CENSUS HISTORY

The first regular census is understood to have been conducted in the year 1852. The registration of births,  deaths and marriages  was made compulsory in 1854.

The first officially declared census was conducted only in 1891.All houses, huts, choultries and other buildings in the town and villages were first numbered by the officials of the Revenue Department. Official results claiming Karaikal population stood at 60,388 out of total 2,52,370.

Census - 1901-1948: In 1901 census instructions were published for the first time authenticated by the Governor. These instructions were re-issued every 10 years 1911, 1921, 1931, 1941 and in 1948.

POPULATION AND ITS GROWTH

The famous papers of CORDIER (Administrateur de Karikal), throw some light on the population of Karaikal between 1791 and 1819.
 

Reliable data of the population of the establishments are furnished by the ANNUAIRS since 1838. During the period from 1851 to 1971, the population of Karaikal underwent major fluctuations. The population which stood at 59,872 in 1851 declined to 52,643 in 1861.

Within the next five years, the population showed spectacular increase to reach 92,704 which amounted to an annual rate of increase of 16%. No plausible explanation is available for the sharp increase in population during this period. It is quite possible that chancess of emigration to the colonies attracted the population from the surrounding countryside to Karaikal.

The order of 17 June 1859 in fact permitted emigration of population from Pondicherry and Karaikal to Reunion. Thereafter the population remained steady for almost 20 years and declined sharply in 1889 to 60,760.

Interestingly, it will be observed that the posts of Controller of Emigration in Pondicherry and Karaikal were abolished on 10 February, 1898. Thereafter the population remained almost static for more than five decades i.e., upto 1941 when the population stood at 60,555.

There was a significant rate of decline between 1911-21. The region was often subjected to the ravages of epidemics of small-pox and cholera. The influenza epidemics of 1918 and 1919 were particularly more severe in Karaikal. Since then the population of Karaikal showed steady increase and crossed the one hundred thousand figure in 1971.


URBAN AND RURAL POPULATION

The system of classification of population as urban and rural was not adopted during the French period. This concept was first introduced in this Territory only in 1961. As such, there is little scope for an in-depth study of the problem of urbanization inthe Territory.

According to the 1961 census, the urban population figured at 22,252 in Karaikal urban area. Considering the range and scope of industries located in the town, it will be more appropriate to describe Pondicherry and Karaikal too as an industrial town.

Karaikal has the least number of houses per square mile showing the less congested nature among the rural areas of the Territory.

MIGRATION :

The abolition of the post of Controller of Emigration in Pondicherrry and Karaikal on 10-02-1898 marked the end of large-scale emigration. With the advent of the 20th century the international character of emigration diminished in importance.

All areas except Karaikal have attracted more male immigrants. Karaikal females are more than the males. This may mean that in Karaikal more women move to the town by marriage from other parts of Thanjavur District.

DECADAL VARIATION IN POPULATION SINCE 1901
KARAIKAL DISTRICT

Year	Persons	Decadal Variation	Percentage decade Variation	Males	Females
1901	56,595	-	-	N.A	N.A
1911	56,577	-18	-0.03	25,640	30,937
1921	54,356	-,221	-3.93	25,325	29,937
1931	57,394	+3,038	+5.59	N.A	N.A
1941	60,555	+3,161	+5.51	N.A	N.A
1948	70,541	+9,986	+16.49	33,982	36,559
1961	84,001	+13,460	+19.08	40,859	43,142
1971	100,042	+16,041	+19.10	49,458	50,584
1981	120,010	+19,968	+19.96	59,367	60,643
1991	145,703	+25,693	+21.41	72,557	73,146
2001	170,640	+34,937	+17.11	84,365	86,275

RELIGION : Karaikal has only three major religious communities.

HINDUISM :

Hindus form the largest religious community in this region. (According    to the 1961 Census, 75.37% Hindus in Karaikal).

There are in all 99 temples in Karaikal region, 91 under Government control and the remaining 8 under private management.

In Karaikal region there are 30 Saivite shrines, 15 Vaishnavite temples, 33 Amman shrines, 8 Ganesh temples and 13 dedicated to other deities. It is however, to be noted that there is not even a single temple dedicated to Lord Murugan in Karaikal.

CHRISTIANITY:

Christians are concentrated in Karaikal at 10.75% (1961 Census) in the total population.

ISLAM:

Karaikal has the highest percentage of muslim population in this Union Territory of Pondicherry.

Even before the French landed at Pondicherry in 1674 there was Muslims in the area. Historians have pointed out that there were two mosques in the town. They had settled here at least several centuries ago. The seafaring Arabs who migrated from their native land in the early part of VII century.

Most of the muslims in Karaikal belong to the Sunni sect. A great majority of the musilims in Karaikal follow the Shafi school of ritual and dogma.

There are 13 Pallivasals and 8 Durghas were listed out on enquiries and scattered references.

SOCIAL LIFE

CASTE STRUCTURE:

Although it is not known how long and to what extent this fourfold classification was adhered to in practice in the areas that now fall under this Territory, it may be assumed that the four fold division of society in accordance with the Hindu sastra continued to be respected even during the Chola days. Many new castes found a place in the social strata of the Tamil districts including Karaikal region with the influx of Telugu and Kanarese people during the Vijayanagar days.

The French having come here originally as traders did not interfere in matters of customs and practices. Even after they established themselves as the rulers of the land they allowed the natives to maintain good relations with them. These customs and practices were closely linked to the system of castism.

The French when they returned in 1816 were a changed lot carrying some of the sparks of the French Revolution. The order of the Governor dated 6-01-1819 extended the French Civil Code to the French establishments, without prejudice to local customs and usages. The order enjoined that Hindus shall be governed by the provisions of the French Civil Code only in matters when the provisions of this Code were not contrary to Hindu customs.