India (the Republic of India) is the seventh-largest country in the world. It is the second most populous country all over the world.
India is home to no less than 29 states. The country has some states which are big in size. But, which have the biggest areas? And, which of these are the most densely populated?
Every state in India has something great to offer. The following are the largest states in India (both by size as well as population).
Top 10 Largest States in India - by Area (2011 Census).
In terms of area, Rajasthan is the largest state in India, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Please find below the list of top ten states in India in term of area according to 2011 Census.
| Rank | Name of the State | Area (in Square Kilometres) | Description |
| 1 | Rajasthan | 342,239 | Situated to the west of India on the border with Pakistan, this state is the largest by area in the whole country. It is home to several cultural highlights including the ruins that remain of the Civilization of the Indus Valley. |
| 2 | Madhya Pradesh | 308,245 | The second largest state by area in India is located in the center of the country and it is renowned for its 10th century temples. |
| 3 | Maharashtra | 307,713 | This state covering both western and central parts of the country contains one of India’s largest and most buzzing cities: Mumbai. |
| 4 | Uttar Pradesh | 240,928 | In the north of India, this state is very popular with tourists as it is the state that contains the world famous Taj Mahal. |
| 5 | Jammu and Kashmir | 222,236 | This large state is mainly dominated by the majestic Himalayan mountains, which can be found in the north of India. |
| 6 | Gujarat | 196,024 | This is the westernmost state in the whole country, and its famous business center is Ahmedabad. |
| 7 | Karnataka | 191,791 | Karnataka is a gorgeous coastal state that borders on the Arabian sea. Many states in India have their own official bird or animal, and the official bird of this state is the Indian Roller. |
| 8 | Andhra Pradesh | 162,968 | Another coastal state, this state is very popular with surfers and swimmers, particularly around the Bay of Bengal. |
| 9 | Odisha (formerly Orissa) | 155,707 | A sacred lake and plenty of historic temples make this state, located on the Bay of Bengal, amazingly rich in cultural heritage. |
| 10 | Chhattisgarh | 135,191 | This state is very densely forested. |
Source for area (in square kms): Wikipedia
Top 10 States in India - by Population (2011 Census).
According to the 2011 Census, Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) is the Indian state with largest population. Uttar Pradesh is followed by Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. The top 10 most populous states in India are as follows:
| Sl. No | Name of the State | Population (2011 Census) | Description |
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 199,281,477 | The state with largest population. It seems everyone wants to live in the same state as the Taj Mahal. |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 112,372,972 | The state with second highest population. Mumbai and Bollywood draw people to this state. |
| 3 | Bihar | 103,804,637 | The third most populous state also borders Nepal. |
| 4 | West Bengal | 91,347,736 | Much of the population of this state lives in and around the capital, Kolkata. |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | 72,597,565 | The capital city Bhopal and Jabalpur are among the densely populated regions here. |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu | 72,138,958 | In the South, this state’s capital is Chennai. |
| 7 | Rajasthan | 68,621,012 | As mentioned above, this is also India’s largest state. |
| 8 | Karnataka | 61,130,704 | It is not only Indian Rollers that are plentiful here - human beings are too! |
| 9 | Gujarat | 60,383,628 | Indian’s most western state is also home to a large number of people. |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | 49,386,799 | This coastal state is densely populated. |
Source for population: Wikipedia.
Conclusion: India can use its large size and population to its advantage. For example, the large states translate to higher and reliable labor and consumption of products and services.