and fishing; more recently, crops like nutmeg, black pepper, and latex have been introduced. Tourism and software are also pursued as a means to livelihood. Hindustan Newsprint Limited is situated in Velloor near Vaikom. Demographics As per the 2001 census, Vaikom has a population of about 22637 (male: 10955; female: 11682). This region has a literacy rate of 92% (male: 97%; female: 90%). Population density of the region is 2496 per square km. As per the 2011 census, The Vaikom municipality has a population of 23,234 of which 11,304 are males while 11,930 are females. The population of children under age 6 is 1807, which is 7.78% of the total population of Vaikom (M). In Vaikom municipality, the female sex ratio is of 1055 against the state average of 1084. The male child sex ratio in Vaikom is around 960, compared to the Kerala state average of 964. The literacy rate of Vaikom city is 96.84%, higher than the state average of 94.00%. In Vaikom, male literacy is around 98.30% while female literacy rate is 95.47%. Hindus are the largest religious community in Vaikom, accounting for 85% of the population. Christians represent 12%, and Muslims 3%. Notable people Mar Sebastian Adayantharath Chempil Arayan - Admiral of the fleet of the Kingdom of Travancore Chembil Ashokan - actor Justice K. G. Balakrishnan Vaikom Muhammad Basheer P. K. Biju Cherian K. Cherian V. N. Janaki Janardhanan - actor A. J. John Monce Joseph M. K. Kamalam Abraham Kattumana Kalaikkal Kumaran - actor Mammootty - actor Mathew Ulakamthara, Indian Malayalam language poet and literary critic. N. Mohanan Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair N. N. Pillai P. Krishna Pillai- leader of the first communist movement in Kerala Vaikom Padmanabha Pillai- Military officer of the Kingdom of Travancore Vaikom Ramachandran - poet Thomas Unniyadan Vaikom Vijayalakshmi Vaikom Viswan S. Ramesan, Malayalam language poet and orator See also Vallakam References External links Cities and towns in Kottayam district Kingdom of Travancore