India, officially the Republic of India, [j][20]is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area; the most populous countrysince 2023; [21]and, since its independence in 1947, the world's most populous democracy. [22][23][24]Bounded by the Indian Oceanon the south, the Arabian Seaon the southwest, and the Bay of Bengalon the southeast, it shares land borders with Pakistanto the west; [k]China, Nepal, and Bhutanto the north; and Bangladeshand Myanmarto the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is near Sri Lankaand the Maldives; its Andaman and Nicobar Islandsshare a maritime borderwith Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia