Neighbouring Countries of India – There are 9 countries that share a border with India, and it is located longitudinally in the Eastern Hemisphere and latitudinally in the Northern Hemisphere. Here, we have curated a list of neighboring countries of India and their bordering Indian states. By studying the list, students will improve their general knowledge of India’s geography and will be better prepared to answer questions about the geography of India in various academic and competitive exams.
Geography: Basic Concepts
India’s Physical Background
India has a land border of 15,200 kilometers. Combined with the Lakshadweep Islands and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the length of the coastline is 7,516.6 km. China, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh make up the western and northern borders of India. For the eastern and southern borders, Afghanistan and Pakistan share them. There is a water border between Sri Lanka (from the south-east) and the Maldives (from the south-west).
The following are India’s neighboring countries:
Nine countries share a border with India. 7 countries have land border with India, while 2 have sea borders with it. Bhutan is India’s smallest neighbour by land area.
| Country | Capital | Border Length | Bordering States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Kabul | 106 Km | Ladakh (PoK) |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | 4096.7 Km | West Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Assam |
| Bhutan | Thimphu | 699 Km | West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh & Assam |
| China | Beijing | 3488 Km | Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh |
| Myanmar | Naypyidaw, Yangon | 1643 Km | Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur |
| Nepal | Kathmandu | 1751 Km | Bihar, Uttarakhand, UP, Sikkim and West Bengal |
| Pakistan | Islamabad | 3323 Km | Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo (Commercial), Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Legislative) | Sea Border | It is separated to India by Gulf of Mannar |
| Maldives | Male | Sea Border | It lies in the south-west part of India Ocean below the Lakshadweep Island |
With the third-largest international border in the world, India also has the most sensitive border in the world due to a variety of factors, including extreme climatic conditions to infiltration. Consequently, few of the citizens in the above list of Indian neighbours can also appear in many of the academic and competitive examinations held in India.
Table of Contents
India’s Neighboring Countries
1. Afghanistan
With a total area of 6,52,230 square kilometers, Afghanistan is located in Central Asia. Afghanistan’s capital city is Kabul. Afghanistan is also known as Jamhouri Afghanistan or the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan. Approximately half of the country’s people follow Islam as their primary religion and the majority of its economy is based on agriculture. Woollen, cotton, carpets, and handicrafts are among the products made in the region.
2. Bangladesh
It is officially called the “People’s Republic of Bangladesh or Gana Prajatantri” and it is located in South Asia. Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh. One of the longest borders in the world is shared by Bangladesh. With a population of 161 million, Bangladesh is the eighth most populous country in the world. It is also one of the world’s most densely populated countries. Initially, Bangladesh was part of Pakistan and known as East Pakistan, but it gained its independence after the 1971 Liberation War.
3. Bhutan
Kingdom of Bhutan borders Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, and Sikkim in India. It covers an area of 38,394 square kilometers. Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan. Hinduism and Buddhism are the two main religions. Parliamentary government is the norm in the country, which is therefore a constitutional monarchy. Apart from the monarch, it has an elected prime minister with executive authority. The Bhutanese economy is largely based on hydropower, agriculture, forestry, and tourism. Bhutan is India’s smallest neighbour.
4. China
In addition to China, China is also known as Zhonghua Renmin or Gonghe Guo. It is the world’s most populous country and the third largest in terms of area. It covers over 95,96,960 sq km in area. Traditionally, the President of China is the head of the state, and the Premier of China is the head of the government. The Silk Route originated in China.
5. Myanmar
Previously, Myanmar was called Burma. Located in western Southeast Asia, it is the largest island in the region. Union of Burma became Union of Myanmar, the country’s official English name, which it held since 1885. Myanmar has the largest area of all the Southeast Asian nations at 6,76,578 square kilometers. Myanmar’s capital is Naypyidaw. Since 2005, the government’s administrative center has shifted from Pyinmana to the current capital city of Nay Pyi Taw (Naypyidaw). Previously, Myanmar’s capital was Yangon (Rangoon). A bicameral legislature governs the country under the presidential republic.
6. Nepal
Officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Nepal is located in northeastern India in the midst of the snow-capped Himalayas. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. Despite its size, Nepal is not a large country, covering an area of just 1,47,181 square kilometers. In addition to Mount Everest, eight of the top ten highest mountains in the world are located in Nepal. The country’s tourism industry is one of its most important features. It is a federal parliamentary republic.
7. Pakistan
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, a country that lies to the west of India along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Pakistan has a land area of 7,96,095 square kilometers. The ceremonial head of the country is the head of state. After the British left India in 1947, Pakistan became independent of India. The Independence Day of Pakistan is celebrated on August 14. As a result of Independence, Pakistan was split into two territories, i.e. West Pakistan and East Pakistan. The two territories were geographically and culturally distinct from one another. The conflict between the two parties ended in a civil war in 1971, which resulted in the creation of what is now Bangladesh. Those parts that lie west of India became the Republic of Pakistan and those parts that lie east of India became Bangladesh.
8. Sri Lanka
Officially, Sri Lanka is called the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Palk Strait separates it from southern India. There are two capitals in Sri Lanka, Colombo is the country’s commercial capital, and Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is both the head of state and the head of government of Sri Lanka.
9. Maldives
A group of coral islands situated southwest of India is called the Maldives. Capital of Maldives is Malรฉ. Maldives is one of the smallest countries in the world based on area. It covers only 298 square kilometers. Over one thousand coral islands exist in the Maldives (more than 1200). The country is a presidential republic, and the president is its head of state.
Name of Land Borders of India and Its Neighbours
- Pakistan โ Radcliffe Line (3323 kms)
- Bangladesh โ Purbachal(operating zero line) โ 4096.7 kms
- China โ McMohan Line โ 3380 kms
- Bhutan โ Indo-Bhutan โ 699 kms
- Afghanistan โ Durand Line โ 106 kms
- Srilanka โ Palk Strait โ30kms
- Myanmar โ Indo-Burma barrier -1643 kms
- Nepal โ Radoliff Line โ 1236 kms
Neighbouring Countries of India: FAQs
There are 9 neighbouring countries of India.
Bangladesh has the longest boundary with India.
Afghanistan has the shortest boundary with India.
China shares a boundary with 5 Indian states and UTs.
Bangladesh shares a boundary with 5 Indian states.
The smallest neighboring country of India?
Bhutan is the smallest bordering country of India. Although the smallest neighbor of India is the Maldives
