Some facts about KERALA, a Southern State in India.

The first state in India to reach 100% literacy rate.

The first beggar-free city (Trivandrum/Thiruvananthapuram) in India is in Kerala.

India’s first ‘Digital State’ -2015

The first state to have 100% banking inclusion - 2007

Second school for girls (1859) unprecedented in the Indian subcontinent after Pune in 1848.

First mosque in India is 629 AD( 7th oldest in the world)- 1st in Mecca, Soudi Arabia, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in Medina, Soudi Arabia, 5th in China and 6th in Somalia.

First church in India (52 AD). Christianity has been in Kerala longer than it has been in Europe. The St. Peters Basilica, Vatican built in 333AD

First synagogue in India - Kochi, Paradesi Synagogue built in 1568
(the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations)

The first state in India to receive rain from the Southwest monsoon :)

UNICEF and the World Health Organization(WHO) designated Kerala the world's first "baby-friendly state"

Listed in world top 5 family destinations by Lonely Planet repeatedly (in 2016 as well)

UN awarded Kerala for its global leadership in creating innovative initiatives for sustainable tourism, (the first time India has ever won the recognition)

Natgeo - Ten Paradises of the world' and '50 of the world's top places to see

Highest Human Development Index in India 0.80 ( National average is 0.609) - 2015

The least corrupted state in India - 2015 survey

India’s cleanest and healthiest state and five of the ten most livable cities in India are in Kerala.

First 100% literacy city in India

The highest literacy rate in India - Male 96.2% and Female 92% (2011 survey)

The highest life expectancy (77yrs)

Forestry cover of Kerala is almost 25-30%

The highest minimum wage in India- the average wage for an unskilled worker is. INR 500per day

The sex ratio (Females more the Males) 1084 females for 1000males

The highest media exposure (99%)

Highest % of elderly (12.6 %)

Cleanest city 2016 -Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on the basis solid municipal waste management.

Kerala is the first state to implement land reform bills and education reform bills

kerala is the only state in India with the facilities of hospitals in every village

Highest hospitals beds 4 beds per 1000 population

The healthcare in Kerala is the best in India with a patient doctor ratio of 1:700 ( the ideal ratio by WHO is 1:1000) . The National ratio is 1:1700

Highest gold consumption in the World (20 % of India yrly)

Three gold loan companies in Kerala have more precious metal in their vaults than the gold reserves of Singapore, Sweden or Australia.

The highest mobile communications penetration in India

Highest road density in India (5,268.69 km per 1,000 sq km

Highest home ownership (87.5 %)

The highest rural per capita consumption per month

Highest Remittances -40% of india

Rs 1 lakh crore ($14.9 billion) in the third quarter of 2015-16.

Kerala with only 2.76 per cent of Indian population, utilises nearly 15 per cent of the consumer durables in India

The leading destination for luxury cars (13 % sales of premium cars.)

BSNL-Kerala is the highest profit making circle in the country

Ranks second as state with least poverty (Goa is 1) .7% while national average is 21.92%.

Lowest maternal mortality rate.

Lowest Infant mortality rate (12 per 1,000 ) India stands at 44!

Lowest Hunger index -17.66 (India is 23.31.)

The lowest population growth rate.

The least corrupted state.

All the 11 public services are ranked the least corrupt in the country.

25% of India's 15,000 plant species are in Kerala.

Supplies 60% of worlds white coir fibre.

Has the oldest existing martial art form, Kalaripayattu, dates back more than 2500 years

Kerala is the only state in India with specific palliative care policy (Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness)

Kerala has only 3% of India's population but It provides two-thirds of India's palliative care services.

The world's oldest teak plantation.

Worlds Longest Teaks are in Kerala.

Worlds Only Teak Museum is in Nilambur, Kerala .

The only drive in Beach in India is Muzhuppilangadi, Kannur, North Kerala

Kerala is also the first 'Open Defecation-free State' in the country.