It includes almost all of traditional North Frisia (with the exception of the island of Heligoland), as well as adjacent parts of the Schleswig Geest to the east and Stapelholm to the south, and is bounded (from the east and clockwise) by the districts of Schleswig-Flensburg and Dithmarschen, the North Sea and the Danish county of South Jutland.

The North Frisian language exists in nine slightly different dialects, yet it is mainly used by older citizens in mainland Nordfriesland.

After becoming German, three districts were established in the region: Südtondern in the north, Husum in the centre, and Eiderstedt in the south.

The North Frisian Islands are also part of the Nordfriesland district and located inside the national park as well.

There are five large islands (Sylt, Föhr, Amrum, Pellworm and Nordstrand) and ten smaller islets known as Halligen.