India, ranking as the world’s second-most populous country and the seventh-largest by land area, shares borders with multiple nations. Understanding India’s neighboring countries is crucial, especially for various competitive exams. India has a land frontier stretching 15,200 km and a coastline measuring 7,517 km. It is bordered by nine countries:
- In the Northwest, it borders Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- To the North, it shares borders with China, Bhutan, and Nepal.
- In the East, it is bordered by Myanmar and Bangladesh.
- In the Southeast, it has a maritime boundary with Sri Lanka.
List of India’s Neighboring Countries – Capitals & State Borders
| Neighboring Country | Capital | Indian States/UTs Sharing Border |
| Afghanistan | Kabul | Ladakh (PoK) |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | West Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and Assam |
| Bhutan | Thimphu | West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam |
| China | Beijing | Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh |
| Myanmar | Yangon | Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur |
| Nepal | Kathmandu | Bihar, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, and West Bengal |
| Pakistan | Islamabad | Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Legislative Capital), Colombo (Executive Capital) | Separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar |
| Maldives | Male | Located in the southwest part of the Indian Ocean below the Lakshadweep Islands |
- Capital: Kabul
- Area: 6,52,230 sq. km.
- Length Of Border: 106 km
- Official Languages: Dari, Pashto
- Currency: Afghan Afghani
- Income Source: Agriculture
- Famous for: fine fruits, especially pomegranates, grapes, and sweet jumbo-sized melons.
- Major Religion: Islam
- Industrial Activities: cotton textiles, woven carpets, handicrafts, and woollen textiles.
- National Animal: Snow Leopard
- National Game: Buzkashi
- States/Provinces: 34 Provinces
- Bordering states: Jammu & Kashmir ( P.O.K.)
Afghanistan, located to the northwest of India, is a neighboring country with a longstanding friendship with India. Officially called The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, it spans about 652,000 square kilometers. Afghanistan exports textiles, cotton, woolens, carpets, and handicrafts to India.
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- Capital: Dhaka
- Area: 1,47,570 sq. km.
- Length Of Border: 4,096.7 km
- Official Language: Bengali
- Currency: Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)
- Income Source: Agriculture, Textiles, Garments
- Famous for: The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world
- Major Religion: Islam
- Industrial Activities: Garments, textiles, agriculture
- National Animal: Royal Bengal Tiger
- States/Provinces: 8 Provinces
- Bordering states: West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram
Bangladesh lies to the east of India, with which it shares significant trade and cultural exchanges. It ranks as the eighth-most populous country globally. Officially called The People’s Republic of Bangladesh, it was formerly known as East Pakistan before gaining independence.
- Capital: Thimphu
- Area: 38,394 sq. km.
- Length Of Border: 699 km
- Official Language: Dzongkha
- Currency: Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) and Indian Rupee (INR)
- Income Source: Agriculture, Hydroelectric Power
- Famous for: Gross National Happiness, Buddhism
- Major Religion: Buddhism
- Industrial Activities: Tourism, Agriculture, Hydroelectric Power
- National Animal: Takin
- States/Provinces: 20 Districts
- Bordering states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal
Bhutan, situated in the eastern Himalayas, enjoys a strong relationship with India, marked by cooperation in economic development and security. Known as the Kingdom of Bhutan, it is the smallest nation among its neighbors. India collaborates with Bhutan in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, tourism, and hydropower.
- Capital: Beijing
- Area: 9,596,961 sq. km.
- Length Of Border: 3,488 km
- Official Language: Standard Chinese
- Currency: Renminbi (RMB) or Chinese Yuan (CNY)
- Income Source: Manufacturing, Agriculture, Services
- Famous for: The Great Wall of China, Terracotta Army
- Major Religion: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism
- Industrial Activities: Manufacturing, Technology
- National Animal: Giant Panda
- States/Provinces: 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 direct-controlled municipalities, and 2 Special Administrative Regions (SARs).
- Bordering states: Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh
China, the world’s fourth-largest country by land area and the most populous, lies in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, bordering the Himalayas. Territorial disputes exist in the eastern regions of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh between India and China. China boasts the fastest-growing economy globally and has a historical exchange with India, including the spread of Buddhism and the Silk Road trade route.
- Capital: Naypyidaw
- Area: 6,76,578 sq. km.
- Length Of Border: 1,643 km
- Official Language: Burmese
- Currency: Myanmar Kyat (MMK)
- Income Source: Agriculture, Natural Resources
- Famous for: Bagan, Inle Lake, Shwedagon Pagoda
- Major Religion: Buddhism
- Industrial Activities: Agriculture, Natural Resources
- National Animal: Burmese Peacock
- States/Provinces: 14 States
- Bordering states: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram
Myanmar, located in Northeast India, shares deep historical, cultural, and economic ties with its neighbor. Also known as Burma, it is the largest of the mainland Southeast Asian nations. Renowned for its beauty, Myanmar attracts numerous Indian tourists eager to explore its charms.
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- Capital: Kathmandu
- Area: 1,47,516 sq. km.
- Length Of Border: 1,751 km
- Official Language: Nepali
- Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
- Income Source: Tourism, Agriculture, Remittances
- Famous for: Mount Everest, Birthplace of Lord Buddha (Lumbini)
- Major Religion: Hinduism, Buddhism
- Industrial Activities: Tourism, Agriculture
- National Animal: Cow (Himalayan Monal is the National Bird)
- States/Provinces: 7 Provinces
- Bordering states: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim
Nepal lies to the north of India and shares an open border, along with deep cultural, religious, and economic bonds. Officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, it boasts eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, including the renowned Mount Everest. This natural wonder draws tourists, significantly boosting the country’s economy.
- Capital: Islamabad
- Area: 7,96,095 sq. km.
- Length Of Border: 3,233 km
- Official Language: Urdu
- Currency: Pakistani Rupee (PKR)
- Income Source: Agriculture, Industry, Services
- Famous for: Historical sites like Mohenjo-Daro, Lahore Fort
- Major Religion: Islam
- Industrial Activities: Textiles, Agriculture, Manufacturing
- National Animal: Markhor
- States/Provinces: 4 Provinces, 2 Autonomous Territories, and 2 Administrative Territories.
- Bordering states: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with the Line of Control (LoC)
Pakistan is situated to the northwest of India, with the Line of Control (LOC) separating the two countries. Pakistan boasts a coastline along the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, covering approximately 796,095 square kilometers of land. Prior to 1971, Pakistan was divided into East and West Pakistan, but East Pakistan eventually became the independent nation of Bangladesh.
- Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Legislative Capital), Colombo (Executive Capital)
- Area: 65,610 sq. km.
- Length Of Border: Separated by the Gulf of Mannar
- Official Languages: Sinhala, Tamil
- Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
- Income Source: Tourism, Agriculture, Services
- Famous for: Cultural heritage sites like Sigiriya, Tea Plantations
- Major Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism
- Industrial Activities: Tourism, Tea Production, Textiles
- National Animal: Sri Lankan Elephant
- States/Provinces: 9 Provinces
- Bordering States: Maritime boundaries with India, Shared Indian Ocean
Situated southeast of India, Sri Lanka is an independent nation officially known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Despite their lack of a land border, India and Sri Lanka have strong bonds, sharing a deep cultural and historical connection, linked by maritime borders.
- Capital: Malé
- Area: 298 sq. km.
- Length Of Border: 26 Atolls, no land border
- Official Language: Dhivehi
- Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
- Income Source: Tourism, Fisheries
- Famous for: Coral Reefs, Overwater Bungalows
- Major Religion: Islam
- Industrial Activities: Tourism, Fisheries
- National Animal: Yellowfin Tuna
- States/Provinces: 20 Administrative Atolls
- Bordering states: Maritime boundaries with India, Shared Indian Ocean
The Maldives is situated southwest of India in the Indian Ocean, with no land borders shared with India, only connected by the sea. Officially known as the Republic of Maldives, it boasts thousands of islands, making it a popular destination for Indian tourists. As one of the smallest countries globally, it holds a unique allure for travelers.
FAQs:-
Q1. Which countries share a border with India?
Ans. India shares its borders with nine countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka (maritime boundary), and the Maldives (maritime boundary).
Q2. How many kilometers of land frontier does India have?
Ans. India has a land frontier of approximately 15,200 kilometers.
Q3.What is the length of the border between India and Pakistan?
Ans. The length of the border between India and Pakistan is approximately 3,233 kilometers.
Q4. Which Indian state shares the longest border with Bangladesh?
Ans. West Bengal shares the longest border with Bangladesh among Indian states.
Q5.What is the capital of Afghanistan?
Ans. The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul.
Q6.How many provinces does Nepal have?
Ans. Nepal is divided into seven provinces.
Q7.Which Indian state shares its borders with China?
Ans. Several Indian states share borders with China, including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
Q8.What is the currency of Sri Lanka?
Ans. The currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).
Q9.Which ocean lies to the southwest of the Maldives?
Ans. The Indian Ocean lies to the southwest of the Maldives.
Q10.How many administrative atolls does the Maldives have?
Ans. The Maldives has 20 administrative atolls.