The commune of Carahue hosts the southernmost natural forests of Araucaria araucana in the Chilean Coast Range.

[4] According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Carahue spans an area of 1,340.5 km2 (518 sq mi) and has 25,696 inhabitants (13,017 men and 12,679 women).

[3] As a commune, Carahue is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years.

[1][2] Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Carahue is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by José Manuel Edwards (RN) and Joaquín Tuma (PDC) as part of the 51st electoral district, (together with Nueva Imperial, Saavedra, Teodoro Schmidt, Freire, Pitrufquén and Cholchol).

The commune is represented in the Senate by José Garcia Ruminot (RN) and Eugenio Tuma Zedan (PPD) as part of the 15th senatorial constituency (Araucanía-South).