Largest State in India By Area, Population & UTs
Rajasthan is India's largest state by area (342,239 km², 10.4% of the land), while Uttar Pradesh is the most populous (~241 million, 17%). Among Union Territories, Ladakh is the largest by area and Delhi the most populous.
India's vast and diverse landscape is reflected in its largest states and Union Territories. As of 2026, Rajasthan is the largest state by area, covering 342,239 km² (10.4% of India's land). Uttar Pradesh, with an estimated 241 million people (17% of India's population), is the most populous state. India currently has 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
Largest state by area: Rajasthan · Smallest: Goa
Largest state by population: Uttar Pradesh · Smallest: Sikkim
Largest UT by area: Ladakh · Largest UT by population: Delhi
Smallest UT (both area & population): Lakshadweep
Largest State by Area — Rajasthan
Rajasthan is the largest state in India by area, spanning approximately 342,239 km² — about 10.4% of India's total land area. Located in the northwest, it borders five states — Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat — and shares an international border with Pakistan.
- Topography: Ranges from the Thar Desert (the Great Indian Desert) to fertile plains and mountains; the desert dominates the state's climate and ecology.
- Climate: Dry, with extreme seasonal variation — intensely hot summers and milder winters; low average rainfall due to the Thar Desert.
- Biodiversity: Wildlife includes tigers, leopards, and desert-dwellers like blue bulls (nilgai), blackbucks, and chinkaras.
- Tourism: Rich heritage of forts, palaces, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and historical monuments.
- Demographics: Population of 68.5 million (2011 Census) with a 66.11% literacy rate.
- Economy: Driven by agriculture, mining, tourism, textiles, IT, and renewable energy; GSDP for 2025-26 (current prices) projected at ₹19,89,000 crore, a 16.7% growth over 2024-25.
List of Largest States in India by Area (2026)
| # | State | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rajasthan | 342,239 |
| 2 | Madhya Pradesh | 308,252 |
| 3 | Maharashtra | 307,713 |
| 4 | Uttar Pradesh | 240,928 |
| 5 | Gujarat | 196,024 |
| 6 | Karnataka | 191,791 |
| 7 | Andhra Pradesh | 160,205 |
| 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 State by Population — Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, with 199.81 million people (Census 2011) and an estimated 241 million as of 2024 — about 17% of India's population, making it one of the largest subdivisions in the world.
- Demographics: Area 243,286 km²; density ~991/km²; literacy ~67.68%; sex ratio 912 females/1,000 males.
- Topography: Includes the Himalayan region, the fertile Gangetic Plain, and the mineral-rich Vindhya Hills.
- Biodiversity: Tropical moist and dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and 26 wildlife sanctuaries; protected areas cover 11.82% of the state.
- Climate: Tropical monsoon — hot summers (over 40°C), rainy monsoons (June–September), and foggy winters.
- Economy: Agriculture, manufacturing, services, and tourism; GSDP for 2025-26 projected at ₹30.8 lakh crore, a 12% growth over 2024-25.
List of Largest States in India by Population (Census 2011)
| # | State | Population (2011) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 19,98,12,341 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 11,23,74,333 |
| 3 | Bihar | 10,40,99,452 |
| 4 | West Bengal | 9,12,76,115 |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | 7,26,26,809 |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu | 7,21,47,030 |
| 7 | Rajasthan | 6,85,48,437 |
| 8 | Karnataka | 6,10,95,297 |
| 9 | Gujarat | 6,04,39,692 |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | 4,93,86,799 |
| 11 | Odisha | 4,19,74,218 |
| 12 | Telangana | 3,51,93,978 |
| 13 | Kerala | 3,34,06,061 |
| 14 | Jharkhand | 3,29,88,134 |
| 15 | Assam | 3,12,05,576 |
| 16 | Punjab | 2,77,43,338 |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh | 2,55,45,198 |
| 18 | Haryana | 2,53,51,462 |
| 19 | Uttarakhand | 1,00,86,292 |
| 20 | Himachal Pradesh | 68,64,602 |
| 21 | Tripura | 36,73,917 |
| 22 | Meghalaya | 29,66,889 |
| 23 | Manipur | 28,55,794 |
| 24 | Nagaland | 19,78,502 |
| 25 | Goa | 14,58,545 |
| 26 | Arunachal Pradesh | 13,83,727 |
| 27 | Mizoram | 10,97,206 |
| 28 | Sikkim | 6,10,577 |
All population figures above are from Census 2011, because Census 2021 was postponed (owing to COVID-19). India's next census will have a reference date of 1 March 2027 (and 1 October 2026 for snow-bound areas of Ladakh, J&K, Himachal and Uttarakhand). It will be India's first digital census and the first to include caste enumeration since 1931. Expect these "largest state" figures to be revised thereafter.
Largest Union Territory by Area — Ladakh
Ladakh is the largest Union Territory of India by (administered) area, at approximately 59,146 km². It was created on 31 October 2019 under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, which split the former state of J&K into two UTs — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Ladakh comprises two districts, Leh and Kargil, and (unlike J&K) has no legislative assembly.
By the actually administered area, Ladakh (59,146 km²) is larger than Jammu & Kashmir (42,241 km²) — so Ladakh is the largest UT by area.
Some sources call J&K the largest by quoting ~1,25,535 km², but that figure includes Pakistan-occupied areas not under Indian administration — an apples-to-oranges comparison. For UPSC, the safe and current answer is Ladakh. (Before 2019, Andaman & Nicobar was the largest UT.)
Jammu & Kashmir — Key Facts
- Administered area ~42,241 km²; two capitals — Srinagar (summer) and Jammu (winter). It is one of only three UTs with a legislative assembly (along with Delhi and Puducherry).
- Demographics: Population ~12.5 million; literacy 67.16%; main rivers — Jhelum, Chenab, and Ravi.
- Topography: Himalayas to the north, Pir Panjal Range to the south; the scenic Kashmir and Jammu valleys.
- Biodiversity: Coniferous forests, alpine meadows, and wildlife like the Himalayan black bear, snow leopard, and Markhor.
List of Union Territories by Area & Population
| # | Union Territory | Area (km²) | Population (2011) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ladakh | 59,146 | Not Available |
| 2 | Jammu & Kashmir | 42,241* | 1,25,41,302 |
| 3 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 8,249 | 3,80,581 |
| 4 | Delhi (NCT) | 1,483 | 1,67,87,941 |
| 5 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 603 | 5,86,956 |
| 6 | Puducherry | 479 | 12,47,953 |
| 7 | Chandigarh | 114 | 10,55,450 |
| 8 | Lakshadweep | 32 | 64,473 |
*J&K's total claimed area, including Pakistan-occupied territory, is often cited as ~1,25,535 km²; the administered area is ~42,241 km². Delhi is the most populous UT; Lakshadweep is the smallest UT by both area and population.
Reorganisation timeline: On 31 October 2019, J&K was bifurcated into two UTs (raising the count from 7 to 9). On 26 January 2020, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu were merged into one UT — giving the current 8 UTs and 28 states.
Only three UTs have legislatures: Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. Chandigarh is unique — the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana; Lakshadweep is India's only Muslim-majority UT.
Smallest State by Area — Goa
Goa, India's smallest state by area, covers 3,702 km² on the west coast, bordered by Maharashtra (north), Karnataka (east and south), and the Arabian Sea (west).
- History: Liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961; became a separate state on 30 May 1987 (earlier part of the UT of Goa, Daman & Diu). Known historically as 'Golden Goa' and the 'Rome of the East'.
- Divisions: Two districts — North Goa and South Goa; capital Panaji.
- Topography: About 160 km of Arabian Sea coastline — sandy beaches, estuaries, and rocky promontories.
- Rivers: Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, and Terekhol.
- Economy: Tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing; GSDP for 2024-25 projected at ₹1,21,309 crore (~13.87% growth).
From the Thar sands of Rajasthan to the beaches of Goa, and from the crowded Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh to the cold deserts of Ladakh — India's "largest and smallest" list is really a map of its staggering diversity. — Legacy IAS Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which is the largest state in India by area?
Which is the largest state in India by population?
Which is the largest Union Territory of India by area?
Which is the smallest state and smallest UT in India?
Why is population data still from Census 2011?
Key Takeaways
- Largest state by area: Rajasthan (342,239 km²) → Madhya Pradesh → Maharashtra.
- Largest state by population: Uttar Pradesh (~241 mn, 2024 est.) → Maharashtra → Bihar.
- Largest UT by area: Ladakh (~59,146 km²) — not J&K (that figure counts PoK). Before 2019, it was Andaman & Nicobar.
- Largest UT by population: Delhi (~16.79 mn). Smallest UT (area & population): Lakshadweep.
- Smallest state: Goa (area) and Sikkim (population). India has 28 states + 8 UTs.
- Population data is still Census 2011; the next (digital, caste-inclusive) census has reference date 1 March 2027.
