Ghatprabha, Tamraparni, Dudhganga, Krushna, Bhogawati, Warna, Kasari, Panchaganga, Wedganga, Kumbhi rivers flow through this district.

Groundnut, Soyabean, Tobacco, Rice, Jowar, Cotton and Sugarcane are prime crops of this district.

Male to female ratio of the district is 1000:953[2] Kolhapur's climate is a blend of coastal and inland elements common to Maharashtra.

Summer in Kolhapur is comparatively cooler, but much more humid, than neighbouring inland cities.

The city receives abundant rainfall from June to September due to its proximity to the Western Ghats.

The winter temperatures are warmer than other cities in Maharashtra such as Pune and Nashik.

The district has a population density of 504 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,310/sq mi).

Shivaji University covers three districts - Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara under its jurisdiction.

Kolhapur District is enriched in terms of the availability of quality education of all kinds.

[11] The city is the home of Kolhapuri chappal, a hand-crafted buffalo leather slipper that is locally tanned using vegetable dyes.

[12][13][14] Other handicrafts include: hand block printing of textiles; silver, bead and paste jewellery crafting; pottery; wood carving and lacquerware; brass sheet work and oxidised silver artwork;and lace and embroidery making.

[15] Kolhapur is also an industrial city with approximately 300 foundries producing exports with a value of 15 billion rupees per year.

Shivaji Udyamnagar has a rich entrepreneurial tradition of more than 100 years and a high skilled artisanship in the area of oil engines.

Kolhapuri jewelry includes a type of necklace called Kolhapuri saaj, patlya (two broad bangles), chinchpeti (choker), tanmani (short necklace), nath (nose ring), and bajuband (an amulet).

[19] The election to the 2017 Kolhapur Jilha Parishad and panchayat samitis was held from 21 February 2017.