Kollam is an certified city corporation for the best Municipal administration and services. As per the survey conducted by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) based on urban area growth during January 2020, Kollam became the 10th fastest growing city in the world with a 31.1% urban growth between 2015 and 2020. It is a coastal city on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake that took the title "God's Own Country". The Ashtamudi Lake lie about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. The city hosts the administrative offices of Kollam district and is a prominent trading city for the state. The proportion of females to males in Kollam city is second highest among the 500 most populous cities in India. Kollam is one of the least polluted cities in India.Four major trading centers around Kollam are Kottarakara, Punalur, Paravur, and Karunagapally.