hot and dry weather throughout the year. The temperature ranges from a maximum of to a minimum of . Like the rest of the state, April to June are the hottest months and December to January are the coldest. Sivakasi receives scanty rainfall with an average of annually, which is lesser than the state average of . The Southwest monsoon, with an onset in June and lasting up to August, brings scanty rainfall. The bulk of the rainfall is received during the North East monsoon in the months of October, November and December. The average humidity of the town is 76.2% and varies between 65.6% to 79.2%. The municipality covers an area of Demographics According to 2011 census, Sivakasi had a population of 71,040 with a sex-ratio of 1,009 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. A total of 6,963 were under the age of six, constituting 3,474 males and 3,489 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 8.35% and 0.25% of the population, respectively. The average literacy of the town was 79.62%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The town had a total of 18,952 households. There were a total of 29,342 workers, comprising 22 cultivators, 135 main agricultural labourers, 955 in household industries, 27,662 other workers, 568 marginal workers, 6 marginal cultivators, 3 marginal agricultural labourers, 79 marginal workers in household industries and 480 other marginal workers. As per the religious census of 2011, Sivakasi had 85.42% Hindus, 9.21% Muslims, 5% Christians, 0.01% Sikhs, 0.06% Jains, 0.08% following other religions and 0.01% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference. In 2001, 16 slums were identified in the town and a total of 34,029 people resided in the slums. The slum population increased from 42% to 47% during the period of 1991–2001. The high decadal growth of population during the 1961–71 period is attributed to the high level of industrialisation during the period. The density of population increased from 9,646 persons per km2 in 1991 to 10,613 persons per km2 in 2001. The wards along the Virudhunagar, Sattur, Srivilliputhur and Vembakottai corridors have registered increased commercial and residential activity. Majority of the residents are engaged in the secondary sector involving match works, fireworks, and printing industry. During the 2001 census, the occupational pattern indicated the increasing presence of the tertiary sector. The agricultural output of the town is limited,