The districts is home to the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 1978 Nalanda district became home to the Pant Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajgir which has an area of 35.84 km2 (13.8 sq mi).

[6] According to the 2011 census Nalanda district has a population of 2,877,653,[9] roughly equal to the nation of Mongolia[10] or the US state of Kansas.

It has been stated that preponderance of Kushwahas apart from Kurmis and sizeable population of Extremely Backward Castes, who are considered as the supporters of Kumar, has been the prime factor behind success of JDU in polls conducted in this district.

Rice, wheat, maize, pulses, potato, fruits, and vegetables are the main crops.

Tourism is well developed, with lakhs of people flocking at ruins of Nalanda University, Rajgir and Pawapuri.

[15][16] In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Nalanda one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).