List of Districts in Maharashtra 2024

List of Districts in Maharashtra 2024: Maharashtra has 36 districts that differ in size, population, economy, and development. The largest district by area is Gadchiroli, spanning over 14,000 square km. The district with the highest population is Thane, home to over 1 crore people. Mumbai and nearby districts are the most developed parts of Maharashtra.

In this article, we will have a look over the list of districts of Maharashtra, divisions, and frequently asked questions related to it.

List of Districts in Maharashtra

No.	Maharashtra Districts	Area (km2 )	Population (2011 Census)
1	Ahmednagar	17,048	4,543,159
2	Akola	5,428	1,813,906
3	Amravati	12,235	2,888,445
4	Aurangabad	10,100	3,701,282
5	Beed	10,693	2,585,049
6	Bhandara	3,717	1,200,334
7	Buldhana	9,661	2,486,258
8	Chandrapur	11,443	2,204,307
9	Dhule	7,195	2,050,862
10	Gadchiroli	14,412	1,072,942
11	Gondia	5,234	1,322,507
12	Hingoli	4,526	1,177,345
13	Jalgaon	11,765	4,229,917
14	Jalna	7,687	1,959,046
15	Kolhapur	7,685	3,876,001
16	Latur	7,157	2,454,196
17	Mumbai City	157	3,085,411
18	Mumbai Suburban	446	9,356,962
19	Nagpur	9,892	4,653,570
20	Nanded	10,528	3,361,292
21	Nandurbar	5,955	1,648,295
22	Nashik	15,582	6,107,187
23	Osmanabad	7,569	1,657,576
24	Palghar	5,344	–
25	Parbhani	6,251	1,836,086
26	Pune	15,643	9,429,408
27	Raigad	7,152	2,634,200
28	Ratnagiri	8,208	1,615,069
29	Sangli	8,578	2,822,143
30	Satara	10,480	3,003,741
31	Sindhudurg	5,207	849,651
32	Solapur	14,895	4,317,756
33	Thane	4,214	11,060,148
34	Wardha	6,310	1,300,774
35	Washim	5,150	1,197,160
36	Yavatmal	13,582	2,772,348

Districts of Maharashtra Map

Districts of Maharashtra

List of Divisions of Maharashtra

S NO.	Division Name	Districts:
1	Amravati	Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Washim, Yavatmal
2	Aurangabad	Aurangabad, Beed, Hingoli, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Osmanabad, Parbhani
3	Konkan Mumbaii City, Mumbai Suburban, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Thane
4	Nagpur	Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha
5	Nashik	Ahmednagar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Nashik
6	Pune	Kolhapur, Pune, Sangli, Satara, Solapur

Largest district of Maharashtra

Gadchiroli is located in eastern Maharashtra.

• Gadchiroli spreads over 14,412 square km
• As per 2011 census, its population is over 10 lakh
• It is the second least populated district after Sindhudurg
• Mainly forest-based economy – timber, bamboo, tendu leaves etc. Also some agriculture
• Many local tribal people depend on the forests
• Majority population is tribal people, especially Gond adivasi community
• It is an underdeveloped district
• Maoist activities have affected the district and its development

Smallest district of Maharashtra

Mumbai Suburban

• Area is 446 sq km
• Population is over 1.24 crore (as per 2011 census)
• Most populated district in Maharashtra and one of India’s most densely populated
• Includes major Mumbai suburbs like Bandra, Kurla, Andheri etc.
• Also called Mumbai Metropolitan Region, from Colaba to Dahisar
• Home to various industries, offices, entertainment etc. which greatly helps Maharashtra
• Highly urbanized, over 90% population lives in urban areas

Interesting Facts About Maharashtra

1. Ajanta & Ellora Caves – Famous ancient caves with beautiful carvings of Buddha and Hindu gods, considered finest art in India.
2. Most UNESCO Sites – Maharashtra has 5 UNESCO heritage sites, highest in any state. These include the Ajanta & Ellora caves.
3. Bollywood – Mumbai is the center of India’s Hindi movie industry called Bollywood. Almost 2,000 movies made here every year.
4. Strawberry Capital – Mahabaleshwar region produces 85% of India’s strawberries so it is called “Strawberry Capital”.
5. Top Sugar Producer – Maharashtra makes over 35% of India’s sugar and leads sugar production.
6. Banking Capital – Mumbai is India’s banking and finance hub, home to RBI, SEBI and major banks.
7. Mumbai Zoo – Originally called Victoria Gardens when opened in 1861, after Queen Victoria.
8. Konkan Coast – 720 km long coastline with beautiful beaches, food, forts and harbors.
9. 2nd Largest State – At over 3 lakh sq km and 36 districts, Maharashtra is India’s second biggest state after Rajasthan.

Districts in Maharashtra in 1960

• Ahmednagar
• Akola
• Amravati
• Aurangabad
• Bhandara
• Bhir
• Buldana
• Chanda
• Dhulia
• East Khandesh
• Kolaba
• Nagpur
• Nanded
• Nasik
• Osmanabad
• Parbhani
• Poona
• Ratnagiri
• Sangli
• Satara
• Sholapur
• Thana
• Wardha
• West Khandesh
• Yeotmal

Maharashtra Districts added after 1960

District	Year Formed
Sindhudurg and Jalna	1981
Gadchiroli and Latur districts	1982
Mumbai Suburban	1990
Washim and Nandurbar districts in Maharashtra	1998
Hingoli and Gondia	1999
Palghar	2014

Conclusion

Maharashtra’s 36 varied districts span densely populated urban centers, agricultural plains, forested tribal belts, and extensive coastlines. The economic juggernaut of Mumbai and the western region contrasts sharply with poorer eastern tribal districts. However, Maharashtra still faces the challenge of balancing regional development across rural-urban divides. Promoting industrial growth while preserving ecosystems and improving farmers’ conditions will determine inclusive progress.

FAQ’s on Districts of Maharashtra

How many total districts are there in Maharashtra?

There are 36 districts in the state of Maharashtra.

Which is the largest district of Maharashtra by area?

The Gadchiroli district is geographically the biggest with an area of about 14,412 sq km.

What is the most populous district of Maharashtra?

With over 12.4 million people, Mumbai Suburban district is the most populous followed by Thane and Pune districts.

Which district has the highest urban population?

Mumbai Suburban district is over 90% urbanized making it the most urban district in the entire state.

Which region is economically the most developed in the state?

Mumbai and the surrounding metropolitan region form the economic powerhouse of Maharashtra backed by trade, finance, entertainment, and manufacturing industries.

Which districts have large tribal populations?

Districts like Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Amravati, Nandurbar, and Gondia have sizeable tribal populations, especially of Gond, Kolam and other tribes.