The town is in the south central portion of the Mtwara Region, on the northern bank of the Ruvuma River that is the border between Tanzania and Mozambique.

Occasionally, God's Pit will release clouds of mist that cover the town and surrounding areas.

[6] [needs update] In 2022 the district administers 2 divisions, 16 wards, 48 villages, 11 suburbs, and 189 hamlets.

[2][3]: 3 Divisions and Wards (2016 population)[7]: 75 In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 93,728 people in the town council, from 89,251 in 2012.

Cashew nuts are the primary cash crop as the as they make up much of the native trees in the district.

Other crops are groundnuts, cassava, millet, paddy, beans, maize and potatoes.

[3]: 6,8 [8] The production of cashews has grown rapidly in Tanzania, and much of that is in Newala Town.