One of the 19 states of India established on the basis of ethnicity. In Kerala, about 2.8% of the country's population lives (it is the 12th largest in India). Economically, it is one of the wealthiest states: GRP per capita is 1.5 times higher than the national average. It is located on the south-west of India, bordering the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The capital is the city of Trivandram.
The dominant ethnic group of Kerala - Malayali (ethnonym given in the Malayalam language) - comprises 96% of the regional population. Other ethnic groups distinguished by the language are Tamil (2.1%) and Kannada (1.2%). Malayalam language along with English is recognized as the official language of the state. Malayali refers to the Dravidian group and is closely related to Sanskrit and Tamil.
The religious structure of the population of the state is characterized by a dominance of Hinduism (about 55%), adherents of Christianity and Islam share 18% and 27% of the population respectively. Representatives of these three religious groups are unevenly distributed across the state.
A specific feature of Kerala's politics is the presence of traditionally strong leftist parties. In addition to the Communists, the League of Muslims and the Congress of Kerala usually receive support in regional elections. The League advocates for social justice through the institutionalization of quotas for Muslims in state's government and the Congress demands to ensure the rights and privileges for Kerala as a state.