meal, which is served on a banana leaf and followed with a cup of payasam.
(2025). 9780143029502, Penguin Books India. .
Popular snacks include , yam crisps, , , and kuzhalappam.
(2025). 9788189449018, Outlook Publishing. .
(2025). 9781879410794, Mata Amritanandamayi Center. .
Seafood specialties include , prawns, shrimp and other crustacean dishes. Thalassery Cuisine is varied and is a blend of many influences.

Media
The media, telecommunications, broadcasting and cable services are regulated by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The National Family Health Survey – 4, conducted in 2015–16, ranked Kerala as the state with the highest media exposure in India. Dozens of newspapers are published in Kerala, in nine major languages, but principally Malayalam and English.
(1998). 9788126004133, Sahitya Akademi. .
Kerala has the highest media exposure in India. The most widely circulated Malayalam-language newspapers are Malayala Manorama, , , , , Mangalam, Chandrika, Deepika, , , and Suprabhaatham. Major Malayalam periodicals include Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu, , Malayalam, , Grihalakshmi, Dhanam, and . is a state-owned television broadcaster. Multiple-system operators provide a mix of Malayalam, English, other Indian languages, and international channels. Some of the popular Malayalam television channels are Asianet, , , , , , Mazhavil Manorama, , , , Flowers, Media One TV, , , , , , , , and Shalom TV. With the second-highest internet penetration rate in India, including and OTT services are a main source of information and entertainment in the state. A sizeable people's science movement has taken root in the state, and activities like writer's cooperatives are becoming increasingly common.
(2025). 9788187621812, Centre for Development Studies. .
, , Vodafone Idea Limited, are the major cell phone service providers. Broadband Internet services are widely available throughout the state; some of the major are , Asianet Satellite Communications, , Vodafone Idea Limited, , and Tata Communications.

Sports
is performed during on the ]]By the 21st century, almost all of the native sports and games from Kerala had either disappeared or become just an art form performed during local festivals; including , Padayani, Thalappandukali, Onathallu, Parichamuttukali, Velakali, and Kilithattukali. However, , regarded as "the mother of all martial arts in the world", is an exception and is practised as the indigenous martial sport.
(2025). 9781841263281, Meyer & Meyer Verlag.
Another traditional sport of Kerala is the boat race, especially the race of .

and football became popular in the state; both were introduced in Malabar during the British colonial period in the 19th century. Cricketers, like , , Chundangapoyil Rizwan, , and found places in the national cricket team. A cricket franchise from Kerala, the Kochi Tuskers, played in the Indian Premier League's fourth season. However, this team was disbanded after the season because of conflicts of interest among its franchises. Kerala has only performed well recently in the cricket competition, in 2017–18 reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in history. Football is one of the most widely played and watched sports with huge in this state support for club and district level matches. Kochi hosts Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League. The Blasters are one of the most widely supported clubs in the country as well as the fifth most-followed football club from in social media. Also, Kozhikode hosts Gokulam Kerala FC in the as well as the Sait Nagjee Football Tournament. Kerala is one of the major footballing states in India along with West Bengal and Goa and has produced national players like I. M. Vijayan, C. V. Pappachan, V. P. Sathyan, U. Sharaf Ali, Jo Paul Ancheri, Ashique Kuruniyan, Muhammad Rafi, , , Pappachen Pradeep, C.K. Vineeth, , Sahal Abdul Samad, and . The Kerala state football team has won the seven times; in 1973, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2004, 2018, and 2022. They were also the runners-up eight times.

Among the prominent athletes hailing from the state are P. T. Usha, and M.D. Valsamma, all three of whom are recipients of the as well as , while K. M. Beenamol and Anju Bobby George are Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award winners. T. C. Yohannan, Suresh Babu, , Angel Mary Joseph, , K. Saramma, , Padmini Selvan and Tintu Luka are the other Arjuna Award winners from Kerala. Volleyball is another popular sport and is often played on makeshift courts on sandy beaches along the coast.

(2025). 9781843531036, Rough Guides.
was a notable Indian volleyball player, rated in his prime as among the world's ten best players. Other popular sports include , and .
(2025). 9788171419272, Discovery Publishing House. .
The Indian Hockey team captain P. R. Shreejesh, ace goalkeeper hails from Kerala. International Walkers from the state include K. T. Irfan.

For the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in , the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi), was chosen as one of the six venues where the game would be hosted in . Greenfield International Stadium at located at Kariavattom in Thiruvananthapuram city, is India's first DBOT (design, build, operate and transfer) model outdoor stadium and it has hosted international cricket matches and international football matches including 2015 SAFF Championship.

Tourism
Kerala's culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demographics, have made the state one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. In 2012, National Geographic's Traveller magazine named Kerala as one of the "ten paradises of the world" and "50 must see destinations of a lifetime". Travel and Leisure also described Kerala as "One of the 100 great trips for the 21st century". In 2012, it overtook the to be the number one travel destination in Google's search trends for India. listed Kerala among its '19 best places to visit in 2019'. Kerala was named by TIME magazine in 2022 among the 50 extraordinary destinations to explore in its list of the World's Greatest Places.

Kerala's beaches, backwaters, lakes, mountain ranges, waterfalls, ancient ports, palaces, religious institutions

(2025). 9788192128481, Biju Mathew Info Kerala Communications Pvt Ltd. .
and wildlife sanctuaries are major attractions for both domestic and international tourists. The city of Kochi ranks first in the total number of international and domestic tourists in Kerala. Until the early 1980s, Kerala was a relatively unknown destination compared to other states in the country. In 1986 the government of Kerala declared tourism an important industry and it was the first state in India to do so. Marketing campaigns launched by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, the government agency that oversees the tourism prospects of the state, resulted in the growth of the tourism industry.
(2025). 9788131731826, Pearson Education India. .
Many advertisements branded Kerala with the tagline Kerala, God's Own Country. Kerala tourism is a global brand and regarded as one of the destinations with highest recall. In 2006, Kerala attracted 8.5 million tourists, an increase of 23.7% over the previous year, making the state one of the fastest-growing popular destinations in the world. In 2011, tourist inflow to Kerala crossed the 10-million mark.

Ayurvedic tourism has become very popular since the 1990s, and private agencies have played a notable role in tandem with the initiatives of the Tourism Department. Kerala is known for its initiatives which include mountaineering, trekking and bird-watching programmes in the Western Ghats as the major activities.

(2025). 9788171885947, Academic Foundation. .
The state's tourism industry is a major contributor to the state's economy, growing at the rate of 13.3%. The revenue from tourism increased five-fold between 2001 and 2011 and crossed the 190 billion mark in 2011. According to the Economic Times Kerala netted a record revenue of INR 365280.1 million from the tourism sector in 2018, clocking an increase of Rs 28743.3 million from the previous year. Over 16.7 million tourists visited Kerala in 2018 as against 15.76 million the previous year, recording an increase of 5.9%. The industry provides employment to approximately 1.2 million people.

The state's only drive-in beach, Muzhappilangad Beach in Kannur, which stretches across of sand, was chosen by the BBC as one of the top six drive-in beaches in the world in 2016. , the world's second arch dam, and Asia's first is at . The major beaches are at , , , , , , , , Tanur, , , Kappad, Muzhappilangad and . Popular are at , , , , , , Arimbra, of district, , and .

(2025). 9788131404690, ICFAI Books. .
Munnar is 4,500 feet above sea level and is known for tea plantations, and a variety of flora and fauna. Kerala's ecotourism destinations include 12 wildlife sanctuaries and two national parks: Periyar Tiger Reserve, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife Sanctuary, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park, and Silent Valley National Park are the most popular among them.
(2025). 9788183241298, Mittal Publications. .
The Kerala backwaters are an extensive network of interlocking rivers (41 west-flowing rivers), lakes, and canals that centre around Alleppey, , , , and (where the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held in August), a small island in . Padmanabhapuram Palace and the Mattancherry Palace are two nearby heritage sites.

See also
  • Outline of Kerala
  • Dravidian peoples
  • List of municipal corporations in Kerala
  • List of taluks of Kerala
  • List of urban local bodies in Kerala
  • List of districts of Kerala
  • List of revenue divisions of Kerala

Notes
Sources
Further reading
  • Bose, Satheese Chandra and Varughese, Shiju Sam (eds.) 2015. '' Https://www.orientblackswan.com/display.asp?categoryID=0&isbn=978-8125057222" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Kerala Modernity: Ideas, Spaces and Practices in Transition''. Hyderabad: Orient Blackswan.
  • (2016). 9781349122523, Springer.

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