It is in northern Estonia, on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland.

[1] In prehistoric times, Lääne-Virumaa was settled by Estonians of the Vironian tribe.

Since 2014, the governor position has been held by Marko Torm.

There is one urban municipality (Estonian: linnad – towns) and seven rural municipalities (Estonian: vallad – parishes) in Lääne-Viru County.

The largest number of congregations in the county are of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELC): in Haljala, Kunda, Kadrina, Käsmu, Rakvere, Simuna, Tamsalu, Viru-Jaagupi, Viru-Nigula and Väike-Maarja under EELC's Viru Deanery and in Tapa under EELC's Järva Deanery[4].