[2] Osaka Prefecture has a population of 8,778,035 (as of 1 April 2022[update]) and has a geographic area of 1,905 square kilometres (736 sq mi).

Prior to the Meiji Restoration, the modern-day area of Osaka Prefecture was split between Kawachi, Izumi,[5][6] and Settsu provinces.

In 2000, Fusae Ota became Japan's first female governor when she replaced Knock Yokoyama, who resigned after prosecution for sexual harassment.

[11] Tōru Hashimoto, previously famous as a counselor on television, was elected in 2008 at the age of 38, becoming the youngest governor in Japan.

Prior to the construction of Kansai International Airport, Osaka was the smallest prefecture in Japan.

The artificial island on which the airport was built added enough area to make it slightly larger than Kagawa Prefecture.

[19] Overshadowed by such globally renowned electronics giants as Panasonic and Sharp, the other side of Osaka's economy can be characterized by its Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) activities.

[21] One model from Osaka of serving the public interest and restimulating the regional economy, combined with industry-education cooperation efforts, is the Astro-Technology SOHLA,[22] with its artificial satellite project.

There are many electrical, chemical, pharmaceutical, heavy industry, food, and housing companies in Osaka Prefecture.

During World War II Japanese authorities forced additional ethnic Koreans to move to the Osaka area.

Public high schools are operated by the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education.