Borgou borders the country of Nigeria and the departments of Alibori, Atakora, Collines and Donga.

Geographically, the department is part of the larger Borg(o)u region divided by the Benin–Nigeria border, with 130,000 square kilometres (50,000 sq mi) in Benin and 52,000 square kilometres (20,000 sq mi) in Nigeria.

[4] Parakou is the departmental capital; other major settlements include Bembèrèkè, Bori, Kalalè, N’Dali, Nikki, Sinendé and Tchaourou.

[5] The main ethnolinguistic groups in the department are the Fulani, Bariba, Yoruba and Dendi.

Other groups include the Boko, Ede, Lukpa, Tammari (also known as the Betammaribe, or Somba) and Yom.

[7] Borgou is subdivided into eight communes, each centered at one of the principal towns: Bembèrèkè, Kalalé, N’Dali, Nikki, Parakou, Pèrèrè, Sinendé and Tchaourou.

A law passed in 1999 transformed the sous-prefectures, the lowest level of territorial administration, into local governments.

[8] Municipalities and communal councils have elected representatives who manage the administration of the regions.