This is the smallest Union Territory of India.It was constituted a Union Territory in 1956. Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of 12 atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks. It is a uni-district Union Territory with an area of just 32 Sq.Kms.It is comprised of 11 inhabited islands, 17 uninhabited islands attached islets, four newly formed islets and 5 submerged reefs. The inhabited islands are Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra, Andrott, Kalpeni and Minicoy. Bitra is The smallest island is Bitra with a population of 225 persons (Census 1991). The uninhabited island Bangaram has been enumerated during 1991 census operation and has a population of 61 persons.

According to the 1991 Census, Lakshadweep has a population of 51707 persons. (It is 60,595 as per the Census - 2001, provisional population Data sheet). More than 93% of the population who are indigenous, are Muslims and majority of them belong to the Shafi School of the Sunni Sect.

Malayalam is the main language of all the islands. Only in Minicoy people speak Mahl which is written in Divehi script. This language is spoken in Maldives also. The entire indigenous population has been classified as Scheduled Tribes because of their backwardness. According to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes list (modification orders), 1956, the inhabitants of Lakshadweep who and both of whose parents were born in these islands are treated as Scheduled Tribes. There are no Scheduled Castes in this Union Territory.

The main occupation of the people is fishing, coconut cultivation and coir twisting. Tourism is an impotant industry.