- Literacy Rate
- 93.6%
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: census2011.co.in, censusindia.co.in
Good to know
Good to Know
- Varkala's population is young and highly literate (93.6%), with a female-skewed sex ratio (1,187 per 1,000 males), typical of Kerala.
- The town is heavily tourism-dependent with 300+ hotels/resorts; no significant tech or manufacturing hub locally.
- Large diaspora of Varkala residents work abroad (Middle East, Singapore, US, UK, France), especially in service sectors; remittances are a key economic driver.
- Russian tourists were historically prominent but visiting patterns have declined since 2018; current foreign visitor trends lean toward Indian domestic tourism.
- Very limited permanent foreign expatriate community; most foreign presence is seasonal tourism or short-term visa holders.
- Social structure shaped by Sree Narayana Guru's reformist legacy; caste hierarchies are less rigid than in many other Indian towns, and scheduled-caste representation is higher than Kerala average.
Sex Ratio
- Female Percentage
- 54.2%
- Females Per 1000 Males
- 1187
Literacy Rate
93.6%
Total Population
- Estimated 2026
- 57000
- Municipality 2011 Census
- 40048
- Note
- Most recent official census is 2011. 2026 estimate based on municipality data.
Nationality Breakdown
- Indian States Represented
- Predominantly local (Kerala-born Malayalis), with internal migration from Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, and other North Indian states post-2000s.
- Note
- Census data available only for Indian national breakdown. Foreign nationals not enumerated in Census 2011.
Religious Composition
- Hindu
- 70.6%
- Other
- 0.17%
- Muslim
- 28.87%
- Christian
- 0.36%
Marginalized Communities
- Scheduled Caste Percentage
- 14.7%
- Scheduled Tribe Percentage
- 0.3%
Business And Tech Presence
- Primary Sectors
- Tourism (dominant), hospitality, healthcare, education
- Hotels And Resorts
- 300
- Tech And Startup Ecosystem
- Limited direct presence in Varkala municipality itself. Regional tech hub is Thiruvananthapuram Technopark (50 km away), supported by Kerala Startup Mission state-wide incubation programs.
- Note
- Varkala's economy is service-oriented (tourism, hospitality, pilgrimage) with no significant tech headquarters or manufacturing.
Employment Statistics 2011
- Main Workers
- 10229
- Male Workers
- 9273
- Total Workers
- 13166
- Female Workers
- 3893
- Marginal Workers
- 2937
Foreign Born And Migration
- Foreign Born Percentage
- Not quantified in available census data; tourism and seasonal visa patterns predominate over permanent settlement.
- Diaspora Working Abroad
- Significant outward migration, particularly to Middle East, Singapore, US, UK, and France. Kerala receives major remittance inflows (₹23.99 billion annually from Gulf states), contributing ~15% of state GSDP.
- Foreign Tourist Arrivals 2017
- 33658
- Notable Foreign Visitor Pattern
- Historically popular with Russian tourists and expatriates; source from 2018 indicates Russians form notable share of foreign visitors.
Population Density Per Km2
2693
Historical And Cultural Notes
- Sree Narayana Guru Legacy
- Major social reformer (1904 Sivagiri Mutt) whose teachings on 'One Caste, One Religion, One God' shaped local society and reduced caste-based barriers.
- Ezhava Community Prominence
- Significant portion of local population; historically marginalized backward caste that gained economic and educational mobility through Guru-inspired social movements.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Varkala
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.