It includes a series of hill ranges which gradually slope towards the north and finally join the Brahmaputra Valley.

[citation needed] In 1981 Ri-Bhoi district became home to the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 29 km2 (11.2 sq mi).

[4] In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Ri-Bhoi one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).

[5] Ri-Bhoi district is divided into three blocks:[6] The region is the best in connectivity in the whole state having the only airport at Umroi, the Four-lane from Jorobat to Lad-Umroi and the Shillong Bye-pass in Umroi-Bhoirymbong area to Mawryngkneng of East Khasi Hills and the District is the main connectivity to Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland and other stations of Meghalaya.

[citation needed] According to the 2011 census Ri-Bhoi district has a population of 258,840,[1] roughly equal to the nation of Vanuatu.

[1] Ri Bhoi has a sex ratio of 951 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 77.22%.