{{Infobox settlement | type = District | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{IND}} | subdivision_type1 = Union territory | subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Andaman and Nicobar Administration Banner.png}} Andaman and Nicobar Islands | seat_type = headquarter | seat = Malacca | coordinates = {{coord|9.157343|N|92.761087|E|type:adm3rd_region:IN-AN_dim:50000_source:itwiki|display=ti}} | pushpin_map = India Andaman and Nicobar Islands#India | postal_code_type = PIN | postal_code = 744301 | area_code_type = Telephone code | area_code = 03192 | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | blank_name_sec1 = Sex ratio | blank_info_sec1 = 1.2♂/♀ | blank1_name_sec1 = Literacy | blank1_info_sec1 = 84.4% | website = https://nicobars.andaman.nic.in/ | name = | official_name = | established_title = Formation | established_date = 1 August 1974 }} {{Infobox islands | name = Nicobar Islands | map = Bay of Bengal | map_caption = Location in the Bay of Bengal. | coordinates = | etymology = | location = Bay of Bengal | pop = | archipelago = Nicobar Islands | waterbody = Indian Ocean | total_islands = 30 | major_islands = {{hlist|Car Nicobar|Great Nicobar}} | area_km2 = 1648.13 | area_footnotes = <ref name="cit">{{cite web|url=http://andssw1.and.nic.in/ecostat/basicstatPDF2013_14/1.Demogrpahy.pdf|title=Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census|publisher=Government of Andaman|access-date=2016-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828015509/http://andssw1.and.nic.in/ecostat/basicstatPDF2013_14/1.Demogrpahy.pdf|archive-date=2017-08-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rank = | length_km = | width_km = | coastline_km = | elevation_m = 642 | highest_mount = | population = 36,842 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_footnotes = | population_rank = | population_rank_max = | density_km2 = 22.3 | density_rank = | density_footnotes = | ethnic_groups = Nicobarese, Hindustani | additional_info = {{Infobox|child=yes | label3 = Avg. summer temperature| data3 ={{convert|30.2|°C|°F}} | label4 = Avg. winter temperature| data4 ={{convert|23.0|°C|°F}} | label7 = Census Code| data7 = 35.638.0001 | label8 = Official Languages| data8 = Hindi, English, <br /> Car (regional) }} }}

'''Nicobar district''' is one of three districts in the Indian union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The district's administrative territory encompasses all of the Nicobar Islands, which are located in the Indian Ocean, between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The headquarters of the district is the village of Malacca, located on the island of Car Nicobar.

The district administration is headed by a Deputy Commissioner, who in turn reports to the Lt. Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

It is the fifth least populous district in the country (out of 640).<ref name="districtcensus">{{cite web | url = https://www.census2011.co.in/district.php | title = District Census 2011 | access-date = 2011-09-30 | year = 2011 | publisher = Census2011.co.in}}</ref>

==Etymology== Falling on the sea route between South India / Sri Lanka and South East Asia, the sailors referred to it as the “land of the naked” i.e. Nakkavar which is perhaps the direct precursor of the current name “Nicobar’. The medieval Arabic name ‘Lankhabatus’ is a mere mistranscription and misapprehension of “Nankakar or Nakkavar”.

==History== The district was created on August 1, 1974, when it was separated from Andaman district.<ref name='Statoids'>{{cite web | url = https://www.statoids.com/yin.html | title = Districts of India | access-date = 2011-10-11 | last = Law | first = Gwillim | date = 2011-09-25 | work = Statoids}}</ref>

==Geography== Nicobar district occupies an area of {{convert|1648|km2|sqmi}},<ref name='Reference Annual'>{{cite book | editor1 = Srivastava, Dayawanti | title = India 2010: A Reference Annual | chapter = States and Union Territories: Andaman Islands: Government | edition = 54th | publisher = Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India | year = 2010 | location = New Delhi, India | page = 1208 | isbn = 978-81-230-1617-7}}</ref> comparatively equivalent to Mauritius.<ref name='Islands'>{{cite web | url = http://islands.unep.ch/Tiarea.htm | title = Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area | access-date = 2011-10-11 | date = 1998-02-18 | publisher = United Nations Environment Program | quote = Mauritius 1,836km2}}</ref>

==Demographics== According to the 2011 census Nicobar district has a population of 36,842,<ref name="districtcensus"/> roughly equal to the nation of Liechtenstein.<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 13, 2007 | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote = 212 Liechtenstein 35,236 July 2011 est. }}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 636th in India (out of a total of 640).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert| 20 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} .<ref name=districtcensus/> Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was -12.48%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Nicobars has a sex ratio of 778 females for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and a literacy rate of 77.5%.<ref name=districtcensus/>

The district is designated as an Integrated Tribal District and is home to significant numbers of indigenous peoples (namely, the Nicobarese and the Shompen, classified as Scheduled Tribes according to the Constitution of India), who form the majority of the district's population. Because of its status as a tribal area, travel to the district is restricted to Indian nationals, and special permit restrictions apply.

The district was severely affected by the tsunami that was caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, which led to many deaths and damaged infrastructure.

{{historical populations|11=1901|12=6,511|13=1911|14=8,818|15=1921|16=9,272|17=1931|18=10,240|19=1941|20=12,452|21=1951|22=12,009|23=1961|24=14,563|25=1971|26=21,665|27=1981|28=30,454|29=1991|30=39,208|31=2001|32=42,068|33=2011|34=36,842|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=right}} ===Language=== {{Pie chart |thumb = right |caption = Languages of Nicobar Islands district (2011) |label1 = Nicobarese |value1 = 65.98 |color1 = purple |label2 = Hindi |value2 = 9.83 |color2 = Orange |label3 = Tamil |value3 = 6.10 |color3 = darkblue |label4 = Telugu |value4 = 4.05 |color4 = steelblue |label5 = Bengali |value5 = 3.90 |color5 = red |label6 = Kurukh |value6 = 3.31 |color6 = blue |label7 = Malayalam |value7 = 1.79 |color7 = mediumblue |label8 = Punjabi |value8 = 1.05 |color8 = pink |label9 = Others |value9 = 3.99 |color9 = Grey }}

Nicobarese, of the Austroasiatic language family is the most spoken language in Nicobar Islands. As of the 2011 census, Nicobarese is spoken as the first language by 65.98 percent of the district's population followed by Hindi (9.83%), Tamil (6.10%), Telugu (4.05%), Bengali (3.90%), Kurukh (3.31%), Malayalam (1.79%) and others.<ref name="language">{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-3500.XLSX|work=Census of India 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General }}</ref>

===Religion=== {{bar box |title=Religions in Nicobar district (2011)<ref name="religion">{{cite web|title=Population by religious community – Andaman and Nicobar Islands|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=Census of India, 2011|publisher=Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825155850/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|archive-date=25 August 2015}}</ref> |titlebar=#FCD116 |left1=Religion |right1=Percent |float=left |bars= {{bar percent|Christianity|blue|70.78}} {{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|23.56}} {{bar percent|Islam|green|3.63}} {{bar percent|Sikhism|yellow|0.93}} {{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|1.10}} }}

Christianity is followed by the majority of the people in Nicobar district. Hinduism is followed by a considerable population.<ref name="religion"/>

==Administrative divisions== As of 2016, The Nicobar district is divided into 3 sub-divisions and 8 taluks (tehsils).

* Car Nicobar Subdivision (HQ: Malacca, Car Nicobar) ** Car Nicobar taluk (HQ: Malacca in Car Nicobar)

* Nancowry Subdivision (HQ: Malacca, Nancowry) ** Teressa-Chowra taluk (HQ: Teressa) ** Katchal taluk (HQ: Mildera) ** Kamorta taluk (HQ: Kalatapu) ** Nancowry taluk (HQ: Malacca in Nancowry)

* Great Nicobar Subdivision (HQ: Campbell Bay) ** Little Nicobar taluk (HQ: Pulloullo) ** North Great Nicobar taluk (HQ: Afra Bay) ** South Great Nicobar taluk (HQ: Campbell Bay)

==See also== * Administrative divisions of India

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://nicobars.andaman.nic.in/ Nicobar district official website] *[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/maps/atlas/35part2.pdf Nicobar district atlas]

{{Geographic location |Centre = Nicobar district |North = ''Ten Degree Channel'' |Northeast = |East = ''Andaman Sea'' |Southeast = |South = ''Indian Ocean'' |Southwest = |West = ''Bay of Bengal'' |Northwest = }} {{Nicobar district}} {{Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands}} {{Minority Concentrated Districts in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicobar District}} Category:Nicobar district Category:Districts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Category:Minority concentrated districts in India