Top 10 Most Populous States in India
Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India. The 2011 Census counted 19.98 crore people there, about one in every six Indians, and if it were a country it would rank among the most populous in the world. Maharashtra and Bihar are second and third, followed by West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
The full ranking — 10 picks
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Top pickRank 1. Uttar Pradesh
Capital: LucknowUttar Pradesh had 19,98,12,341 people in the 2011 Census, about 16.5 percent of India's population, more than every other state by a wide margin. It sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha, the most of any state, which gives it great weight in national politics.
19.98 crorepopulation (2011) 16.5%share of India 80Lok Sabha seatsPhoto: Yann; edited by Jim Carter · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Rank 2. Maharashtra
Capital: MumbaiMaharashtra had 11,23,74,333 people in the 2011 Census. It is one of India's most urbanised states, and the Mumbai metropolitan region alone is home to a very large share of its people. It has the largest state economy in India and 48 Lok Sabha seats.
11.24 crorepopulation (2011) 9.3%share of India 48Lok Sabha seatsPhoto: Dey.sandip · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 -
Rank 3. Bihar
Capital: PatnaBihar had 10,40,99,452 people in the 2011 Census and the highest population density of any state, at 1,106 people per square kilometre. It also had the fastest population growth among large states in the 2001 to 2011 decade and may now have overtaken Maharashtra.
10.41 crorepopulation (2011) 1,106 per sq kmdensity 40Lok Sabha seatsPhoto: Odantapuribs · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Rank 4. West Bengal
Capital: KolkataWest Bengal had 9,12,76,115 people in the 2011 Census and is the second most densely populated state after Bihar. Kolkata, its capital, is one of India's largest metropolitan areas and was the capital of British India until 1911. The state sends 42 members to the Lok Sabha.
9.13 crorepopulation (2011) 7.5%share of India 42Lok Sabha seatsPhoto: Shubhankar.sengupta19 · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 -
Rank 5. Madhya Pradesh
Capital: BhopalMadhya Pradesh had 7,26,26,809 people in the 2011 Census. It is the second-largest state by area, so its population is spread out, with a density well below the national average. Indore is its largest city and Bhopal its capital, and a large share of its people live in rural areas.
7.26 crorepopulation (2011) 6.0%share of India 29Lok Sabha seatsPhoto: Dennis G. Jarvis · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 2.0 -
Rank 6. Tamil Nadu
Capital: ChennaiTamil Nadu had 7,21,47,030 people in the 2011 Census, only slightly fewer than Madhya Pradesh. Nearly half its people lived in urban areas, one of the highest shares among large states, and its population growth has slowed sharply in recent decades.
7.21 crorepopulation (2011) 6.0%share of India 39Lok Sabha seatsPhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pnglife/ · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 2.0 -
Rank 7. Rajasthan
Capital: JaipurRajasthan had 6,85,48,437 people in the 2011 Census. It is the largest state by area, so its population density is low, particularly in the Thar Desert districts of the west such as Jaisalmer and Barmer. Jaipur is its largest city and one of the fastest-growing cities in north India.
6.85 crorepopulation (2011) 5.7%share of India 25Lok Sabha seatsPhoto: Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 -
Rank 8. Karnataka
Capital: BengaluruKarnataka had 6,10,95,297 people in the 2011 Census. Bengaluru, its capital, has been one of the fastest-growing cities in India since then because of the technology industry, drawing workers from across the country. Other large cities include Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad and Mangaluru.
6.11 crorepopulation (2011) 5.0%share of India 28Lok Sabha seatsPhoto: Apadegal · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 -
Rank 9. Gujarat
Capital: GandhinagarGujarat had 6,04,39,692 people in the 2011 Census. Ahmedabad and Surat are among India's largest and fastest-growing cities, and the state has a large diaspora in the United States, the United Kingdom and East Africa. It is only slightly behind Karnataka in population.
6.04 crorepopulation (2011) 5.0%share of India 26Lok Sabha seatsPhoto: Bernard Gagnon · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 -
Rank 10. Andhra Pradesh
Capital: AmaravatiAndhra Pradesh, within its boundaries after Telangana was formed in 2014, had about 4.94 crore people in the 2011 Census. Before the division the combined state had 8.46 crore people and ranked fifth. Visakhapatnam is its largest city, and Odisha, with about 4.2 crore people, is just behind it in 11th place.
about 4.94 crorepopulation (2011) about 4.1%share of India 25Lok Sabha seatsPhoto: Nikhilb239 · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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How this list was made
This ranking uses the Census of India 2011, the most recent completed census and the only official full count of the population by state. The next census is being carried out in 2026 and 2027, and its results will replace these figures. Government projections suggest every state has grown since 2011 and that Bihar may now have more people than Maharashtra, so the order of those two places may change when the new count is published. Andhra Pradesh is shown with its population after Telangana was separated in 2014. Only states are ranked; union territories such as Delhi are not included.
About this list
Top 10 Most Populous States in India runs from 1 to 10. Uttar Pradesh takes the top spot, and Andhra Pradesh closes it out at number 10. It was first published on 24 September 2026.
Spotted something out of date, or an entry you would rank differently? Tell us — the order on this page is revised as the picks change.
