municipality covers an area of . Gunderipallam and Varattupallam receive the highest rainfall (1200 mm) in the district. Demographics As of 2011, Erode has 521,776 in population with a sex-ratio of 996, above the national average of 929. A literacy rate of 85% compares favorably to the national average of 73%. The city had 43,184 households, with Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounting for 11% and 0.15% of the population respectively. Of its 66,135 workers, 61,382 are classified as other workers and the rest in agriculture and household industries. As of 2001, 52 slums were identified with 33,000 people residing in slums. Per the religious census of 2011, Erode had 83% Hindus, 12% Muslims and 4% Christians. The population had increased 11 times during the 20th century. While Tamil is the main spoken language, English is common as the medium of instruction in educational institutions and in the service sector. Economy Erode district's gross domestic product (GDP) grew at 15.5% in 2008 ahead of the state's GDP growth by 4%. According to Indian Census of 2001, urban workforce participation rate for Erode is 35% with growth in secondary and tertiary sectors and a corresponding decrease in the primary sector. Major employment is provided by textile industry, turmeric industry and oil and rice mills with 69% of its workforce employed in tertiary sector. Erode is famous for several markets. Erode is the country's largest turmeric market. Erode Turmeric and Bhavani Carpets has finally received GI tag from the Geographical Indication in 2019. Turmeric Prices for the whole of India are fixed at four markets in Erode, one of which is ETMA Turmeric Market Complex located at Semmampalayam in Erode. Erode has two of the country's largest textile markets - one is Abdul Gani Textile Market (Public/Govt) and another one is Texvalley (Public-Private Joint Venture). PDEXCIL (Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council) has set up its regional office in Texvalley under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. It is a non-profit organisation working for the development of Powerloom Industry and promoting export of Fabrics and made ups from Powerloom Manufacturers. Erode is also famous for its cattle markets. There are four major notable cattle markets in the district. One of them is located in the core city and is known as Karungalpalayam Cattle Market, which is one of the largest cattle market in the state. As of 2001, the district had