It is an Outer Terai district, which borders Jhapa to the east, Dhankuta and Panchthar to the north, Sunsari to the west, and Bihar, India, to the south.

At the beginning of the 7th century, King Mung Mawrong Hang came to prominence in the terai lands of Limbuwan (present-day Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa area).

He cleared much of the forest area in present-day Rangeli, east of Biratnagar, and built a town there.

Most of the land is taken up by rice and jute cultivation, though areas of sal forest remain along the northern part of the district where the plains meet the hills.

As their first language, 37.5% spoke Nepali, 38.7% Maithili, 6.0% Tharu, 3.8% Rajbanshi, 3.7% Limbu, 3.2% Urdu, 2.0% Rai, 2.0% Santali, 1.9% Magar, 1.9% Tamang, 1.5% Newar, 1.3% Bhujel, 1.1% Dhimal, 0.9% Bantawa, 0.8% Bhojpuri, 0.7% Tajpuriya, 0.6% Hindi, 0.6% Rajasthani, 0.6% Uranw/Urau, 0.5% Chamling, 0.5% Gurung, 0.4% Bengali, 0.3% Magahi, 0.2% Ganagai, 0.2% Majhi, 0.2% Sampang, 0.2% Sunuwar, 0.1% Awadhi, 0.1% Danuwar, 0.1% Dumi, 0.1% Kulung, 0.1% Thulung, 0.1% Yakkha, 0.1% Yamphu and 0.3% other languages.

[6] Caste/ethnicity: 13.1% were Hill Brahmin, 12.0% Chhetri, 6.3% Tharu, 5.0% Rai, 4.7% Musalman, 5.2% Limbu, 3.9% Rajbanshi, 3.2% Newar, 3.0% Musahar, 2.8% Gangai, 2.7% Kewat, 2.6% Magar, 2.4% Tamang, 2.3% Bantar/Sardar, 2.2% Yadav, 2.0% Kami, 2.0% Satar/Santal, 1.6% Teli, 1.3% Damai/Dholi, 1.3% Khawas, 1.3% Mallaha, 1.2% Dhanuk, 1.2% Dhimal, 1.0% Marwadi, 1.0% other Terai, 0.9% Gurung, 0.8% Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, 0.8% Halwai, 0.8% Nuniya, 0.7% Jhangad/Dhagar, 0.7% Majhi, 0.7% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.7% Sudhi, 0.7% Tajpuriya, 0.6% Hajam/Thakur, 0.6% Kathabaniyan, 0.5% Koiri/Kushwaha, 0.5% Sarki, 0.4% Bengali, 0.4% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 0.4% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.4% Kayastha, 0.3% Kalwar, 0.3% Rajput, 0.3% Sonar, 0.2% Badhaee, 0.2% Bin, 0.2% Terai Brahmin, 0.2% Danuwar, 0.2% Khatwe, 0.2% Kurmi, 0.2% Sarbaria, 0.2% Sunuwar, 0.2% Tatma/Tatwa, 0.2% Thakuri, 0.1% Amat, 0.1% Badi, 0.1% Bantawa, 0.1% Baraee, 0.1% other Dalit, 0.1% Dhobi, 0.1% Dom, 0.1% Kahar, 0.1% Kulung, 0.1% Kumal, 0.1% Kumhar, 0.1% Lohar, 0.1% Munda, 0.1% Punjabi/Sikh, 0.1% Rajbhar, 0.1% Sherpa, 0.1% Yakkha, 0.1% Yamphu and 0.4% others.

Biratnagar Jute Mills, Arihant and Dhanawat Matches are among the nation's oldest industries.

At present, the university has broadly identified Industry-Technology, Agriculture-Forestry, Environment- Rural-Cultural Subsistence and Sustainable Development as specific areas of “Academic Excellence”.