The community is mainly concentrated in Peerumedu and Udumabanchola taluks in Idukki district. Their counterparts live in the areas in Tamil Nadu, adjacent to Idukki district. The community has a headman called kanikkaran, who is assisted by Valiya Elandari, Veena Maniyan, and Thandakaran in his functions.
The Oorumooppan, Thandakkaran, Thalayani are the traditional head men of each settlement.
Shifting cultivation and collection of forest produce are the traditional occupation of the Paliyan community. Now majority of Paliyans have become plantation labourers in various tea estates in Idukki District. The Paliyans are experts in making baskets and mats out of bamboo reeds.
Mariyamma and Kuruppuswami are the traditional deities of the Paliyan community. In the festival and harvest seasons, Paliyans perform the traditional art form which is also known as ‘Attam’.
As per the 2011 census, the population of Palleyan/ Palliyan/ Palliyar is 1464 which includes 736 males and 728 females. The sex ratio is 989 and the literacy rate of the community is noted as 73.5. The work participation is enumerated as 61.2. As per the socio-economic survey conducted by Scheduled Tribe Development Department of Kerala in 2013, the total population of the community was enumerated as 1484 and the sex ratio is 1003.