India states by population

India States by Population ,India is one of the world’s most populous countries, but its population is distributed very unevenly across its states and union territories. The largest populations are concentrated in northern, central and western parts of the country, while several northeastern and island territories have comparatively small populations.

Based on the supplied 2023 population figures, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, with an estimated population of 235,687,000. Maharashtra and Bihar follow, while West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are also among the country’s largest population centers.

The supplied dataset contains 36 states and union territories, with population figures for 2023 and the 2011 Census comparison. It also identifies each administrative area’s status and capital.

India States by Population Ranking

The population ranking shows a substantial difference between India’s largest and smallest administrative areas. Uttar Pradesh alone has more than 235 million people in the supplied 2023 estimate, whereas Lakshadweep has only about 69,000.

Maharashtra has a supplied population of 126,385,000, while Bihar is listed at 126,756,000. This places Bihar slightly ahead of Maharashtra in the supplied 2023 figures. West Bengal follows with 99,084,000 people.

Madhya Pradesh has a population of 86,579,000, while Rajasthan has 81,025,000. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka are also among the largest population centers, with each exceeding 67 million people in the supplied figures.

The ranking becomes progressively smaller beyond India’s most populous states, eventually reaching territories and northeastern states with populations below one million.

Uttar Pradesh Is the Most Populous State in India

Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, according to the supplied population data.

Its 2023 population is listed at 235,687,000, compared with 199,812,341 in 2011. This represents an increase of more than 35 million people between the two supplied figures.

Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh. The state’s enormous population gives it an important demographic position within India and makes it the leading state in population size by a considerable margin.

Uttar Pradesh is followed in the supplied ranking by Bihar and Maharashtra.

How Many People Live in Uttar Pradesh?

According to the supplied 2023 data, 235,687,000 people live in Uttar Pradesh.

The 2011 population was 199,812,341. The difference between the two figures is approximately 35.87 million people.

This makes Uttar Pradesh substantially larger in population than every other state listed in the dataset.

Second Most Populous State in India

Bihar is ranked second in the supplied dataset with a 2023 population of 126,756,000.

Its population was 104,099,452 in 2011. Patna is the capital of Bihar.

Bihar’s population is slightly higher than Maharashtra’s supplied 2023 figure of 126,385,000. The difference between the two is approximately 371,000 people.

Maharashtra Population

Maharashtra has a supplied 2023 population of 126,385,000, making it one of India’s largest population centers.

Mumbai is listed as the capital, and the state’s 2011 population was 112,374,333.

The state combines a very large population with major urban centers, including Mumbai, one of India’s most important metropolitan areas.

West Bengal Population

West Bengal ranks among India’s most populous states, with a supplied 2023 population of 99,084,000.

The state had 91,276,115 people in 2011. Kolkata serves as its capital.

Its population places West Bengal ahead of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the supplied ranking.

Madhya Pradesh Population

Madhya Pradesh has a supplied population of 86,579,000 in 2023, compared with 72,626,809 in 2011.

Bhopal is the capital.

The state occupies a central position in the population ranking and is one of the five Indian states in the supplied dataset with more than 80 million people.

Rajasthan Population

Rajasthan has a supplied 2023 population of 81,025,000.

Its 2011 population was 68,548,437, while Jaipur is the state capital.

Rajasthan ranks ahead of Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh in the supplied population figures.

Tamil Nadu Population

Tamil Nadu has a population of 76,860,000 in the supplied 2023 data.

The state had 72,147,030 people in 2011. Chennai is the capital.

Although Tamil Nadu has a lower total population than several northern and central states, its population remains among the largest in India.

Gujarat Population

Gujarat is listed with a 2023 population of 71,507,000, compared with 60,439,692 in 2011.

Gandhinagar is the capital.

The state ranks among India’s largest population centers and is positioned above Karnataka in the supplied 2023 figures.

Karnataka Population

Karnataka has a supplied 2023 population of 67,692,000.

Its 2011 population was 61,095,297, while Bengaluru is the capital.

The state is one of India’s major population centers and ranks eighth in the supplied list.

Andhra Pradesh Population

Andhra Pradesh has a supplied population of 53,156,000 in 2023.

The 2011 figure is 49,577,103. The supplied data lists Amaravati / Visakhapatnam as the capital entry.

The state ranks below Karnataka and above Odisha in the supplied population ranking.

Odisha Population

Odisha has a supplied 2023 population of 46,276,000, compared with 41,974,218 in 2011.

Bhubaneswar is the capital.

The state ranks 11th in the supplied list and remains one of India’s larger population centers.

Telangana Population

Telangana has a supplied population of 38,090,000 in 2023.

Its 2011 population was 35,003,674, and Hyderabad is listed as the capital.

The state ranks above Kerala and Jharkhand in the supplied ordering.

Kerala Population

Kerala has a supplied 2023 population of 35,776,000.

The corresponding 2011 population was 33,406,061. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital.

Kerala is one of the larger states by total population, although it is considerably smaller than Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra.

Jharkhand Population

Jharkhand has a supplied 2023 population of 39,466,000.

Its 2011 population was 32,988,134, and Ranchi is the capital.

In the supplied data, Jharkhand has a larger population than Kerala despite appearing later in the original ordering.

Assam Population

Assam has a supplied population of 35,713,000 in 2023.

The state had 31,205,576 people in 2011. Dispur is listed as its capital.

Assam is the most populous state among several northeastern states included in the dataset.

Punjab Population

Punjab has a supplied 2023 population of 30,730,000.

Its 2011 population was 27,743,338. Chandigarh is listed as the capital.

The state is followed closely by Chhattisgarh and Haryana in the supplied population figures.

Chhattisgarh Population

Chhattisgarh has a population of 30,180,000 in the supplied 2023 data.

Its 2011 population was 25,545,198, while Raipur is the capital.

Haryana Population

Haryana has a supplied population of 30,209,000.

The 2011 population was 25,351,462, and Chandigarh is listed as the capital.

Haryana’s supplied 2023 population is slightly higher than Chhattisgarh’s.

Delhi Population

Delhi is listed as a union territory in the supplied dataset rather than a state.

Its 2023 population is 21,359,000, compared with 16,787,941 in 2011.

Delhi’s population is larger than that of every remaining administrative area below it in the supplied ranking.

Jammu and Kashmir Population

Jammu and Kashmir is listed as a union territory with a supplied 2023 population of 13,603,000.

Its 2011 population was 12,267,013.

The supplied capital entry is Srinagar / Jammu.

Uttarakhand Population

Uttarakhand has a supplied population of 11,637,000 in 2023.

Its population was 10,086,292 in 2011. Dehradun is listed as the capital.

Himachal Pradesh Population

Himachal Pradesh has a supplied population of 7,468,000.

The 2011 population was 6,864,602, while Shimla is the capital.

Tripura Population

Tripura has a supplied 2023 population of 4,147,000, compared with 3,673,917 in 2011.

Agartala is the capital.

Meghalaya Population

Meghalaya has a supplied population of 3,349,000 in 2023.

Its 2011 population was 2,966,889, and Shillong is the capital.

Manipur Population

Manipur has a supplied population of 3,223,000.

The 2011 population was 2,855,794. Imphal is the capital.

Nagaland Population

Nagaland has a supplied 2023 population of 2,233,000, compared with 1,978,502 in 2011.

Kohima is the capital.

Goa Population

Goa has a supplied population of 1,575,000.

Its 2011 population was 1,458,545, while Panaji is the capital.

Goa is among India’s smallest states by population.

Arunachal Pradesh Population

Arunachal Pradesh has a supplied 2023 population of 1,562,000.

The state had 1,383,727 people in 2011. Itanagar is the capital.

Puducherry Population

Puducherry is classified as a union territory in the supplied dataset.

Its 2023 population is listed at 1,377,000, compared with 1,247,953 in 2011.

Puducherry is also the capital entry.

Mizoram Population

Mizoram has a supplied population of 1,238,000.

Its 2011 population was 1,097,206, while Aizawl is the capital.

Chandigarh Population

Chandigarh is listed as a union territory with a supplied 2023 population of 1,231,000.

Its 2011 population was 1,055,450.

Chandigarh is also listed as its capital and serves as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana in the supplied data.

Sikkim Population

Sikkim has a supplied population of 689,000 in 2023.

The 2011 population was 610,577, and Gangtok is the capital.

Sikkim is one of the least populous states in India.

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Population

The union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is listed with a 2011 population of 586,956.

The supplied 2023 population is shown as “…”, so no 2023 figure is provided in the source data supplied here.

Daman is listed as the capital.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Population

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a supplied 2023 population of 403,000.

The 2011 population was 380,581, and Port Blair is listed as the capital.

Ladakh Population

Ladakh is listed as a union territory with a supplied 2023 population of 300,000.

Its 2011 population was 274,289. Leh is the capital entry.

Lakshadweep Population

Lakshadweep is the least populous union territory in the supplied dataset, with a 2023 population of only 69,000.

Its 2011 population was 64,473, and Kavaratti is listed as the capital.

Which Is the Least Populous State in India?

Among the areas classified as states in the supplied data, Sikkim is the least populous state, with a 2023 population of 689,000.

Sikkim is followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Nagaland.

If union territories are included, Lakshadweep has the smallest population overall, with 69,000 people in the supplied 2023 figure.

India States and Capitals With Population

The supplied data provides both population figures and capital information, making it useful for comparing India’s administrative divisions alongside their demographic size.

Population Growth Between 2011 and 2023

The supplied figures also allow a direct comparison between the 2011 population and the 2023 estimate.

Uttar Pradesh increased from 199,812,341 to 235,687,000, while Bihar increased from 104,099,452 to 126,756,000.

Maharashtra moved from 112,374,333 in 2011 to 126,385,000 in 2023. West Bengal increased from 91,276,115 to 99,084,000.

Madhya Pradesh rose from 72,626,809 to 86,579,000, while Rajasthan increased from 68,548,437 to 81,025,000.

Among the smaller states, Sikkim increased from 610,577 to 689,000, while Goa increased from 1,458,545 to 1,575,000.

The supplied figures therefore show population growth across both India’s largest states and its smaller administrative areas.

India’s Most Populous States

The upper part of the ranking is dominated by a relatively small number of states with very large populations. Uttar Pradesh is the clear leader, followed by Bihar and Maharashtra.

West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka form another major group of highly populated states. Together, these states represent some of India’s most significant population concentrations.

The distribution also demonstrates that population size is not uniform across the country. Several states have tens of millions of residents, while some states and union territories have populations below one million.

India’s Least Populous States and Territories

At the opposite end of the ranking, India’s smallest administrative areas include Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sikkim and Chandigarh.

Among states, Sikkim has the smallest supplied 2023 population at 689,000.

Among all states and union territories in the supplied dataset, Lakshadweep has the lowest figure at 69,000.

These differences illustrate the considerable demographic diversity of India’s administrative system.

State Population vs Union Territory Population

The supplied table contains both states and union territories. These categories should be distinguished when interpreting the ranking.

States include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other state-level administrations.

Union territories in the supplied dataset include Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu.

This distinction is particularly important when answering questions such as which is the least populous state versus which is the least populous administrative area overall.

India Population Ranking: Key Takeaways

• Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in the supplied data.

• Uttar Pradesh has a supplied 2023 population of 235.687 million.

• Bihar ranks second at 126.756 million.

• Maharashtra ranks third at 126.385 million.

• West Bengal ranks fourth with 99.084 million.

• Madhya Pradesh has 86.579 million people.

• Rajasthan has 81.025 million.

• Tamil Nadu has 76.860 million.

• Gujarat has 71.507 million.

• Karnataka has 67.692 million.

• Sikkim is the least populous state in the supplied dataset.

• Lakshadweep is the least populous union territory and the least populous administrative area overall.

• The supplied 2023 population of Lakshadweep is 69,000.

• The supplied dataset contains 36 states and union territories.

• The dataset also provides 2011 population figures for historical comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most populous state in India?

Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in the supplied data, with a 2023 population of 235,687,000.

How many people live in Uttar Pradesh?

The supplied 2023 figure for Uttar Pradesh is 235,687,000 people.

Which state has the second-largest population in India?

Bihar is second in the supplied ranking, with a population of 126,756,000.

Which state has the third-largest population?

Maharashtra ranks third in the supplied data with 126,385,000 people.

Which is the least populous state in India?

Sikkim is the least populous state in the supplied dataset, with 689,000 people in 2023.

Which is the least populous union territory in India?

Lakshadweep is the least populous union territory in the supplied dataset, with a population of 69,000.

Which Indian state has the largest population?

Uttar Pradesh has the largest population among the states listed.

What is the population of Bihar?

The supplied 2023 population of Bihar is 126,756,000.

What is the population of Maharashtra?

The supplied 2023 population of Maharashtra is 126,385,000.

What is the population of West Bengal?

West Bengal has a supplied 2023 population of 99,084,000.

Which Indian state has the smallest population?

Sikkim has the smallest population among the states in the supplied dataset.

Which Indian territory has the smallest population?

Lakshadweep has the smallest population among the listed states and union territories.

Which state has Lucknow as its capital?

Uttar Pradesh has Lucknow as its capital.

Which state has Mumbai as its capital?

Maharashtra has Mumbai as its capital.

Which state has Kolkata as its capital?

West Bengal has Kolkata as its capital.

What is the population of India’s largest state by population?

Uttar Pradesh has 235,687,000 people in the supplied 2023 estimate.

What was Uttar Pradesh’s population in 2011?

The supplied 2011 population of Uttar Pradesh was 199,812,341.

How many states and union territories are included?

The supplied table contains 36 administrative areas, consisting of states and union territories.

Source

Population figures, administrative classifications and capital information are based on the supplied dataset from City Population:

City Population — India States and Cities