Tirur is a municipal town in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala spread over an area of 16.55 km2. It is one of the most important business centres of Malappuram district and is situated 41 km south of Calicut, on the Shoranur – Mangalore Section of the Mangalore-Madras railway line. Tirur is also a major trading centre of fish and betel leaf in the region. It is located at 10°55′05″N 75°55′30″E / 10.918027°N 75.925022°E / 10.918027; 75.925022 and has an average elevation of 2 metres (6 feet). As of 2001[update] India census, Tirur had a population of 53,650. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Tirur has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 78%. In Tirur, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age. Tirur assembly constituency is part of Ponnani (Lok Sabha constituency).