The whole area is surrounded on all sides by (but administratively independent from) the Lima Puluh Kota Regency, making it an enclave.

Payakumbuh produces a wide range of agriculture products including rice, milk, cattle and palm sugar.

Payakumbuh and its surrounding villages, namely Mungka, Simalanggang and Batuhampar are the origin of the Negeri Sembilan people of Malaysia.

[1] The table also includes the locations of the administrative centres and the number of urban villages (kelurahan) in each district.

Payakumbuh is considered as one of the most popular cities in West Sumatra for domestic and foreign tourists.