Total Advocates in India?
As of the latest available data, there are approximately 2.01 million registered advocates in India. This figure was reported by the Ministry of Law and Justice in response to questions in the Rajya Sabha, indicating a total of 2,013,081 registered lawyers across various courts in the country.
Uttar Pradesh has the highest number with 400,016 lawyers.
Maharashtra and Goa follow with 191,394 lawyers.
Delhi has 149,655 registered advocates.
This growth in the legal profession reflects a significant increase from previous estimates, with earlier figures noting around 1.4 million advocates as recently as 2011. The legal profession in India continues to evolve, driven by increasing demand for legal services across various sectors.
As of the most recent data available, the total number of advocates in India is estimated to be around 2 million (20 lakh). This figure comes from a statement by the Law Ministry in 2023, which noted that approximately 20 lakh advocates are registered with various State Bar Councils across the country. However, exact numbers can vary slightly depending on updates from the Bar Council of India (BCI) and State Bar Councils, as not all enrolled advocates may be actively practicing, and the data can include some outdated records (e.g., deceased advocates still on rolls).
A 2011 Right to Information (RTI) response from the BCI reported 1.3 million lawyers, with an average annual growth rate of about 4% between 2007 and 2011.
Earlier estimates, like the BCI’s Vision Statement from 2011-13, cited approximately 1.2 million registered advocates, while some sources, including remarks from Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi in 2018, suggested 13-14 lakh lawyers.
Given the growth trend and the 2023 Law Ministry update, the current estimate of 20 lakh advocates is widely accepted as a reasonable approximation as of March 25, 2025. For the most precise and up-to-date figure, you would need to refer directly to the latest records from the Bar Council of India or individual State Bar Councils, as these bodies maintain the official rolls of advocates.
