Districts of Kerala: overview and list of administrative divisions

List of districts

The fourteen districts of Kerala are listed below. Names often correspond to major towns or historical regions that serve as the district headquarters:

• Thiruvananthapuram (southern capital and administrative centre)
• Kollam (coastal port and cashew-processing region)
• Pathanamthitta (inland, known for pilgrimage centres)
• Alappuzha (backwaters and canals)
• Kottayam (literacy and rubber cultivation)
• Idukki (high ranges, forests and dams)
• Ernakulam (contains Kochi, a major urban and port hub)
• Thrissur (cultural and commercial centre)
• Palakkad (gap in the Western Ghats, agricultural plain)
• Malappuram (large population, cultural diversity)
• Kozhikode (historical trading city)
• Wayanad (hill district with tea and spice cultivation)
• Kannur (coastline, weaving and trade traditions)
• Kasaragod (northernmost district, cultural borderlands)

Administration and functions

Districts are further subdivided into taluks, municipalities, panchayats and villages. The district administration coordinates revenue collection, land records, disaster management, public health initiatives and local development schemes. For legal and security matters, police districts generally align with administrative districts but may have separate boundaries for operational reasons. Official information and updates are often provided through state portals and dedicated district sites; for an overview of the state's administrative structure see revenue districts.

History, geography and importance

The present district map evolved after the reorganization of states in 1956 and later administrative adjustments responding to demographic and developmental needs. Kerala's districts span coastal plains, midland hills and the high Western Ghats. This diversity influences local economies—fishing and trade along the coast, plantations in the hills and agriculture in the plains. Districts also reflect cultural and linguistic communities, shaping festivals, education and local governance.

Notable facts and distinctions

Districts vary widely in size, population and urbanization. Some contain major metropolitan centres that drive state-level economic activity, while others are predominantly rural or forested. Understanding the district structure is essential for regional planning, delivery of services and civic participation, as residents elect representatives to municipal and panchayat bodies that operate within these district boundaries.