The commune also include the coastal town of Iloca.

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Licantén spans an area of 273.3 km2 (106 sq mi) and has 6,902 inhabitants (3,654 men and 3,248 women).

[2] As a commune, Licantén is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years.

[1] Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Licantén is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Roberto León (PDC) and Celso Morales (UDI) as part of the 36th electoral district, together with Curicó, Teno, Romeral, Molina, Sagrada Familia, Hualañé, Vichuquén and Rauco.

The commune is represented in the Senate by Juan Antonio Coloma Correa (UDI) and Andrés Zaldívar Larraín (PDC) as part of the 10th senatorial constituency (Maule-North).