Largest State in India by Area and Population (2026 Updated Guide)

India is a nation defined by its immense cultural diversity and rich historical heritage, currently comprising 28 states and 8 union territories. As the 7th largest country by land area and the world's 2nd most populous nation, its sheer scale is truly remarkable. From the sprawling deserts of the west to the densely populated plains of the north, understanding India's administrative geography is essential. This guide explores the largest states in India by both land area and population to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date information.

Largest to Smallest States in India

Understanding the hierarchy of India's administrative divisions—including the largest and smallest states and union territories—is a common query for students and geography enthusiasts alike. India is composed of 28 states and 8 union territories in India. Rajasthan holds the title of the largest state by area, covering 342,239 Km², followed by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Conversely, Uttar Pradesh remains the most populated state in India, followed by Maharashtra and Bihar. Below, we detail the complete landscape of Indian states and territories.

Largest State in India (Area-wise)

Rajasthan is the largest state in India in terms of area, spanning an expansive 342,239 km². According to the 2011 Census, the state is home to a population of 68,548,437. Geographically located in northwestern India, its capital, Jaipur, is famously known as the "Pink City." At the other end of the spectrum, Goa is the smallest state in India, covering just 3,702 km². The detailed breakdown of states by area is provided below:

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

Largest Union Territory in India (Area-wise)

Jammu and Kashmir is the largest union territory in India in terms of area, encompassing approximately 125,535 km2. Below is the comprehensive list of union territories ranked by their geographical size:

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

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Largest State in India (Map)

Largest State in India by Population

Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state, while Bihar reports the highest population density. Based on 2011 Census data, Uttar Pradesh reached a population of 199,812,341, spread across its 240,928 km2 of land. Sikkim currently holds the title of the least populated state. You can find the state-wise population rankings listed below:

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

Largest Union Territory in India by Population

Delhi, the capital of India, is the most populous union territory. As recorded in the 2011 Census, Delhi's population stood at 16,787,941. The detailed population list for all territories follows below:

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

View the Complete List of Indian States and Capitals

Purpose of this Article

Many citizens are often unfamiliar with the largest and smallest states and union territories in India. Having a clear grasp of our national geography and political boundaries is a key responsibility of any informed citizen. Furthermore, these facts are frequently tested in competitive examinations, including the SSC and various state-level civil service exams. Aspiring government employees should ensure they are well-versed in these statistics.

General Knowledge (GK) Guide 2026