Map of Uttar Pradesh

History

The region of present-day Uttar Pradesh has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with evidence of modern human hunter-gatherers dating to between approximately 85,000 and 72,000 years ago. Archaeological finds from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic periods (c. 31,000–21,000 years ago) have been reported, while Mesolithic or microlithic settlements, such as those at Sarai Nahar Rai in Pratapgarh, date to around 10,550–9,550 BCE and indicate subsistence patterns based on hunting, fishing, and early burial practices.

Early Stone Age remains have also been identified in the Belan Valley, where tools such as hand axes and cleavers reflect long-term habitation by hunter-gatherer communities.

Geography

Uttar Pradesh, with a total area of 240,928 km2 (93,023 sq mi), is India's fourth-largest state in terms of land area and is roughly of same size as United Kingdom. It is situated on the northern spout of India and shares an international boundary with Nepal. The Himalayas border the state on the north, but the plains that cover most of the state are distinctly different from those high mountains. The larger Gangetic Plain region is in the north; it includes the Ganges-Yamuna Doab, the Ghaghra plains, the Ganges plains and the Terai. The smaller Vindhya Range and plateau region are in the south. It is characterised by hard rock strata and a varied topography of hills, plains, valleys and plateaus.

Economy

In terms of net state domestic product (NSDP), Uttar Pradesh is the fourth-largest economy in India, with an estimated gross state domestic product of ₹14.89 lakh crore (US$150 billion), contributing 8.4 per cent of India's gross domestic product. According to the report generated by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), in 2014–15, Uttar Pradesh has accounted for 19 per cent share in the country's total food grain output. About 70 per cent of India's sugar comes from Uttar Pradesh. Sugarcane is the most important cash crop as the state is the country's largest producer of sugar.

Demographics

Uttar Pradesh has a very large population and a high population growth rate. From 1991 to 2001 its population increased by over 26 per cent. It is the most populous state in India, with 199,581,477 people in March 2011. The state contributes to 16.2 per cent of India's population. As of 2023, the estimated population of the state is around 235.7 million people. The population density is 828 people per square kilometre, making it one of the most densely populated states in the country. It has the largest scheduled caste population, making up 23 per cent of the state's population, whereas scheduled tribes are less than 1 per cent of the total population.

The sex ratio in 2011, at 912 women to 1,000 men, was lower than the national figure of 943.