Its area roughly corresponded to Kurzeme, Zemgale and Sēlija of modern-day Latvia.

With the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on 3 March 1918, Bolshevik Russia accepted the loss of the Courland Governorate.

The border with Prussia is only 6 versts (6.4 km) long and lacks natural boundaries.

After the annexation to the Russian Empire, the Kurzeme Governorate united the lands of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia and the Piltene district, both of which retained their previous administrative divisions.

The area of Palanga up to the Prussian border was also added to the Kurzeme province from the Vilna Governorate.

In 1817, serfdom was abolished in the province and peasants were granted personal freedom, but all land remained the property of landlords.

The land owning peasants, along with the German landlords, were the main suppliers of commercial agricultural products.

The main crops grown in the province were rye, wheat, barley, peas, oats, and potatoes.