Demographics of Chennai
Chennai, along with Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata, is one of the few Indian cities that are home to a diverse population of ethno-religious communities. According to the 2011 census Chennai then had a total population of 4,681,087 at a density of 26,902 per square kilometre; the sex ratio was 986 and literacy rate was 90.33%. The most widely spoken languages are Tamil and English. Hinduism is followed by a majority of the populace followed by Islam and Christianity. Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism are other religions practiced. History of enumeration Based on the revenue comparisons for the years 1639 and 1648, the population of Madras in 1639, the year of its founding have been calculated as 7,000. Captain Thomas Bowrey in his 1670 book Countries around the Bay of Bengal gives one of the earliest estimates for the population of the city. According to him, Madras had a population of 30,000 including 300 Englishmen and 3,000 Portuguese. Alexander Hamilton in New Account of the East Indies and Persia (1718) wrote, The idea of taking a census of Madras city was first mooted during the presidency of Elihu Yale. After being shelved for a time, the question was raised again in