Largest and Smallest States & UTs of India by Area and Population (Census 2011)

India is a diverse and vast nation, currently comprising 28 states and 8 union territories in India. On a global scale, India stands proudly as the 7th largest country by land area and the world's 2nd most populous nation. Understanding its geographical boundaries and demographic distribution is essential for general knowledge, competitive exams, and aspirants preparing for exams like SSC. To review the complete geography and political layout, you can View the Complete List of Indian States and Capitals.

For aspirants and learners looking to expand their knowledge base, keeping up with administrative and executive structures is equally important. You can check the Updated List of State CMs & Governors 2026: Read Now. Furthermore, you can enhance your preparation by consulting the General Knowledge (GK) Guide 2026.

Overview of Area and Demographics

When exploring land mass, Rajasthan takes the crown as the largest state in India by area, covering 342,239 km². Its capital is Jaipur, famously known as the 'Pink City'. According to the 2011 Census, its population was recorded at 68,548,437. Following closely behind, Madhya Pradesh is the second-largest state by area, covering 308,245 km², while Maharashtra is the third-largest state by area (307,713 km²) and notably ranks as the second most populous state.

On the population front, Uttar Pradesh stands as the most populated state in India, with a population of 199,812,341 according to the 2011 Census, while spanning 240,928 km². Conversely, Goa is the smallest state in India by area, covering just 3,702 km², and Sikkim is the least populated state in India, with a total population of 610,577.

Among the union territories, Jammu and Kashmir is the largest union territory in India by area, encompassing approximately 125,535 km², followed by Ladakh as the second-largest union territory by area, covering 96,701 km². Meanwhile, Delhi is the most populous union territory in India, with a population of 16,787,941 as per the 2011 Census. In terms of demographic concentration, Bihar reports the highest population density with 1,106 persons per sq. km.

Checklists: States and Union Territories Breakdown

Largest States in India by Area

• 1. Rajasthan - 342,239 km²
• 2. Madhya Pradesh - 308,245 km²
• 3. Maharashtra - 307,713 km²
• 4. Uttar Pradesh - 240,928 km²
• 5. Gujarat - 196,024 km²
• 6. Karnataka - 191,791 km²
• 7. Andhra Pradesh - 162,968 km²
• 8. Odisha - 155,707 km²
• 9. Chhattisgarh - 135,191 km²
• 10. Tamil Nadu - 130,058 km²
• 11. Telangana - 112,077 km²
• 12. Bihar - 94,163 km²
• 13. West Bengal - 88,752 km²
• 14. Arunachal Pradesh - 83,743 km²
• 15. Jharkhand - 79,714 km²
• 16. Assam - 78,438 km²
• 17. Himachal Pradesh - 55,673 km²
• 18. Uttarakhand - 53,483 km²
• 19. Punjab - 50,362 km²
• 20. Haryana - 44,212 km²
• 21. Kerala - 38,863 km²
• 22. Meghalaya - 22,429 km²
• 23. Manipur - 22,327 km²
• 24. Mizoram - 21,081 km²
• 25. Nagaland - 16,579 km²
• 26. Tripura - 10,486 km²
• 27. Sikkim - 7,096 km²
• 28. Goa - 3,702 km²

Largest Union Territories in India by Area

• 1. Jammu and Kashmir - 125,535 km²
• 2. Ladakh - 96,701 km²
• 3. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 8,249 km²
• 4. Delhi - 1,484 km²
• 5. Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu - 603 km²
• 6. Puducherry - 479 km²
• 7. Chandigarh - 114 km²
• 8. Lakshadweep - 32.62 km²

States in India by Population (Census 2011)

• 1. Uttar Pradesh - 199,812,341
• 2. Maharashtra - 112,374,333
• 3. Bihar - 104,099,452
• 4. West Bengal - 91,276,115
• 5. Andhra Pradesh - 84,580,777
• 6. Madhya Pradesh - 72,626,809
• 7. Tamil Nadu - 72,147,030
• 8. Rajasthan - 68,548,437
• 9. Karnataka - 61,095,297
• 10. Gujarat - 60,439,692
• 11. Orissa - 41,974,218
• 12. Kerala - 33,406,061
• 13. Jharkhand - 32,988,134
• 14. Assam - 31,205,576
• 15. Punjab - 27,743,338
• 16. Chhattisgarh - 25,545,198
• 17. Haryana - 25,351,462
• 20. Uttarakhand - 10,086,292
• 21. Himachal Pradesh - 6,864,602
• 22. Tripura - 3,673,917
• 23. Meghalaya - 2,966,889
• 24. Manipur - 2,855,794
• 25. Nagaland - 1,978,502
• 26. Goa - 1,458,545
• 27. Arunachal Pradesh - 1,383,727
• 29. Mizoram - 1,097,206
• 31. Sikkim - 610,577

Union Territories in India by Population (Census 2011)

• 1. Delhi - 16,787,941
• 2, 3. Jammu and Kashmir + Ladakh - 12,541,302
• 4. Puducherry - 1,247,953
• 5. Chandigarh - 1,055,450
• 6. Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu - 5,86,956
• 7. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 380,581
• 8. Lakshadweep - 64,473

Comprehensive Data Tables

Table 1: States by Area

S.No.	State Name	Area (km²)
1	Rajasthan	342,239
2	Madhya Pradesh	308,245
3	Maharashtra	307,713
4	Uttar Pradesh	240,928
5	Gujarat	196,024
6	Karnataka	191,791
7	Andhra Pradesh	162,968
8	Odisha	155,707
9	Chhattisgarh	135,191
10	Tamil Nadu	130,058
11	Telangana	112,077
12	Bihar	94,163
13	West Bengal	88,752
14	Arunachal Pradesh	83,743
15	Jharkhand	79,714
16	Assam	78,438
17	Himachal Pradesh	55,673
18	Uttarakhand	53,483
19	Punjab	50,362
20	Haryana	44,212
21	Kerala	38,863
22	Meghalaya	22,429
23	Manipur	22,327
24	Mizoram	21,081
25	Nagaland	16,579
26	Tripura	10,486
27	Sikkim	7,096
28	Goa	3,702

Table 2: Union Territories by Area

S. No.	Union Territory Name	Area (km²)
1	Jammu and Kashmir	125,535
2	Ladakh	96,701
3	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	8,249
4	Delhi	1,484
5	Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu	603
6	Puducherry	479
7	Chandigarh	114
8	Lakshadweep	32.62

Table 3: States by Population

S. No.	State Name	Population (As per Census 2011)
1	Uttar Pradesh	199,812,341
2	Maharashtra	112,374,333
3	Bihar	104,099,452
4	West Bengal	91,276,115
5	Andhra Pradesh	84,580,777
6	Madhya Pradesh	72,626,809
7	Tamil Nadu	72,147,030
8	Rajasthan	68,548,437
9	Karnataka	61,095,297
10	Gujarat	60,439,692
11	Orissa	41,974,218
12	Kerala	33,406,061
13	Jharkhand	32,988,134
14	Assam	31,205,576
15	Punjab	27,743,338
16	Chhattisgarh	25,545,198
17	Haryana	25,351,462
20	Uttarakhand	10,086,292
21	Himachal Pradesh	6,864,602
22	Tripura	3,673,917
23	Meghalaya	2,966,889
24	Manipur	2,855,794
25	Nagaland	1,978,502
26	Goa	1,458,545
27	Arunachal Pradesh	1,383,727
29	Mizoram	1,097,206
31	Sikkim	610,577

Table 4: Union Territories by Population

S. No.	UT Name	Population (as per 2011 Census)
1	Delhi	16,787,941
2, 3	Jammu and Kashmir + Ladakh	12,541,302
4	Puducherry	1,247,953
5	Chandigarh	1,055,450
6	Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu	5,86,956
7	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	380,581
8	Lakshadweep	64,473

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Which is the largest state in India by population wise?

Ans. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, with a recorded population of 199,812,341 according to the 2011 Census.

Q2. Which is the largest state in India?

Ans. Rajasthan is the largest state in India by land area, spanning 342,239 km².

Q3. Which is the least populus state of India?

Ans. Sikkim is the least populated state in India, with a total population of 610,577.

Q4. Which is the largest Union Territory of India by area wise?

Ans. Jammu & Kashmir is the largest union territory in India by area, covering approximately 125,535 km².

Q5. Which is the smallest state of India in terms of area?

Ans. Goa is the smallest state in India, with a total geographical area of 3,702 km².

Q6. Which state has highest population density in India?

Ans. Bihar is the most densely populated state with 1,106 persons per sq.km, followed by West Bengal (1,028) and Kerala (860).