The region covers an area of 322,713 square kilometres (124,600 sq mi) and had a population of almost 7,400 as at June 2018.

The intention of the reform was to improve and expand the delivery of services to towns and communities across the Northern Territory by establishing eleven new shires.

The current President (Mayor) of the Region is Steve Edgington.

[5] A report by the Northern Territory government found the organisation had unmanaged conflicts of interest, breached the Local Government Act and had "serious deficiencies" in the conduct of council affairs.

[5] The Barkly Regional Council is divided into 4 wards, which is governed by a President and 12 councillors across four wards: Land within the Barkly Region was divided during 2007 into bounded areas for the purpose of creating an address for a property.