Rankings
Most populated states in India (2026)
Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state with an official projected population of 24.29 crore on 1 March 2026, 17.1% of the country. Figures for 2026 are the RGI Technical Group's projections; 2011 figures are the final census count.
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 24,28,59,000 | 19,98,12,341 | +21.5% | 17.06% |
| 2 | Bihar | 13,22,65,000 | 10,40,99,452 | +27.1% | 9.29% |
| 3 | Maharashtra | 12,93,08,000 | 11,23,74,333 | +15.1% | 9.08% |
| 4 | West Bengal | 10,05,22,000 | 9,12,76,115 | +10.1% | 7.06% |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | 8,96,73,000 | 7,26,26,809 | +23.5% | 6.30% |
| 6 | Rajasthan | 8,36,42,000 | 6,85,48,437 | +22.0% | 5.88% |
| 7 | Tamil Nadu | 7,75,46,000 | 7,21,47,030 | +7.5% | 5.45% |
| 8 | Gujarat | 7,40,86,000 | 6,04,39,692 | +22.6% | 5.20% |
| 9 | Karnataka | 6,89,62,000 | 6,10,95,297 | +12.9% | 4.84% |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | 5,37,09,000 | 4,96,27,190 | +8.2% | 3.77% |
| 11 | Odisha | 4,46,77,000 | 4,19,74,218 | +6.4% | 3.14% |
| 12 | Jharkhand | 4,09,58,000 | 3,29,88,134 | +24.2% | 2.88% |
| 13 | Telangana | 3,86,36,000 | 3,49,53,587 | +10.5% | 2.71% |
| 14 | Assam | 3,67,17,000 | 3,12,05,576 | +17.7% | 2.58% |
| 15 | Kerala | 3,62,07,000 | 3,34,06,061 | +8.4% | 2.54% |
| 16 | Punjab | 3,13,18,000 | 2,77,43,338 | +12.9% | 2.20% |
| 17 | Haryana | 3,12,99,000 | 2,53,51,462 | +23.5% | 2.20% |
| 18 | Chhattisgarh | 3,12,11,000 | 2,55,45,198 | +22.2% | 2.19% |
| 19 | Delhi | 2,25,40,000 | 1,67,87,941 | +34.3% | 1.58% |
| 20 | Jammu and Kashmir | 1,38,96,000 | 1,22,67,013 | +13.3% | 0.98% |
| 21 | Uttarakhand | 1,19,93,000 | 1,00,86,292 | +18.9% | 0.84% |
| 22 | Himachal Pradesh | 75,79,000 | 68,64,602 | +10.4% | 0.53% |
| 23 | Tripura | 42,60,000 | 36,73,917 | +16.0% | 0.30% |
| 24 | Meghalaya | 34,40,000 | 29,66,889 | +15.9% | 0.24% |
| 25 | Manipur | 33,11,000 | 28,55,794 | +15.9% | 0.23% |
| 26 | Nagaland | 22,94,000 | 19,78,502 | +15.9% | 0.16% |
| 27 | Puducherry | 17,57,000 | 12,47,953 | +40.8% | 0.12% |
| 28 | Arunachal Pradesh | 16,04,000 | 13,83,727 | +15.9% | 0.11% |
| 29 | Goa | 15,99,000 | 14,58,545 | +9.6% | 0.11% |
| 30 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 15,41,000 | 5,86,956 | +162.5% | 0.11% |
| 31 | Mizoram | 12,72,000 | 10,97,206 | +15.9% | 0.09% |
| 32 | Chandigarh | 12,67,000 | 10,55,450 | +20.0% | 0.09% |
| 33 | Sikkim | 7,08,000 | 6,10,577 | +16.0% | 0.05% |
| 34 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 4,06,000 | 3,80,581 | +6.7% | 0.03% |
| 35 | Ladakh | 3,05,000 | 2,74,289 | +11.2% | 0.02% |
| 36 | Lakshadweep | 70,000 | 64,473 | +8.6% | 0.00% |
Projections are dated 1 March, the census reference date. Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are shown on today’s boundaries for 2011 as well.
15 most populous States and UTs
- Uttar Pradesh 24.29 crore
- Bihar 13.23 crore
- Maharashtra 12.93 crore
- West Bengal 10.05 crore
- Madhya Pradesh 8.97 crore
- Rajasthan 8.36 crore
- Tamil Nadu 7.75 crore
- Gujarat 7.41 crore
- Karnataka 6.9 crore
- Andhra Pradesh 5.37 crore
- Odisha 4.47 crore
- Jharkhand 4.1 crore
- Telangana 3.86 crore
- Assam 3.67 crore
- Kerala 3.62 crore
Map
Population, 2026
0.01 cr1.20 cr24.29 cr
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