According to the 2011 Census, Kerala's population was approximately 34.6 million. The state is noted for having the lowest population growth rate in India (4.9% per decade), alongside the highest literacy rate, hovering above 94%, and a life expectancy of over 75 years. It is also the only Indian state to have a favorable sex ratio, with more women than men (1,084 females per 1,000 males in 2011).
The state boasts a relatively harmonious pluralistic society. Hinduism is the majority religion (approx. 54%), followed by Islam (approx. 26%) and Christianity (approx. 18%), with historic but small communities of Jews and Jains. Malayalam is the mother tongue of nearly the entire population. Kerala features a large diaspora, particularly in the Middle East; remittances from these Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) heavily influence the local economy and household incomes.
