Pathanamthitta district

Pathanamthitta District is a district in the southern part of Kerala, India. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municipalities in Pathanamthitta: Tiruvalla, Adoor, Pathanamthitta and Pandalam.

St. Peter's and St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Parumala, the shrine of St Geevargeese Mar Gregorios in Kerala. He is the first Indian to be canonised by Syrian Christians of India.

According to the 2001 Census of India, the population was 1,231,577,^[1] making it the third least populous district in Kerala (out of 14), after Wayanad and Idukki.^[2] Pathanamthitta has been declared the first polio-free district in India.^[3] The district is 10.03% urbanised.^[4] Pathanamthitta is one of the Richestt districts in India with just 1.17% poverty as of 2013, which places the district among top 5 districts in India with least poverty.^[5]

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Pathanamthitta district has a population of 1,195,537,^[2] roughly equal to the nation of Timor-Leste^[6] or the US state of Rhode Island.^[7] This gives it a ranking of 399th in India (out of a total of 640).^[2] The district has a population density of 453 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,170/sq mi).^[2] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was −3.12%.^[2] Pathanamthitta has a sex ratio of 1129 females for every 1000 males,^[2] and a literacy rate of 96.93%.^[2] Pathanamthitta District is one of the few districts to have negative growth in population.

According to the Census of India 2001, the district had a population of 1,234,016 with a density of 467 persons per square kilometre.^[8] This is the lowest density in the State after Idukki and Wayanad.^[9] Schedule tribes and castes comprise 13% of the total population. The female to male ratio is 1094:1000, which is the highest among the districts in the State.^[10] Pathanamthitta's literacy rate is 95%.Pathanamthitta's major religion are Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains have much smaller followings. As of 2004^[update] the population included 694,560(56.28%) Hindus, 481,602 (39.03%) Christians and 56,457 (4.58%) Muslims, the lowest following in the State.^[11]

As of 2011^[update] the population included 681,666(56.93%) Hindus, 456,404 (38.12%) Christians and 55,074(4.60%) Muslims.^[12] In Christian Denominations Malankara Orthodox Church, with population of 312, 352, Mar Thoma Syrian Church population of 134, 751, Jacobite and Knanaya Jacobite population accumulating to a total of 47,256 and Malankara Catholics reaching a total of 44,326.A large number of Pentecostal and Reformation Groups also are present in this area.