It covers an area of 23,391 square kilometres (9,031 sq mi) and consists Xunyang, a county-level city, one urban district, and eight counties.

Its total population was 2,493,436 people according to the 2020 Chinese census, with 1,244,784 living in urban areas.

Ankang County was established in 1st Taikang year of the Western Jin Dynasty (AD 280).

The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 3.7 °C (38.3 °F) in January to 27.0 °C (80.4 °F) in July, while the annual mean is 15.7 °C (60.1 °F).

Ankang includes one District，one county-level city and eight counties, totaling 109 towns, 88 townships and 3 sub-district offices.