Which Indian State has the Highest Population Density?

When talking about population in Geography, there is a massive difference between 'Total Population' and 'Population Density'. While Uttar Pradesh has the highest total number of people, it is not the most densely populated. Let's understand what density means and which state ranks first.

Question (Click to Flip)

Which state has the highest total population?

Answer

Uttar Pradesh (UP) has the highest total population in India (over 199 million in 2011). However, because UP is geographically a massive state, its density (829) is lower than Bihar's.

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Key Facts

The overall average population density of the entire country of India (as of 2011) is 382 persons per square kilometer.

West Bengal is the second most densely populated state in India, right behind Bihar, with 1,028 persons per sq km.

1. What is Population Density?

Definition: Population Density is a mathematical calculation. It measures how many people live in exactly one square kilometer (1 sq km) of land area.
Formula: Total Population ÷ Total Land Area.
Why it matters: If a small room has 50 people inside it, it feels highly suffocating. That room has a very 'High Density', even if the total number of people is only 50.

2. The State with the Highest Density

According to the official Census of India (2011):

Bihar is the state with the highest population density in India.
The Number: Bihar has an astonishing density of 1,106 persons per square kilometer.
Why?: Because Bihar has a massive population, but geographically, it is a relatively small state compared to Rajasthan or Maharashtra. Therefore, people are packed very tightly together.

3. The State with the Lowest Density

Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest population density in India.
The Number: It has a density of only 17 persons per square kilometer.
Why?: It is a massive state covered entirely in steep Himalayan mountains and dense jungles. Very few people can physically build houses or farm there.

4. What about Union Territories?

If you include Union Territories (cities managed by the central government), the numbers change drastically:

The National Capital Territory of Delhi has the highest density in the entire country, with a mind-blowing 11,320 persons per square kilometer!

Questions and Answers

Which state has the highest total population?+

Uttar Pradesh (UP) has the highest total population in India (over 199 million in 2011). However, because UP is geographically a massive state, its density (829) is lower than Bihar's.

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