It is bordered to the north by the Pwani Region, to the east by the Kilwa District, to the south by the Ruangwa District and to the west by the Morogoro Region.

Most of Liwale district is within the Nyerere National Park.

According to the 2022 Tanzania National Census, the population of the Liwale District was 136,505.

[1] In April 2013, there was rioting in Liwale over the levels of payments made for cashew nuts.

Police used tear gas and a helicopter to control the riots.