Kerala demographics: Muslim births at 46.14% amid Hindu and Christian decline

The Hindu and Christian communities in Kerala have transitioned into a phase of negative natural population growth, according to the government’s latest Annual Vital Statistics Report. The data reveals this shift even as the Muslim community accounted for 46.14% of all live births in the state in 2024.

The official Annual Vital Statistics Report 2024 released by the Kerala government highlights a clear divergence in live births and deaths across the state’s major religious communities. Out of the 3,44,766 total births recorded in Kerala in 2024, 46.14% were Muslim, 39.49% were Hindu, and 14.06% were Christian. Conversely, the share of total deaths recorded in the state during the same period was 59.66% Hindu, 20.15% Christian, and 19.92% Muslim.
A community enters a negative Natural Growth Rate (NGR) when the number of deaths within a year exceeds the number of live births. Both Hindu and Christian communities are recording more annual deaths than births. The Hindu NGR first turned negative in 2022 and dropped further to -0.115% by 2023. The Christian NGR similarly fell into negative territory (-0.084%), continuing a downward trend that began in 2021.
The Muslim community remains the primary driver keeping Kerala’s overall NGR marginally positive, as births in that community still substantially outnumber deaths.
Births in the Hindu community decreased from 1,85,411 in 2020 to 1,36,163 in 2024. In the Muslim community, it was 1,96,138 in 2020, but it is 1,59,088 in 2024. In the Christian community, it was 62,265 in 2020, but it is 48,476 in 2024.
Meanwhile, deaths in 2020 were 1,46,424, but it is 1,87,079 in 2024. The number of Hindu deaths was 1,46,424 in 2020 and rose to 1,87,079 in 2024. In the Muslim community, 50,337 people died in 2020, compared to 62,471 in 2024. In the Christian community, 48,815 people died in 2020, while the number of deaths in 2024 was 63,172.
While the Muslim population currently maintains a positive NGR, its overall birth and fertility rates are also in a sharp, steady decline. Experts project that the entire state of Kerala will transition to a completely negative natural growth rate within the next two decades
Of the total registered births, 50.78% were boys and 49.22% were girls. The sex ratio increased from 966 in 2023 to 969 in 2024. The highest birth rate was recorded in Malappuram district (15.16) and the lowest rate was recorded in Alappuzha district (5.28). The highest number of births occurred in May (9.49%) and the lowest number of births occurred in November and December (7.68%). The infant mortality rate decreased from 5.26 in 2023 to 5.03 in 2024.

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