((Infobox settlement
| name = Chandel district
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = District of Manipur
| image_map = Chandel in Manipur (India).svg
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in Manipur
| coordinates = 24°19′N 93°59′E / 24.317°N 93.983°E
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 =
Manipur
| established_title =
| established_date = 13 May 1974
| founder = Pakan tribes
| named_for =
| seat_type = Headquarters
| seat = Chandel
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 2100
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 85,072
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = 40.51
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Language(s)
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Meitei (Manipuri)[1]
| demographics1_title2 = Regional
| demographics1_info2 = English, **[[Thadou| Anal (Pakan) Lamkang (Pakan), Moyon and Monshang languages
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| iso_code = IN-MN-BI
| registration_plate = MN
| website = chandel
In 1974, the Chandel district was formed under the name "Tengnoupal district". In 1983, the name was changed to Chandel district, as the district headquarters were located at Chandel.[4] In December 2016, the present-day Tengnoupal district was split from the Chandel district.[5]
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Chandel as one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[6] It was then one of the three districts in Manipur receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[6]
According to the 2011 census Chandel district has a population of 85,072.[2] This gives it a ranking of 602nd in India (out of a total of 640).[2] The district has a population density of 43 inhabitants per square kilometre (110/sq mi).[2] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 21.72%.[2] Chandel has a sex ratio of 932 females for every 1000 males,[2] and a literacy rate of 70.85%.[2]
Languages spoken include Pakan, Thadou, Vaiphei, Zou, Lamkang and Meitei. In addition there is Aimol, a Sino-Tibetan tongue with fewer than 2500 speakers, written in the Latin script;[7] and Anal, which is also Sino-Tibetan and spoken by approximately 14,000 Indians.[8]
In 1989, the Chandel district (which then included the Tengnoupal district) became home to the Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 185 km2 (71.4 sq mi).[10]
At the district level there is the Chandel Autonomous District Council.