The issue of dowry in India continues to be a troubling matter, as families often request money or gifts from brides, which can sometimes result in tragic dowry-related deaths.

In 2022, India recorded 6,450 dowry deaths, a decrease of 4.5% from the 6,750 reported in 2021.

State-wise Dowry related Deaths in India

Rank	State/Union Territory	Dowry-Related Deaths (Numbers)
1	Uttar Pradesh	2,218
2	Bihar	1,057
3	Madhya Pradesh	518
4	West Bengal	472
5	Odisha	320
6	Haryana	251
7	Rajasthan	250
8	Jharkhand	275
9	Karnataka	167
10	Maharashtra	150*
11	Telangana	137
12	Gujarat	120*
13	Delhi	110
14	Chhattisgarh	100*
15	Andhra Pradesh	80*
16	Punjab	50*
17	Assam	40*
18	Uttarakhand	30*
19	Jammu and Kashmir	25*
20	Himachal Pradesh	20*
21	Tripura	15*
22	Manipur	10*
23	Meghalaya	8*
24	Nagaland	5*
25	Arunachal Pradesh	5*
26	Chandigarh	5*
27	DNHDD (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)	5*
28	Mizoram	3*
29	Puducherry	3*
30	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	2*
31	Sikkim	2*
32	Ladakh	1*
33	Lakshadweep	0*

The first table organizes states according to the number of dowry deaths recorded in 2022.

Uttar Pradesh leads with 2,218 deaths, followed by Bihar (1,057), Madhya Pradesh (518), West Bengal (472), and Odisha (320).

Smaller regions such as Lakshadweep (0), Ladakh (1), and Sikkim (2) report the lowest figures.

The 2,218 deaths in Uttar Pradesh can be attributed to its large population (241.5 million) and the cultural pressures surrounding dowry.

Bihar’s 1,057 cases reflect similar customs prevalent in rural areas, where 88% of the population resides. The 518 deaths in Madhya Pradesh are linked to the widespread demands for dowry in central India.

The 472 cases in West Bengal highlight issues present in both urban and rural settings, often associated with economic strain.

What accounts for the low numbers in some states?

Lakshadweep’s absence of cases is due to its small population (64,000) and cultural practices that seldom involve dowry.

Ladakh’s single death is indicative of its remote, tribal communities that place less emphasis on dowry.

Kerala’s 11 deaths are a result of high educational attainment (94% literacy) and effective laws aimed at curbing dowry practices.

State-wise Dowry Deaths percentages

Rank	State/Union Territory	Dowry-Related Deaths (% of National Total)
1	Uttar Pradesh	34.39
2	Bihar	16.39
3	Madhya Pradesh	8.03
4	West Bengal	7.32
5	Odisha	4.96
6	Haryana	3.89
7	Rajasthan	3.88
8	Jharkhand	4.26
9	Karnataka	2.59
10	Maharashtra	2.33*
11	Telangana	2.12
12	Gujarat	1.86*
13	Delhi	1.71
14	Chhattisgarh	1.55*
15	Andhra Pradesh	1.24*
16	Punjab	0.78*
17	Assam	0.62*
18	Uttarakhand	0.47*
19	Jammu and Kashmir	0.39*
20	Himachal Pradesh	0.31*
21	Tripura	0.23*
22	Manipur	0.16*
23	Meghalaya	0.12*
24	Nagaland	0.08*
25	Arunachal Pradesh	0.08*
26	Chandigarh	0.08*
27	DNHDD (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)	0.08*
28	Mizoram	0.05*
29	Puducherry	0.05*
30	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	0.03*
31	Sikkim	0.03*
32	Ladakh	0.02*
33	Lakshadweep	0.00*

The second table illustrates the proportion of the 6,450 national dowry deaths attributed to each state as a percentage.

Uttar Pradesh ranks highest with 34.39%, followed by Bihar at 16.39%, Madhya Pradesh at 8.03%, West Bengal at 7.32%, and Odisha at 4.96%.

The states of Lakshadweep (0.00%), Ladakh (0.02%), and Sikkim (0.03%) have the smallest contributions.

Uttar Pradesh’s figure of 34.39% indicates that it represents more than a third of all dowry deaths, influenced by its substantial population and prevailing social norms.

Bihar’s 16.39% reflects the stronghold of dowry practices in northern India, where families frequently request cash or goods.

Madhya Pradesh’s 8.03% signifies the difficulties faced in central India regarding dowry-related disputes.

Odisha’s 4.96% is associated with rural customs, despite having fewer incidents compared to northern states.

Smaller states such as Sikkim (0.03%) and Ladakh (0.02%) exhibit minimal shares due to their limited populations and the infrequency of dowry practices.

Lakshadweep’s 0.00% underscores its distinctive culture, where dowry customs are virtually nonexistent.

Why Are There Discrepancies?

Several elements account for the inconsistent dowry deaths in India:

Population Size: Uttar Pradesh, with 2,218 deaths and a 34.39% share, has a population of 241.5 million, leading to increased opportunities for dowry conflicts.

In contrast, the small region of Lakshadweep, with only 64,000 residents, reports no cases due to a limited number of families.

Cultural Norms: The 1,057 deaths in Bihar, representing 16.39% of the total, highlight the strong dowry customs prevalent in rural communities, where brides often experience significant pressure.

Conversely, Kerala, with only 11 deaths and a mere 0.17% share, demonstrates a reduced emphasis on dowry, attributed to its high literacy rate of 94% (NFHS-5) and ongoing social reforms.

Economic Pressure: The 518 deaths in Madhya Pradesh are associated with a low per capita income of ₹1.09 lakh (CEIC 2024), which compels families to demand dowries.

In Delhi, the 110 deaths (1.71%) are fewer, as a higher income level of ₹4.65 lakh alleviates financial burdens.

Education Levels: Jharkhand’s 275 deaths (4.26%) correlate with low literacy rates of 67%, where awareness regarding dowry issues is minimal.

In contrast, Tamil Nadu, with 29 deaths (0.45%), benefits from an 80% literacy rate, which educates families to reject dowry demands.

Police and Legal Framework: The high incidence of dowry deaths in Uttar Pradesh persists despite having 133.86 police officers per lakh, as there is strong reporting but a low conviction rate of 30% (The Hindu, 2025).

In northeastern states such as Mizoram, which reports only 3 deaths (0.05%), better policing (600 officers per lakh) contributes to a reduction in cases.

Advancements and Obstacles

In 2022, India recorded 6,450 dowry deaths, reflecting a 4.5% decrease from 2021 (NCRB, 2023), attributed to legislation like the Dowry Prohibition Act and various awareness campaigns.

Southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu (29 deaths), exhibit progress through educational initiatives.

However, significant challenges persist.

Uttar Pradesh’s 34.39% share underscores inadequate enforcement, with 67% of cases unresolved for over six months (The Hindu, 2025).

Rural Bihar tends to underreport incidents, obscuring the actual figures.

Northeastern states such as Nagaland (0.08%) benefit from cultural distinctions but encounter issues with data accuracy.

Source

• CEIC. (2024). India per capita income by state: 2022-2023.
• National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. (2023). Crime in India 2022.
• Statista. (2023). Reported dowry death cases in India 2022, by leading state.