It is governed locally together with the 10th arrondissement, with which it forms the 5th sector of Marseille.

The district is divided into nine neighbourhoods: Les Baumettes, Le Cabot, Carpiagne, La Panouse, Le Redon (comprising Luminy), Mazargues, Sainte-Marguerite, Sormiou, Vaufrèges, along with multiple smaller sized lots.

The arrondissement also contains part of the Massif des Calanques.

The 9th district has two subway stations, part of the Marseille Metro.

Supplementary CMU (CMU-C) is a free complementary health plan that covers what is not covered by compulsory health insurance schemes.