To the north and east it borders Bolikhamsai province of Laos, with the Mekong River forming the boundary.

[12] At that time, the Ministry of Interior replied that creating a new province would load a heavy burden to the state budget and was contrary to the resolution of the Council of Ministers.

[13] The proposal to create Bueng Kan province was tabled for about 20 years, until 2010 when the Ministry of Interior renewed the project and made a proposal to the Council of Ministers to have a "Bill Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE..." (Thai: ร่างพระราชบัญญัติจัดตั้งจังหวัดบึงกาฬ พ.ศ....) considered.

[12] On 3 August 2010, the Council of Ministers resolved to present the bill to the National Assembly,[14][15] citing that the proposal met its criteria for approval.

[17] Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presented it to King Bhumibol Adulyadej for royal assent.

Bhumibol Adulyadej signed the bill on 11 March 2011, enacting it as the "Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 (2011)" (Thai: พระราชบัญญัติตั้งจังหวัดบึงกาฬ พ.ศ.

As of 5 August 2020, there is one Bueng Kan Provincial Administrative Organization, also known as PAO (ongkan borihan suan changwat); there are also eighteen municipal (thesaban) areas in the province.

[22] The non-municipal areas are administered by 39 Subdistrict Administrative Organizations (SAO) (ongkan borihan suan tambon).