Countries That Border India: 6 Land Neighbors and 2 Maritime

India shares land borders with 6 countries — Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar — plus maritime borders with Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Overview

India is the seventh-largest country in the world by area at 3.29 million km² and the most populous. It shares land borders with 6 countries and maritime borders with 2 more. The country's borders span from the world's highest mountains in the north to tropical coastlines in the south.

Complete List of Neighbors

Pakistan (3,190 km)

The western border crosses the deserts of Rajasthan, the plains of Punjab, and the mountains of Kashmir. The Wagah-Attari border crossing hosts a famous daily flag-lowering ceremony attended by thousands.

China (2,659 km)

The northern border runs along the Himalayas and the disputed Aksai Chin plateau. The Line of Actual Control is one of the world's highest and most contested borders, with sections above 5,000 m.

Nepal (1,770 km)

An open border running along the southern foothills of the Himalayas. Indian and Nepali citizens can cross freely without passports, reflecting deep cultural and economic ties.

Bhutan (659 km)

The border runs through the eastern Himalayas. Bhutan is one of India's closest allies, and India plays a significant role in Bhutan's foreign policy and defense.

Bangladesh (4,142 km)

India's longest land border, nearly encircling Bangladesh. The border is notoriously complex, featuring over 100 enclaves (territories of one country entirely within the other) until a 2015 land swap resolved most of them.

Myanmar (1,468 km)

The eastern border runs through heavily forested hills of Northeast India. The border region is home to dozens of distinct ethnic groups and has historically been difficult to access.

Sri Lanka (maritime) (Maritime border)

Separated by the narrow Palk Strait (just 35 km at its narrowest), Sri Lanka is connected to India by a chain of limestone shoals called Adam's Bridge or Rama Setu.

Maldives (maritime) (Maritime border)

The Maldives lies about 700 km southwest of India in the Indian Ocean. India's Lakshadweep Islands are the closest Indian territory to the Maldives.

Border Geography

India's northern borders are defined by the Himalayas, forming a dramatic natural wall along China, Nepal, and Bhutan. The western border with Pakistan crosses arid deserts and fertile plains. The eastern border with Myanmar runs through dense monsoon forests. The Bangladesh border is one of the most complex in the world, wrapping around three sides of Bangladesh through river deltas and floodplains.

Key Facts

• India shares land borders with 6 countries and maritime borders with 2 more.
• The Bangladesh border (4,142 km) is India's longest.
• The Bhutan border (659 km) is the shortest land border.
• India's total land boundary is approximately 15,106 km.
• India has 7,517 km of coastline along the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal.

Fun Facts

• India and Bangladesh resolved over 160 border enclaves in a 2015 land swap — some enclaves existed within other enclaves, creating the world's most complex border.
• The India-Nepal border is one of the few international borders in the world that citizens can cross freely without a passport.
• The Wagah-Attari border ceremony between India and Pakistan draws thousands of spectators daily to watch an elaborate military flag-lowering ritual.
• Adam's Bridge between India and Sri Lanka is a chain of natural limestone shoals only 1-10 m deep, and some believe it was once a walkable land bridge.