[1] Nakapiripirit, the main municipal, administrative and commercial center in the district, lies 125 kilometres (78 mi) northeast of Mbale, the nearest large town,[2] and 360 kilometres (220 mi) northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.

In 2002, the national census conducted that year estimated the population of the district at about 90,920.

In view of those data, it is estimated that in 2012 the population of Nakapiripirit District was about 161,600.

The main activity in the district is animal husbandry and the majority of the population are pastoralists.

More recently the exploration of the rich mineral landscape has begun in earnest by American, Canadian, Middle Eastern and Indian prospectors.