The capital city of Khakassia is Abakan, and the region covers an area of about 61,900 square kilometres (23,900 sq mi).

The Khakassky Nature Reserve is located in the region, and it is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including brown bears, wolves, and sable.

The territory of modern Khakassia formed the core of the Yenisei Kirghiz state from the 6th century AD In the 13th century, following defeat by the Mongols, the majority of the Kyrgyz people migrated southwest to Central Asia to the area of present-day Kyrgyzstan.

As it was common to deport convicted criminals from European Russia to Siberia, forts were quickly constructed in Khakassia (1707 and 1718).

Many of the indigenous Khakas people converted to the Russian Orthodox faith and gradually abandoned their nomadic way of life.

Under Soviet rule, autonomy was granted on 20 October 1930, when the Khakas Autonomous Oblast was established.

Since 15 November 2018, this post has been occupied by Valentin Konovalov (Communist Party of the Russian Federation).

The United Russia faction makes up an absolute majority in the region's parliament (35 seats, 70%).

The Chairman of the Supreme Council of the current VII convocation, elected in 2018, is Vladimir Shtygashev.

In the Federation Council, the region is represented by a member of the CPRF, Senator Valery Usatyuk, from the executive branch (since November 2018) and a member of United Russia, Senator Alexander Zhukov, from the legislative branch (since March 2019).

The deputy of the State Duma of the VIII convocation from Khakassia is Sergey Sokol (United Russia).

2% of the population adheres to Slavic native faith (Rodnovery) or Khakas Tengrism and folk religion, 1% to Islam, 1% to forms of Protestantism, 0.4% to forms of Hinduism (Vedism, Krishnaism or Tantrism) and another 0.4% to Tibetan Buddhism.

In addition, 38% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious", 16% is atheist, and 2.6% follows other religions or did not give an answer to the question.