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Largest and Smallest State of India, Population & Area-wise

Largest State of India

India is politically divided into 28 States and 8 Union Territories at present. The Largest State in India by area is Rajasthan. Rajasthan is located in the northwestern part of the country and is known for its vast desert landscapes, historical forts, and vibrant culture. It covers a diverse range of geographical features, from the Thar Desert to the Aravalli mountain range. The smallest state in India by area is Goa. Goa is located on the western coast of India, and it is known for its beautiful beaches, rich Portuguese-influenced culture, and vibrant nightlife. Despite its small size, Goa is a popular tourist destination and is renowned for its scenic beauty and historical sites. In this article, we will discuss the Largest and Smallest States and Union Territories of India by area and population-wise.

Largest State of India 2023 Details

India is geographically located in South Asia. Areas-wise, our land area is the seventh largest in the world. India has a vast expense of plains, plateaus and river valleys which makes it suitable for agriculture and hence human settlement. Civilizational, we have one of the longest continuous histories of more than 2000 years. This is one of the reasons, India has the largest population in the world. However, this population is not evenly distributed throughout the country. One can observe differences in total population as well as the population density of various States and Union Territories. 

Indian Union is a federation with a strong centre. In other words, it is an indestructible Union with destructible States. At present, India is politically divided into 28 States and 8 Union Territories. Boundaries of states have undergone reorganization several times after independence, leading to the creation of new States and Union Territories. Most recently, two new Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were created in 2019.

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Largest State of India Important Facts

Aspect Largest Smallest
Area-wise Rajasthan Goa (Smallest State) and Lakshadweep (Smallest Union Territory)
Population-wise Uttar Pradesh Sikkim (smallest state) and Lakshadweep (smallest union territory of India)
Population density-wise Bihar Arunachal Pradesh

Read about: States and Capitals of India

Largest State of India Area-wise List

Here is a list of the Largest State of India along with Union Territories arranged in decreasing order of area:

S.No. State/ Union Territory Area (sq km)
1. Rajasthan  342239
2. Madhya Pradesh  308252
3. Maharashtra 307,713
4. Uttar Pradesh  240,928
5. Gujrat 196,244
6. Karnataka 191,791
7. Andhra Pradesh 162,968
8. Odisha 155,707
9. Chhattisgarh 135,192
10. Tamil Nadu 130,060
11. Telangana 112,077
12. Bihar  94,163
13. West Bengal  88,752
14. Arunachal Pradesh  83,743
15. Jharkhand 79,716
16. Assam  78,438
17. Ladakh 59,000
18. Himachal Pradesh  55,673
19. Uttarakhand 53,483
20. Punjab 50,362
21. Jammu and Kashmir 42,241
22. Haryana 44,212
23. Kerala 38,852
24. Meghalaya 22,429
25. Manipur  22,327
26. Mizoram 21,081
27. Nagaland 16,579
28. Tripura 10,486
29. Andaman and Nicobar Islands 8,249
30. Sikkim  7,096
31. Goa  3,702
32. Delhi  1,483
33. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 602
34. Puducherry 490
35. Chandigarh  114
36. Lakshadweep 30

Read about: NATO Countries

Largest State of India Population-wise List

Here is a list of the Largest State of India along with Union Territories arranged in decreasing order of Population:

S.No. State/ Union Territory Population (2011 Census)
1. Uttar Pradesh  199,581,477
2. Maharashtra 112,372,972
3. Bihar 103,804,637
4. West Bengal  91,347,736
5. Andhra Pradesh 84,665,533
6. Madhya Pradesh 72,597,565
7. Tamil Nadu 72,138,958
8. Rajasthan 68,621,012
9. Karnataka 61,130,704
10. Gujrat 60,383,628
11. Odisha  41,947,358
12. Telangana
35,193,978
13. Kerala 33,387,677
14. Jharkhand 32,966,238
15. Assam 31,169,272
16. Punjab 27,704,236
17. Haryana 25,353,081
18. Chhattisgarh 25,540,196
19. Delhi  16,753,235
20. Jammu and Kashmir 12,267,013
21. Uttarakhand 11,116,752
22. Himachal Pradesh 6,856,509
23. Tripura 3,671,032
24. Meghalaya 2,964,007
25. Manipur 2,721,756
26. Nagaland 1,980,602
27. Goa 1,457,723
28. Arunachal Pradesh 1,382,611
29. Mizoram 1,091,014
30. Sikkim 607,688
31. Puducherry 1,244,464
32. Chandigarh 1,054,686
33. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 585,764
34. Andaman and Nicobar Islands  379,944
35. Ladakh 274,289
36. Lakshadweep 64,429

Read about: National Symbols of India

Largest State of India: Importance for Exam

A significant portion of the Indian population remains unaware of the largest and smallest states of India as well as union territories within the country. It is crucial for us, as Indian citizens, to be well-informed about our states and their respective boundaries. Questions pertaining to the largest state and union territory of India have been asked in various competitive examinations. Currently, India is administratively divided into 28 states and 8 union territories. Boundaries of states have undergone reorganization several times after independence, leading to the creation of new States and Union Territories. Most recently, two new Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were created in 2019.

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Largest and Smallest State of India FAQs

Which state is largest in India?

Area wise, Rajasthan is the largest state of India and population wise, Uttar Pradesh is the largest state.

Which is the 2nd largest state in India?

Area wise, Madhya Pradesh is the 2nd largest state of India and population wise, Maharashtra is the 2nd largest state.

Which is the smallest and largest state of India?

Area wise, Rajasthan and Goa are the largest and the smallest state of India respectively.

Which is the lowest population state in India?

Among all the states in India, Sikkim has the least population.

Which are the 5 largest state in India?

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Gujrat in this order are the 5 largest states in India.

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