It was created on 24 June 2008 by splitting off districts which were previously the eastern part of Bolaang Mongondow Regency.

It covers a land area of 866.37 sq km and had a population of 63,654 at the 2010 Census,[2] rising to 87,241 at the 2020 Census;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 90,787 (comprising 47,376 males and 43,311 females).

At the time of the 2010 Census, the Regency was divided into five districts (kecamatan).

[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the numbers of administrative villages (all classed as rural desa) in each district, and its postal code.

Tutuyan, the seat of the regency has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with moderate rainfall in August and September and heavy rainfall in the remaining months.