Kerala is a state.
Kerala ( [ ˈkɛrələ ] ) historically known as Keralam , is an Indian state in South India on the Malabar Coast . It was formed on 1 November 1956 following the States Reorganisation Act by combining Malayalam-speaking regions . With 33,387,677 inhabitants as per the 2011 Census , Kerala is the thirteenth-largest Indian state by population and is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram . Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state . The state 's coastline extends for 595 km , and around 1.1 million people in the state are dependent on the fishery industry which contributes 3 % to the state 's income .