List of Largest States in India by Area and Population

With 8 Union Territories and 8 states, India is the fifth-largest country in the world. The area, population, culture, and geography of each state differ. According to 2024 data, the largest states in India are Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh has a population of more than 24 crore, making it the largest state in India by population. On the contrary, Rajasthan is the largest state in India by area, comprising around 342,239 square kilometres.

Since questions about Indian geography, demography, and administrative divisions are commonly asked in preliminary exams, main exams, and interviews, students and UPSC candidates must have a thorough understanding of the largest states in India.

This article discusses the largest states in India, along with a summary of the largest state in India in terms of both land and population.

List of the Largest States in India (Area-wise)

With a total land area of 342,239 km2, Rajasthan is the largest state in India by area. Geographically speaking, it is located in northwest India. Jaipur, popularly referred to as “Pink City,” serves as the capital of Rajasthan. Goa is the smallest state in India, which comprises 3702 km². 

Below is a list of the largest states in India, arranged by area:

Sl. 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

Rajasthan: The Largest State in India by Area

With an approximate land size of 342,239 square kilometres, or 10.4% of India’s total land area, Rajasthan is the largest state in terms of area. It is situated in northwest India and has an international border with Pakistan in addition to Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.

1. Topography: The state’s varied terrain includes mountains, fertile plains, and the Thar Desert, which has a significant impact on the state’s ecosystem and climate.

2. Climate: Rajasthan experiences hot summers and milder winters due to its arid climate. Because of the Thar Desert, the area experiences little rainfall each year.

3. Biodiversity: Tigers, lions, leopards, elephants, and desert-dwelling creatures, including chinkaras, blackbucks, and blue bulls, are among the state’s fauna.

4. Tourism: Rajasthan’s rich cultural heritage, which includes a variety of forts, palaces, national parks, animal sanctuaries, and historical monuments, draws tourists.

5. Demographics: Rajasthan’s 68.5 million inhabitants (as of the 2011 Census) and 66.11% literacy rate demonstrate the state’s efforts to upgrade infrastructure and education.

6.  Economic Overview: With a GSDP of $182.02 billion (2023–24) and an 8.03% (at Constant Prices: 2011–12) growth rate, Rajasthan boasts a diversified economy that is fuelled by mining, tourism, textiles, IT, and renewable energy.

List of the Largest Union Territories in India (Area-wise)

With a total land size of 125,535 km2, the largest union territory in India is Jammu and Kashmir. The following is a list of union territories by area:

Sl. 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

Largest States in India Map

List of the Largest States in India (Population-wise)

The highest population density state in India is Bihar, but Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in India by population. According to data from the 2011 Census, Uttar Pradesh has a total population of 199,812,341. The total area of Uttar Pradesh is 240,928 km². India’s least populous state is Sikkim. 

The following is a list of the largest states in India by population:

Sl. 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

Uttar Pradesh: Largest State in India by Population

As of 2025, Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state, with an estimated population of 199.81 million (Census 2011), representing about 17% of the country’s total population.

1. Demographics: 2011 census: 199.81 million; 2024 estimate: 241 million.

2. Sex Ratio: 912 females for 1,000 males; Literacy Rate: ~67.68%, Area: 243,286 km²; Density: ~991/km².

3. Topography: It consists of the Vindhya Hills, which have rocky terrain and abundant mineral resources; the Gangetic Plain, which is a hub for agriculture; and the Himalayan Region, which has forests and rough terrain.

4. Biodiversity: Uttar Pradesh is home to 26 wildlife sanctuaries, grasslands, and tropical moist and dry deciduous forests. 11.82% of the state is made up of protected areas, which guarantee the preservation of wildlife.

5. Climate: Uttar Pradesh has a tropical monsoon climate with hot summers (over 40°C), rainy monsoons (June-September), and cold winters (December-February) often marked by fog.

6. Economic Overview: The main industries in Uttar Pradesh’s varied economy are manufacturing, services, tourism, and agriculture. Its GSDP increased by 5.8% to ₹25.48 lakh crore (US$310 billion) in 2023–2024, making about 8% of India’s total GDP.

List of the Largest Union Territories in India (Population-wise)

The largest union territory in India in terms of population is Delhi, the country’s capital. According to data from the 2011 Census, Delhi has 16,787,941 residents overall. The following is a list of union territories by population:

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

Conclusion

In conclusion, the largest states in India reflect the diverse culture of India. The most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, has significant socioeconomic importance. On the other hand, Rajasthan, the largest state in India by area, has a rich cultural legacy. 

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