The town is located on the state's westernmost boundary, adjoining the Cachar district of Assam.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Jiribam valley appears to have been part of the Cachar kingdom.

Thus the eastern and southern portion of the Jiribam valley came under the control of Manipur, while the rest remained under Cachar which became part of Assam.

[6] The Manipur state government decided to open the valley for agricultural settlement in 1907,[5] and by 1911, 14,346 bighas land is said to have been settled.

The Jiribam subdivision covered the Vangai range, and stretched up to Tipaimukh in the south.

[10] To avoid the anomaly, the eastern part consisting of the Vangai range was transferred to the Tipaimukh subdivision.

[18] Jiribam's climate is humid subtropical which is characterised by short winters and long summers with heavy rainfall.

Jiribam lies under the direct influence of southwest monsoon season and rainfall is abundant compared to other places in the state.

About twenty to thirty percent of annual rainfall occurs during the pre-monsoon season in the month of May.

About sixty to seventy percent of rainfall occurs in the rainy season which runs from the second half of June to September.

According to the 2001 census, 80 percent of its working population is engaged in non-agricultural activities and the main function of the town is categorised as "services".