Kerala has 35 tribal communities contributing to 1.3% of its total population. Kerala and Karnataka have 14 tribes in common and with Tamil Nadu, Kerala has 31 tribes in common. This can be explained by the hilly tract that is divided by the state boundary.

The Paniyan, who are the numerically dominant tribe live in north east of the state and practice settled cultivation. The Kattunaikan, Kurichian and Kuruman belong to the same region. Palleyan, Palliyan and Palliyar inhabit the Idukki region not far from the Anamalai and Palani hills of Tamil Nadu where you find the same population. The Kadar, Irular, Kurumbas, Maha malasar and Malasar inhabit the Palghat region close to their counterparts in Niligiri and Anamalai hills of Tamil Nadu. The same is the case of the Kudiya and Koraga living in the northern most tip of the state next to Kodagu and Dakshin Kannad region of Karnataka.