India’s population is spread unevenly across its states. A few large states contain hundreds of millions of people, while some smaller states have fewer residents than a single major city. These differences shape elections, employment, housing, transport, schools and hospitals.
The picture is shifting. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are growing faster than most southern states, while Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka attract migrants through their cities and industries. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal remain heavily populated, but their growth has slowed.
India has not completed a national Census since 2011, so the 2026 figures are projections rather than a fresh headcount. We have prepared the Top 10 Most Populated States in India in 2026 using the National Commission on Population’s state projections for 1 March 2026.
1. Uttar Pradesh – Around 24.35 Crore
Uttar Pradesh remains India’s most populated state by a very large margin, with a projected 2026 population of approximately 24.35 crore.
If it were a separate country, Uttar Pradesh would rank among the world’s most populous nations. Its people live across major cities and an enormous rural population concentrated in the Gangetic plain.
Its size gives it exceptional political importance, including the largest representation in the Lok Sabha.
Managing jobs, education, healthcare, housing and urban growth for such a large population remains one of India’s biggest development challenges.
What makes it stand out: India’s clear population leader, containing roughly one in every six people in the country.
2. Bihar – Around 13.29 Crore
Bihar ranks second in the 2026 projections with a population of about 13.29 crore, moving slightly ahead of Maharashtra.
Bihar has one of India’s youngest and fastest-growing populations. Most residents still live in rural areas, although its urban centres continue to expand.
High density places pressure on land, services and employment. It also contributes to migration, with many workers and students moving to other states.
At the same time, Bihar’s young population could become a major economic strength if education, skills and job creation improve.
What makes it stand out: Rapid demographic growth and one of the youngest large populations in India.
3. Maharashtra – Around 12.93 Crore
Maharashtra ranks third with a projected population of approximately 12.93 crore in 2026.
Maharashtra’s growth is driven partly by migration. Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Thane and other cities draw people from across India for work and education.
The state has one of the country’s largest urban populations. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region alone contains several densely populated municipal areas.
Fertility has fallen and the population is gradually ageing, but continuing migration keeps demand high for housing, roads, water and public transport.
What makes it stand out: India’s largest concentration of urban economic activity and a powerful magnet for interstate migration.
4. West Bengal – Around 10.05 Crore
West Bengal is projected to have a population of about 10.05 crore in 2026, making it the fourth state above the 10-crore mark.
Much of the population is concentrated in fertile plains and the Kolkata metropolitan region, one of India’s oldest and largest urban clusters.
The state combines a dense rural settlement pattern with a major industrial and service economy. Its location also makes it a gateway to eastern and north-eastern India.
Population growth is slowing, but density remains high and continues to influence land use, transport and public infrastructure.
What makes it stand out: A rare combination of a huge rural population and one of India’s most established metropolitan regions.
5. Madhya Pradesh – Around 9.00 Crore
Madhya Pradesh ranks fifth with a projected population of nearly 9.00 crore.
Its population is spread across a vast territory rather than one dominant metropolis. Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Ujjain are important centres.
The state has a substantial rural and tribal population, with needs varying between cities, agricultural districts and remote forest regions.
Madhya Pradesh continues to grow faster than many southern states, keeping pressure on schools, healthcare, employment and urban services.
What makes it stand out: A rapidly growing population spread across India’s large and geographically diverse central state.
6. Rajasthan – Around 8.39 Crore
Rajasthan ranks sixth with an estimated 2026 population of approximately 8.39 crore.
The population is unevenly distributed because large parts of western Rajasthan lie within the Thar Desert. Jaipur and the more fertile eastern districts hold much larger concentrations of people.
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Ajmer and Bikaner are expanding through tourism, trade, education and industry. Rural communities still form a major share.
Water security, heat and the cost of connecting settlements across long distances remain central planning concerns.
What makes it stand out: A large and growing population living across India’s biggest state by area, including the difficult Thar Desert region.
7. Tamil Nadu – Around 7.90 Crore
Tamil Nadu is projected to have approximately 7.90 crore people in 2026.
It is one of India’s most urbanised and industrialised states. Chennai leads a strong network that includes Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Tiruppur and Hosur.
Population growth has slowed because fertility has remained low for many years. The share of older residents is increasing, creating greater demand for healthcare and social support.
Its urban network and industrial workforce give Tamil Nadu considerable economic influence.
What makes it stand out: A large, highly urbanised population supported by one of India’s broadest networks of industrial cities.
8. Gujarat – Around 7.43 Crore
Gujarat ranks eighth with a projected population of about 7.43 crore.
Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot are major industrial centres. Ports and business opportunities attract workers from within Gujarat and other states.
The population is concentrated more heavily in urban and industrial belts, while Kutch and several inland areas are less densely settled.
Migration and city expansion are increasing demand for affordable housing, transport, water and environmental management.
What makes it stand out: Strong population growth around some of India’s most important industrial, commercial and port-based urban centres.
9. Karnataka – Around 7.08 Crore
Karnataka is projected to have a population of approximately 7.08 crore in 2026.
Bengaluru is the state’s dominant population and economic centre. Its technology, start-up, education and service industries attract migrants from across India, making it one of the country’s fastest-changing metropolitan regions.
Beyond Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi and Kalaburagi support regional economies, while large rural areas depend on agriculture.
Balancing Bengaluru’s expansion with more even development across the state remains a major concern.
What makes it stand out: A population increasingly shaped by Bengaluru’s exceptional growth and national pull as a technology centre.
10. Andhra Pradesh – Around 5.37 Crore
Andhra Pradesh completes the top ten with a projected 2026 population of approximately 5.37 crore.
These figures refer to the reorganised state after Telangana was separated in 2014. Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada are its largest urban centres, while Guntur, Tirupati, Nellore, Kurnool and other cities anchor different regions.
The population remains connected to agriculture, coastal trade, fisheries and services. Its coastline and river deltas have shaped settlement for generations.
Urbanisation is continuing, although the state does not have a single megacity comparable with Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai or Bengaluru.
What makes it stand out: A large coastal population distributed among several regional cities rather than one overwhelmingly dominant metropolis.
What Is Changing in India’s Population in 2026?
India’s population is still growing, but the pace and character of that growth differ sharply between states.
Bihar moves ahead: The official projection places Bihar slightly above Maharashtra in 2026, reflecting its faster natural population growth.
Growth shifts northward: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan continue to add people faster than most southern states.
Fertility keeps falling: Smaller families are becoming common across India, and national fertility has moved below replacement level.
Cities absorb migration: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu continue to gain population through employment-led migration.
Ageing becomes important: States with low fertility, particularly in southern India, are preparing for a larger elderly population.
The 2027 Census matters: The coming population count will eventually replace projections with a new official picture after the long gap since 2011.
States Just Outside the Top Ten
Odisha follows at about 4.75 crore, making it the largest state outside the top ten.
Jharkhand is projected at roughly 4.11 crore, with a young population and growing industrial centres.
Telangana has around 3.87 crore people and is strongly shaped by metropolitan Hyderabad.
Kerala is projected at 3.62 crore, with slow growth and a rapidly ageing population.
Assam, at approximately 3.60 crore, remains north-eastern India’s most populated state.
Final Word
India’s 2026 population map is led by Uttar Pradesh at around 24.35 crore. Bihar moves narrowly ahead of Maharashtra, while West Bengal is the only other state above 10 crore.
Northern and central states are still adding large young populations, while much of southern India is moving towards slower growth and ageing. The next Census will show how closely these projections match reality.
