The district's topography is primarily defined by a series of low hill ranges running roughly parallel to the coast and with each other.

Between these hill ranges are broad alluvial valleys with sandstone bedrock, and they are also divided by several major rivers, namely the Karnaphuli and Sangu.

The most important of these ranges runs roughly from the tripoint with Feni district and Tripura in the north southeast to Chittagong city, known as the Sitakunda hills.

[5] Another set of hills enters the district in the western part of Rangunia Upazila and ends at the Karnaphuli.

South of the Karnaphuli, the hills run southeast through the eastern part of Patiya and Chandanaish upazilas to the Sangu River.

To the west of the hill ranges lies a coastal plain with a small width,[5] and along the shore there are numerous beaches which have become tourist destinations.

It flows west before turning southwest near Boalkhali and forms the southern limits of Chittagong city, entering the sea near Patenga thana.

It then turns southeast, flowing past Fatikchhari and Hathazari before entering the Karnaphuli near the northeasternmost part of Chittagong city.

Because of the natural harbour, Chittagong had been an important location for trade, drawing Arab traders as early as the 9th century CE.

During the 17th century, the region also faced a lot of attacks by Portuguese pirates, who occupied Sandwip for a long time.

Chittagong District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 81.06%, compared to the national average of 74.8%, and a sex ratio of 1006 females per 1000 males.