According to the 2001 census, the state has a population of 3,18,38,619. Kerala registered the lowest population growth rate in the country, with an average annual growth of 0.91 percent during 1991-2001as against the national level of 1.93 percent. Interestingly, this creditable achievement is maintained along with low infant mortality rate and high life expectancy.

The state ranks second highest in terms of people in the working age, with 63.4 percent of the population falling in the age group of 15-59 years. Kerala is also the only state in India where sex ratio is above the equality ratio with 1058 females per 1000 males.