It was originally part of Muara Enim Regency, from which it was separated to become an independent city on 21 June 2001.

[1] Geographically, this city is located at 3°25′58″S 104°14′8″E in the heart of the province, and it is surrounded on all sides by Muara Enim Regency, apart from a short stretch bordering Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency.

Prabumulih is administratively divided into six districts (kecamatan), tabulated 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 location of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (a total of 12 classed as rural desa and 25 as urban kelurahan), and its postal codes.

Prabumulih is one of main producers of crude oil and natural gas in South Sumatra.