It has an area of 3,947.63 square kilometres (1,524.19 sq mi) and had a population of 252,981 at the 2010 Census[2] and 299,851 at the 2020 Census;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 313,199 - comprising 157,978 males and 155,221 females.

Pasaman is located in the north-east of West Sumatra.

Although the majority tribe in West Sumatra is Minangkabau, in Pasaman there is another big tribe, the Mandailing from North Sumatra, so Pasaman means "equality" between two tribes in the Minangkabau language (Indonesian: Persamaan).

Pasaman Regency is divided into twelve districts (kecamatan), listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census[2] and the 2020 Census,[3] together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.

[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages (nagari) in each district, and its post code.