It is bordered to the north by Kongwa District (site of the failed British groundnut scheme), to the east by Morogoro Region, to the south by Iringa Region, and to the west by Chamwino District.

Most Mpwapwa residents live on the central plateau at about 3,500 ft above sea level, though others, mainly from the minority Hehe ethnic group,[citation needed] live atop the 7,000 ft mountains that benefit from better rainfall.

[citation needed] According to the 2022 Tanzania National Census, the population of Mpwapwa District was 403,247.

[4] Paved trunk road T5 from Dodoma to Iringa passes through the southern part of the district.

[5] The central railway of Tanzania passes through Mpwapwa District as well, with one station being located in Gulwe.