Why is Goa one of India’s smallest states?

Goa is considered one of India’s smallest states primarily due to its limited geographical size, covering an area of approximately 1,429 square miles (3,702 square km).1

Historically, Goa functioned as the center of Portuguese India, a collection of isolated territories under Portuguese rule from 1505 until 1961. Following its incorporation into India in 1961, it was initially part of the union territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu. It was not until 1987 that Goa was separated from that union territory and established as an independent state. Its current status as a small state is a reflection of these historical administrative boundaries and its specific territorial extent along the southwestern coast of India.21