01/09/2025
When you look at a map of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, you see a spectacular chain of green dots scattered across the deep blue of the Bay of Bengal. It’s a vast and beautiful archipelago, which naturally leads to one of the most common questions from curious travelers: "Just how many islands are there?"
The sheer scale of the island chain is part of its allure. This quick guide will give you the official numbers and, more importantly, explain which of these many islands are the ones that form the heart of the Andaman tourism experience.
The Official Count
The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago is officially comprised of 836 islands, islets, and rocky outcrops.
This vast chain is divided into two main groups:
The Andaman Islands to the north.
The Nicobar Islands to the south.
Of these 836 islands, only a small fraction—about 38—are inhabited. The rest are pristine, untouched reserves of nature.
While the number 836 is impressive, it's important for a traveler to know that the vast majority of these islands are off-limits. They are either protected tribal reserves, dense forests, or wildlife sanctuaries.
