Demographics of Nair community

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The total population of the Nair community is disputed, since there has been no caste-based census since 1931. The administrators of the British Raj had an abiding interest in ethnography but in post-independence India the policy has been generally to ignore it in censuses. [1] [2]

The 1968 Socio-Economic Survey by the Government of Kerala stated that the population of the Nair community comprised 14.41% of the total state population. However, various sources cite figures ranging from 12% to 20%. [3] [4] [5] [6] There is also the practical difficulty of certain Nair subcastes declaring themselves as independent castes. Out of the citizens eligible to vote in Kerala, around 12% or 15% belong to the Nair community. [7]

The Nair population historically and currently remains concentrated in the capital districts. The Nair population in Trivandrum and Ernakulam districts has been increasing since the beginning of 19th century. [8]

The Nair population has been declining in Kerala, with some districts having only a small percentage of Nairs. For example, Malappuram has a Nair population of 1.8%, and Kasargode has about 2.1%. [9]

The most reliable population figures comes from two sources. The BCRC estimated Nair population at 14.47% of the total population of Kerala based on a statewide sample survey conducted for the reservation of seats in educational institutions.

Population estimates

Household sample surveys conducted by the Kerala Statistical Institute, the last of which were in 2000[ needs update ], produced estimates which were:

Distribution of Nairs in Kerala - District-wise. N Census.PNG
Distribution of Nairs in Kerala - District-wise.
Distribution of Nair population in Kerala. [10] [2]
DistrictTotal
District
Population
Nairs in District
Numbers% of District
Population
% of
Total Nairs
in Kerala
Kasaragod1,203,00036,0003.0%0.8%
Kannur2,412,000584,00024.2%13.1%
Wayanad787,000152,00019.3%3.4%
Kozhikode2,878,000504,00017.5%11.3%
Malappuram3,630,00080,0002.2%1.8%
Palakkad2,617,000330,00012.6%7.4%
Thrissur2,975,000223,0007.5%5.0%
Ernakulam3,098,000316,00010.2%7.1%
Idukki1,129,000111,0009.8%2.5%
Kottayam1,953,000227,00011.6%5.1%
Alappuzha2,105,000352,00016.7%7.9%
Pathanamthitta1,232,000174,00014.1%3.9%
Kollam2,584,000793,00030.7%17.8%
Thiruvananthapuram3,235,000575,00017.8%12.9%
Kerala total31,838,0004,457,00014.9%100.0%

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References

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  2. 1 2 G.O.K 1971: Appendix XVIII : For percentage of Nairs in total population of Kerala, adjusted for decrease due to emigration and low birth rates.Nairs are kshtriya caste.
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