NRI-centric Pathanamthitta district has surpassed Kottayam to become the most literate district in the state.
As per the 2011 census, Pathanamthitta, with 96.93 per cent literacy, is the fourth most literate district in the country after Serchhip and Aizwal in Mizoram and Mahe in Puducherry.
Kottayam had been the first municipality to achieve 100 per cent literacy, which gave it the title, 'Land of Letters’.
As per the latest census, Kottayam slid to the second position, with 96.40 per cent literate people. In 2001, the district’s literacy rate was 95.82 per cent.
In 2001, the average literacy rate in Pathanamthitta was 94.84 per cent. Gender wise, male and female literacy are 97.70 per cent and 96.26 per cent respectively. As per the 2001 census, the same figures stood at 96.41 per cent and 93.43 per cent in the district.
The total literate in Pathanamthitta district are 1,070,120, of which male and female are 503,171 and 566,949 respectively.
Palakkad district is in the last position with only 88.49 per cent. Kerala can also be proud of the third ranking of Mahe as the area is geographically placed within the state.
As per the 2011 census, men in Karthikappally taluk in Alappuzha district are the most literate in the district.
The literacy rate among men in Karthikappally is 99.43 per cent, while the female literacy rate is 97.79 per cent.
Women in Mananthavady taluk in Wayand district are at the rear end with just 85.14 per cent literacy.
The literacy rate in the state is 93.91 per cent excluding those in the zero-to-six age group.