According to 2011 census, Perambalur district had a population of 565,223 with a sex-ratio of 1,003 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. A total of 59,567 were under the age of six, constituting 31,135 males and 28,432 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 31.01% and .46% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the district was 66.49%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The district had a total of 149,243 households. There were a total of 299,726 workers, comprising 107,542 cultivators, 91,135 main agricultural labourers, 4,365 in house hold industries, 52,055 other workers, 44,629 marginal workers, 9,762 marginal cultivators, 27,143 marginal agricultural labourers, 978 marginal workers in household industries and 6,746 other marginal workers.