Districts in Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu is a state in southern India famous for its rich cultural heritage. It’s the sixth-largest state in India and has 38 districts, each with its unique characteristics and attractions. Visitors can enjoy diverse experiences in Tamil Nadu, from the vibrant energy of Chennai, a big city, to the calmness of the hill stations in the Western Ghats.
Districts in Tamil Nadu
In 1956, Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India, was established with 13 districts. It covers an area of 130,058 square kilometres and has a population of 72,147,030 people. Tamil Nadu is divided into various administrative districts and subdivisions, currently totaling 38.
For information about the number and names of districts in Tamil Nadu, along with maps and demographic details, you can refer to the article below.
Districts in Tamil Nadu Overview
There are 38 Districts in Tamil Nadu, each led by an Indian Administrative Service officer. These districts are further divided into smaller parts like subdivisions, municipalities, and blocks to manage them better. This breakdown helps in the effective administration of the state.
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Districts in Tamil Nadu Overview |
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| Total District in Tamil Nadu | 38 |
| Date of Formation | 1 November 1956 |
| State Capital | Chennai |
| Total Area | 130,058 km2 |
| Total Population | 72,147,030 |
Also Read: Districts in Assam
Districts in Tamil Nadu History
In Tamil Nadu, the number of districts has changed many times before. Right now, there are 38 districts in the state. The newest district was added in 2020, and since then, no more new districts have been made.
Here’s a quick Districts in Tamil Nadu History:
- On January 5, 2018, the area of Chennai district got bigger.
- On November 22, 2019, Tenkasi district was made separate from Tirunelveli.
- On November 26, 2019, Kallakurichi district was created from Viluppuram district.
- On November 29, 2019, Tirupattur and Ranipet districts were made separate from Vellore district.
- On November 30, 2019, Chengalpattu district was made separate from Kanchipuram.
- On March 24, 2020, Mayiladuthurai district was created from Nagapattinam district.
Districts in Tamil Nadu List
We’ve compiled a list of all 38 districts in Tamil Nadu, including when each district was established. Take a look at the table below to discover important details about these districts.
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Districts in Tamil Nadu List |
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| Districts in Tamil Nadu | Headquarters | Date of Formation | |
| 1. | Ariyalur | Ariyalur | 23 November 2007 |
| 2. | Chengalpattu | Chengalpattu | 29 November 2019 |
| 3. | Chennai | Chennai | 1 November 1956 |
| 4. | Coimbatore | Coimbatore | 1 November 1956 |
| 5. | Cuddalore | Cuddalore | 30 September 1993 |
| 6. | Dharmapuri | Dharmapuri | 2 October 1965 |
| 7. | Dindigul | Dindigul | 15 September 1985 |
| 8. | Erode | Erode | 31 August 1979 |
| 9. | Kallakurichi | Kallakurichi | 26 November 2019 |
| 10. | Kanchipuram | Kanchipuram | 1 July 1997 |
| 11. | Kanniyakumari | Nagercoil | 1 November 1956 |
| 12. | Karur | Karur | 30 September 1995 |
| 13. | Krishnagiri | Krishnagiri | 9 February 2004 |
| 14. | Madurai | Madurai | 1 November 1956 |
| 15. | Mayiladuthurai | Mayiladuthurai | 28 December 2020 |
| 16. | Nagapattinam | Nagapattinam | 18 October 1991 |
| 17. | Namakkal | Namakkal | 1 January 1997 |
| 18. | Nilgiris | Ooty | 1 November 1956 |
| 19. | Perambalur | Perambalur | 30 September 1995 |
| 20. | Pudukkottai | Pudukkottai | 14 January 1974 |
| 21. | Ramanathapuram | Ramanathapuram | 1 November 1956 |
| 22. | Ranipet | Ranipet | 28 November 2019 |
| 23. | Salem | Salem | 1 November 1956 |
| 24. | Sivagangai | Sivagangai | 15 March 1985 |
| 25. | Tenkasi | Tenkasi | 22 November 2019 |
| 26. | Thanjavur | Thanjavur | 1 November 1956 |
| 27. | Theni | Theni | 25 July 1996 |
| 28. | Thoothukudi | Thoothukudi | 20 October 1986 |
| 29. | Tiruchirappalli | Tiruchirappalli | 1 November 1956 |
| 30. | Tirunelveli | Tirunelveli | 1 November 1956 |
| 31. | Tirupathur | Tirupattur | 28 November 2019 |
| 32. | Tiruppur | Tiruppur | 22 February 2009 |
| 33. | Tiruvallur | Tiruvallur | 1 July 1997 |
| 34. | Tiruvannamalai | Tiruvannamalai | 30 September 1989 |
| 35. | Tiruvarur | Thiruvarur | 18 October 1991 |
| 36. | Vellore | Vellore | 30 September 1989 |
| 37. | Viluppuram | Viluppuram | 30 September 1993 |
| 38. | Virudhunagar | Virudhunagar | 15 March 1985 |
Also Read: Largest District of Kerala
Districts in Tamil Nadu Map
To understand the Districts in Tamil Nadu more effectively, it’s essential to grasp their geographic positioning within the state. For assistance in recognizing these locations, we’ve provided the Tamil Nadu District Map below.
Tamil Nadu Districts Administrative Structure
Districts in Tamil Nadu are organised into several subdivisions. Here, we provide a breakdown of the state’s administrative framework in simpler language.
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Tamil Nadu Districts Administrative Structure |
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| Revenue Divisions | 87 |
| Taluks | 310 |
| Municipal Corporations | 15 |
| Municipalities | 121 |
| Blocks | 385 |
| Village Panchayats | 12,618 |
| Town Panchayats | 528 |
Tamil Nadu Districts Demographics
It’s crucial to understand the characteristics of the different areas in Tamil Nadu. We’ve provided information about the size and population of every District in Tamil Nadu here.
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Tamil Nadu Districts Demographics |
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| Tamil Nadu Districts | Area (km2) | Population | |
| 1. | Ariyalur | 1949.31 | 754,894 |
| 2. | Chengalpattu | 2,944.96 | 2,556,244 |
| 3. | Chennai | 426 | 7,139,630 |
| 4. | Coimbatore | 4,723 | 3,458,045 |
| 5. | Cuddalore | 3,703 | 2,605,914 |
| 6. | Dharmapuri | 4,497.77 | 1,506,843 |
| 7. | Dindigul | 6,266.64 | 2,159,775 |
| 8. | Erode | 5,722 | 2,251,744 |
| 9. | Kallakurichi | 3,520.37 | 1,370,281 |
| 10. | Kanchipuram | 1,655.94 | 1,166,401 |
| 11. | Kanniyakumari | 1,672 | 1,870,374 |
| 12. | Karur | 2,895.57 | 1,064,493 |
| 13. | Krishnagiri | 5,143 | 1,879,809 |
| 14. | Madurai | 3,741.73 | 3,038,252 |
| 15. | Mayiladuthurai | 1,172 | 918,356 |
| 16. | Nagapattinam | 1,397 | 697,069 |
| 17. | Namakkal | 3,368.21 | 1,726,601 |
| 18. | Nilgiris | 2,545 | 735,394 |
| 19. | Perambalur | 1,757 | 565,223 |
| 20. | Pudukkottai | 4,663 | 1,618,345 |
| 21. | Ramanathapuram | 4,068.31 | 1,353,445 |
| 22. | Ranipet | 2,234.32 | 1,210,277 |
| 23. | Salem | 5,245 | 3,482,056 |
| 24. | Sivagangai | 4,189 | 1,339,101 |
| 25. | Tenkasi | 2916.13 | 1,407,627 |
| 26. | Thanjavur | 3,396.57 | 2,405,890 |
| 27. | Theni | 3,242.3 | 1,245,899 |
| 28. | Thoothukudi | 4,707 | 1,750,176 |
| 29. | Tiruchirappalli | 4,403.83 | 2,722,290 |
| 30. | Tirunelveli | 3842.37 | 1,665,253 |
| 31. | Tirupathur | 1,797.92 | 1,111,812 |
| 32. | Tiruppur | 5,186.34 | 2,479,052 |
| 33. | Tiruvallur | 3,422.43 | 3,728,104 |
| 34. | Tiruvannamalai | 6,188 | 2,464,875 |
| 35. | Tiruvarur | 2,161 | 1,264,277 |
| 36. | Vellore | 2030.11 | 1,614,242 |
| 37. | Viluppuram | 3725.54 | 2,093,003 |
| 38. | Virudhunagar | 4,241.0 | 1,942,288 |
Districts in Tamil Nadu FAQs
Q1. How many districts are there in Tamil Nadu?
Ans. There are a total of 38 Tamil Nadu districts. The names of the districts of Tamil Nadu are Chengalpattu, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Erode, Karur, Nagapattinam, Nilgiris, Theni, Salem, Virudhunagar, Tiruvannamalai, Thootukudi, Ranipet, Perambalur, Krishnagiri, and others.
Q2. Which is the smallest district in Tamil Nadu?
Ans. The smallest district of Tamil Nadu in terms of area is Chennai, which covers around 426 square kilometres of area. Despite its size, the capital city of Chennai is home to the largest population in the entire Tamil Nadu state. The total population of Chennai is estimated at 7,139,630.
Q3. Which is the new district of Tamil Nadu?
Ans. The newest district of Tamil Nadu is Mayiladuthurai. This district was formed on 24 March 2020 after bifurcating the Nagapattinam district. The Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu covers an area of 1,172 square kilometres and has a population of 918,356.
Q4. Which district of Tamil Nadu is known as the "Textile Capital of South India"?
Ans. Tiruppur is known as the "Textile Capital of South India"
