According to the 2011 census, the Nilgiris district had a population of 735,394 with a sex-ratio of 1,042 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929 females.
A total of 66,799 people were under the age of six, 33,648 males and 33,151 females.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 32.08% and 4.46% of the population, respectively.
The average literacy of the district was 77.46%, as compared to the national average of 72.99%.
The district had a total of 197,653 households.
There were a total of 349,974 workers, comprising 14,592 cultivators, 71,738 agricultural labourers, 3,019 in household industries, 229,575 other workers, 31,050 marginal workers, 1,053 marginal cultivators, 7,362 marginal agricultural labourers, 876 marginal workers in household industries and 21,759 other marginal workers.

Anthropologists, who have worked intensively in this district for the past 140 years, recognise 15 tribes living here.
Their origins are uncertain as there were no written records about them.
The best-known of these are the Toda and Kota, 
whose related cultures are based on pastoral management of the buffalo, with its dairy products being the basis of their diets.
They have developed highly refined red, black and white embroidered shawls, and silver jewellery, which are GI-registered and much sought after.
The district is also home to the Kurumba, Irula, Paniyan and Kattunayakan or Nayaka.
According to the 2011 census, the Nilgiris district had a population of 735,394 with a sex-ratio of 1,042 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929 females. A total of 66,799 people were under the age of six, 33,648 males and 33,151 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 32.08% and 4.46% of the population, respectively. The average literacy of the district was 77.46%, as compared to the national average of 72.99%. The district had a total of 197,653 households. There were a total of 349,974 workers, comprising 14,592 cultivators, 71,738 agricultural labourers, 3,019 in household industries, 229,575 other workers, 31,050 marginal workers, 1,053 marginal cultivators, 7,362 marginal agricultural labourers, 876 marginal workers in household industries and 21,759 other marginal workers.
Anthropologists, who have worked intensively in this district for the past 140 years, recognise 15 tribes living here. Their origins are uncertain as there were no written records about them. The best-known of these are the Toda and Kota, 
whose related cultures are based on pastoral management of the buffalo, with its dairy products being the basis of their diets. They have developed highly refined red, black and white embroidered shawls, and silver jewellery, which are GI-registered and much sought after. The district is also home to the Kurumba, Irula, Paniyan and Kattunayakan or Nayaka.
Nilgiris district