India is a big nation both area and population wise. We come on number 7 in the world in terms of area. However, India ranks number 2 in the world in terms of population, with 1st being China. Today in this article we’ll discuss the largest States in India by area and largest states in India by population. As the new census is yet to come, the data we took is approximate data given by the NHS. Moreover, in this article you’ll also find all the States of India listed as per the area and population they have in descending order. Let’s have a look at the largest States in India by area and population.
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States and Capitals of India: Complete List of 28 States and 8 UTs 2024
Top 5 Largest States of India By Area:-
Here is an overview table showcasing the top 5 largest states of India by area:
| Rank | State | Area (in square kilometers) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rajasthan | 342,000 |
| 2 | Madhya Pradesh | 308,000 |
| 3 | Maharashtra | 307,000 |
| 4 | Uttar Pradesh | 240,000 |
| 5 | Gujarat | 196,024 |
Below is a list of the largest states of India by area.
- Rajasthan : Rajasthan is the largest state of India in terms of area. It covers an area of more than 342,000 square kilometers. 10.4% of the country’s land area is in Rajasthan. The state is located in the western part of the Indian subcontinent. It is known for its rich history, vibrant culture and spectacular desert landscape.
- Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state in India in terms of area in terms of area . It covers an area of more than 308,000 square kilometers. As the name suggests, it is located in the central part of India. It is known for its rich history, diverse wildlife and ancient temples and monuments.
- Maharashtra: Maharashtra is the third largest state in India in terms of area . It covers an area of more than 307,000 square kilometers. This state is located in the western part of the country. It is known for its bustling capital Mumbai. The state’s diverse landscape includes beaches, mountains, and forests.
- Uttar Pradesh: Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest state in terms of area in the Indian subcontinent. It covers a land area of more than 240,000 square kilometers. UP is situated in North India. The state is known for its rich cultural heritage, historical monuments and religious sites.
- Gujarat: Gujarat is the fifth largest state of India in terms of area. It covers a land area of 196,024 square kilometres. It is located in western India and specifically the west coast of the Indian peninsula. It has a very rich cultural heritage. It is also known for its beautiful beaches, temples and wildlife sanctuaries.
List of Largest States in India by Area 2024 :-
Below we have classified all the states in India based on their area. Below is the list in descending order with the state with the highest area on top.
| Sl.No. | State | Area | Area (in km2) |
| 1 | Rajasthan | Northern | 3,42,239 |
| 2 | Madhya Pradesh | Central | 3,08,252 |
| 3 | Maharashtra | Western | 3,07,713 |
| 4 | Uttar Pradesh | Northern | 2,40,928 |
| 5 | Gujarat | Western | 1,96,024 |
| 6 | Karnataka | South | 1,91,791 |
| 7 | Andhra Pradesh | South | 1,60,205 |
| 8 | Odisha | Eastern | 1,55,707 |
| 9 | Chattisgarh | Central | 1,35,191 |
| 10 | Tamil Nadu | South | 1,30,058 |
| 11 | Telangana | South | 1,12,077 |
| 12 | Bihar | Eastern | 94,163 |
| 13 | West Bengal | Eastern | 88,752 |
| 14 | Arunachal Pradesh | Northeast | 83,743 |
| 15 | Jharkhand | Eastern | 79,714 |
| 16 | Assam | Northeast | 78,438 |
| 17 | Himachal Pradesh | Northern | 55,673 |
| 18 | Uttarakhand | Northern | 53,483 |
| 19 | Punjab | Northern | 50,362 |
| 20 | Haryana | Northern | 44,212 |
| 21 | Kerala | South | 38,863 |
| 22 | Meghalaya | Northeast | 22,429 |
| 23 | Manipur | Northeast | 22,327 |
| 24 | Mizoram | Northeast | 21,081 |
| 25 | Nagaland | Northeast | 16,579 |
| 26 | Tripura | Northeast | 10,486 |
| 27 | Sikkim | Northeast | 7,096 |
| 28 | Goa | Western | 3,702 |
Top 5 Largest States in India by Population 2024:-
Here is an overview table showcasing the top 5 largest states in India by population in 2024:
| Rank | State | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | Over 200 million |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 120 million |
| 3 | Bihar | 100 million |
| 4 | West Bengal | Over 90 million |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | Over 80 million |
Below is the list of largest states in India based on the population:-
- Uttar Pradesh: Uttar Pradesh ranks first as the largest state of India with a population of more than 200 million. Uttar Pradesh is a State famous for its culture and tourism spots. One of the seven wonders of the world, Taj Mahal resides here in UP. Moreover, recently the Ram Mandir was also inaugurated in Ayodhya, it is a symbol of Hinduism for all Hindus around the world.
- Maharashtra: The second most populous state in India is Maharashtra. It is home to 120 million people of India. Maharashtra is home to the financial capital of India and world famous oranges. You’ll find the Famous Nagpur oranges here in Maharashtra along with Mumbai, the home of both Bollywood and the Stock market ( Dalal Street).
- Bihar: Bihar is the third most populous state of India. It is home to 100 million people of India. It is located in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent. Until some time back Bihar was amongst the ‘Bimaru’ states, States that were significantly backward and poor. However with the constant efforts of the Government we are definitely seeing some progress over there.
- West Bengal: India’s fourth largest state by population is West Bengal. It is home to more than 90 million Indians. It extends from the Himalayas (in the north) and the Bay of Bengal (in the south) in eastern India. Bengal is home to the Nobel Prize winner Rabindra Nath Tagore and a state filled with culture and lots of history that will absolutely baffle your mind.
- Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh ranks as the fifth largest state of India by population, after West Bengal. It is home to more than 80 million people. MP is sometimes called the twin of Rajasthan. Is a growing State with a vibrant culture there. Madhya Pradesh also holds lots of Historical tourist places that people come to see from all over the world.
List of Largest States in India in terms of Population 2024:-
Below we have made the list in which all the States are placed according to the population they have. As you might know, the last official survey was done by the government of India in 2011. After that it was supposed to happen after 10 years in 2021 but due to COVID it got postponed. So the actual number of population in all of these States might be different, however their position in this list remains more or less same.
| Sl.No. | State | Area | population |
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | northern | 19,98,12,341 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | western | 11,23,74,333 |
| 3 | Bihar | Eastern | 10,40,99,452 |
| 4 | West Bengal | Eastern | 9,12,76,115 |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | Central | 7,26,26,809 |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu | South | 7,21,47,030 |
| 7 | Rajasthan | northern | 6,85,48,437 |
| 8 | Karnataka | South | 6,10,95,297 |
| 9 | Gujarat | western | 6,04,39,692 |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | South | 4,95,77,103 |
| 11 | Odisha | Eastern | 4,19,74,219 |
| 12 | Telangana | South | 3,50,03,674 |
| 13 | Kerala | South | 3,34,06,061 |
| 14 | Jharkhand | Eastern | 3,29,88,134 |
| 15 | Assam | Northeast | 3,12,05,576 |
| 16 | Punjab | northern | 2,77,43,338 |
| 17 | Chattisgarh | Central | 2,55,45,198 |
| 18 | Haryana | northern | 2,53,51,462 |
| 19 | Uttarakhand | northern | 1,00,86,292 |
| 20 | Himachal Pradesh | northern | 68,64,602 |
| 21 | Tripura | Northeast | 36,73,917 |
| 22 | Meghalaya | Northeast | 29,66,889 |
| 23 | Manipur | Northeast | 25,70,390 |
| 24 | Nagaland | Northeast | 19,78,502 |
| 25 | Goa | western | 14,58,545 |
| 26 | Arunachal Pradesh | Northeast | 13,83,727 |
| 27 | Mizoram | Northeast | 10,97,206 |
| 28 | Sikkim | Northeast | 6,10,577 |
Importance of classifying states in the basis of Population
We live in a democratic nation where people have the power. So it becomes extremely important to do a proper census and determine which state and districts have how much population. We are currently behind one census due to the COVID pandemic which we’ll cover soon. Based on the population count, the government is able to identify data such as the number of male and females in the state, the number of people below poverty line , the number of people in different caste groups and many other such divisions. Based on this the Government both at Centre and state level formulate the policies and allocate resources in a much more comprehensive way so that it can benefit the targeted Section of the society.
Conclusion:-
So this was the list of Largest States in India based on Area and the Largest States in Based on population. As the area of any state will not change any time soon as it requires a complex process. For the question of population these are just estimates given by national health survey the real picture will come once the census is done.
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FAQs:-
1. What is the largest state in India by area?
Answer: Rajasthan holds the title for the largest state in India by area, covering over 342,000 square kilometers.
2. Which state ranks second in terms of area?
Answer: Madhya Pradesh is the second-largest state in India by area, spanning over 308,000 square kilometers.
3. What is the most populous state in India?
Answer: Uttar Pradesh holds the distinction of being the most populous state in India, with a population exceeding 200 million.
4. Which state ranks second in terms of population?
Answer: Maharashtra is the second most populous state in India, home to approximately 120 million people.
5. How often is the census conducted in India?
Answer: The census in India is typically conducted every ten years to gather data on population demographics and other vital statistics.
6. What factors contribute to the population distribution in India?
Answer: Factors such as geography, climate, historical settlements, and economic opportunities significantly influence population distribution in India.
7. Which state has the highest population density?
Answer: Bihar has one of the highest population densities in India, with a large number of people residing in relatively smaller geographical areas.
8. How does the government utilize census data?
Answer: Census data is utilized by the government to formulate policies, allocate resources, and plan infrastructure development based on population demographics.
9. Is the population distribution uniform across all Indian states?
Answer: No, population distribution varies significantly across Indian states due to factors such as geographical features, economic development, and cultural preferences.
10. When was the last census conducted in India?
Answer: The last census in India was conducted in 2011, providing valuable insights into population trends and demographics across the country.