Which of the following State has the lowest density of population as per the Census of 2011 ?

Arunachal Pradesh is the answer. As per Census 2011, its density was about 17 persons per sq km, the lowest among all states and UTs. A large area of about 83,743 sq km combined with a population of roughly 13.7 lakh makes the density very thin. The rugged Eastern Himalayan terrain, dense forest cover and scattered tribal settlements explain why.

• Mizoram (about 52) is second lowest, not first. It has a smaller area and a smaller population, but its density is still about three times Arunachal's.
• Himachal Pradesh (about 123) is also mountainous, but its population is much larger than Arunachal's, so its density is higher.
• West Bengal (about 1,028) is among the most densely populated states, mainly because of the Gangetic delta plains and the urban concentration around Kolkata.

Core concept: density is population divided by area, so a vast area with a small population gives very low density. Mains angle: this connects to northeast demography, tribal settlement patterns, and the difficulty of delivering health, education and roads to dispersed populations in hilly regions.

Trap: Candidates often rely on population size or the familiar idea that small northeastern states are thinly populated, and pick Mizoram. Always check the density figure, which depends on area as well as population.