It is one of the most multi-ethnic federal subjects in Russia, with thirty-three ethnic groups with more than 2,000 persons each combining a total population of 2,907,593.

It borders with Rostov Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, Kalmykia, Dagestan, Chechnya, North Ossetia–Alania, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Karachay–Cherkessia.

Since 1991, CPSU lost all the power, and the head of the Krai Administration, and eventually the governor was appointed/elected alongside the elected regional parliament.

Large companies in the region include Stavrolen, Arnest, Concern Enorgomera, Nevinomiskiy Azot, Stavropolskiy Gres.

In modern Russia the Kuban Cossacks are now generally considered ethnic Russians, although their roots are in Ukraine (historically, their dialect was descended from that of Cherkasy).

The inhabitants identified themselves as belonging to more than 140 different ethnic groups, as shown in the following table:[20] According to a 2012 survey[21] 46.9% of the population of Stavropol Krai adheres to the Russian Orthodox Church, 7% are unaffiliated generic Christians, 2% are Muslims, 1% are either Orthodox Christian believers who do not belong to churches or members of non-Russian Orthodox bodies, and 1% of the population adheres to Rodnovery or local native faiths.

In addition, 19% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious", 16% is atheist, and 7.1% follow other religions or did not give an answer to the question.