It originally covered much of the northern part of Bengkulu Province, but on 25 February 2003 the most northwesterly districts were split off to form a separate Mukomuko Regency (Kabupaten Mukumuko), and on 24 June 2008 the most southeastern districts were likewise split off to create a new Central Bengkulu Regency (Kabupaten Bengkulu Tengah).

The residual regency now covers an area of 4,424.60 km2, and it had a population of 257,675 at the 2010 Census[2] and 296,523 at the 2020 Census;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 306,659 (comprising 156,720 males and 149,939 females).

At the 2010 Census the Regency was divided into twelve districts (Indonesian: kecamatan), but subsequently seven additional districts have been created by the splitting of existing ones.

[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (a total of 215 rural desa and 5 urban kelurahan), and its post code.

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