On the territory of the Oryol region there are more than 2 thousand rivers and streams with a total length of 9,100 km (5,700 mi), but there are no navigable water ways.

1100 lakes and artificial reservoirs of the region cover a total area of about 55 km2 (21 sq mi) (0,22%).

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the territory of modern Oryol was the borderland of the Tsardom of Russia, with many fortifications of the Great Abatis Line .

Since 1991, CPSU lost all the power, and the head of the Oblast administration, and eventually the governor was appointed/elected alongside elected regional parliament.

The Oryol Oblast Council of People's Deputies is the province's standing legislative (representative) body.

On February 16, 2009 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accepted Stroyev's voluntary retirement and nominated Alexander Kozlov as his replacement, which was approved by the Oryol Regional Council of People's Deputies.

Numerous companies in the instrument-making and electronics sectors maintain high scientific and technical potential with the latest high-end technologies and experienced specialists.

Buckwheat, oats, barley, and potatoes are also grown, and sugar beets are in great demand.

In the southwestern part of the area lies a small section of the Urengoy - Pomary - Uzhgorod pipeline.

Oryol is a major hub of pipelines exporting to Belarus, Western Ukraine and the Baltic states, with branches passing through Bryansk and Kursk.

[16] Vital statistics for 2022:[17][18] Total fertility rate (2022):[19] 1.21 children per woman Life expectancy (2021):[20] Total — 68.97 years (male — 64.04, female — 73.81) According to a 2012 survey,[22] 40.9% of the population of Oryol Oblast adheres to the Russian Orthodox Church, 5% are unaffiliated generic Christians, 1% are Orthodox Christian believers who don't belong to church or belong to non-Russian Orthodox churches, 1% are adherents of the Rodnovery (Slavic native faith) movement, and 1% are Old Believers.

In addition, 34% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious", 8% is atheist, and 9.1% follows other religions or did not give an answer to the question.