Malihabad is located at 6°55′N 80°43′E / 6.92°N 80.72°E / 6.92; 80.72.^[4] It has an average elevation of 128 metres (419 feet).The main areas in Malihabad are Mirzaganj, Syedwara, Chaudrana and Kewalhar. And Malihabad's major population belongs to the rural areas and there are most probably 187 villages and 67 gram panchayats also included under the tahsheel of Malihabad.

According to some scholars, Malihabad's name came from Shaikh Malih, a relative of Shaikh Abdul Rahim, who settled here during the time of Akbar. Malihabad may have come under Muslim rule as early as the reign of Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji, who invaded Awadh in 1202.^[3]

Malihabad was historically the seat of a pargana, as mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari.^[3] At the time of Shajhan it was colonized by Ammanzai Pathans, who became the primary landowners.^[3] During the reign of Safdarjung, the Pathan landlords Yaar Beg Khan Afridi, Baaz Khan Afridi, Karam Khan Afridi and others were granted a part of Malihabad, known as Kawalhar. In 1257H Nawab Faqir Muhammad khan Goya Grandson of Yaar Beg Khan Afridi became the commander-in-chief in the army of Ghazi-ud-Din Haidar Shah.^[2] He became enamored with Malihabad and requested permission from the Nawab to grow mangoes here, thus establishing the first mango plantation in Malihabad^[2] His great-grandson was the famous poet Josh Malihabadi.^[2]

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[5] Malihabad had a population of 15,806. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Malihabad has an average literacy rate of 52%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 59%, and female literacy is 45%. In Malihabad, 16% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Dasheri mango plantation is one of the major income sources of the region, with mangoes being exported to many neighbouring countries. Dasheri Mango is very delicious and known for its sweetness and soft pulp. Other varieties of mangoes such as Chausa, Fazli, Lucknowa, Jauhari, Safeda, etc. are also grown here.

Vegetables are another major export here.^[1]

The Filmfare Award winner (1979) and winner of National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi (1978), film Junoon was mostly shot in the Mahals of Malihabad. The 1978 Urdu film was produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Shyam Benegal and was a hit of its time. The film was based on Ruskin Bond novella A Flight of Pigeons. Other productions that have shot in Malihabad include the films Shorgul and Mulk and the television series Savdhaan India and Krishna Chali London.

Malihabad and its famous mangoes are mentioned several times in the 2004 film Lakshya.

Malihabad prides itself on Nawab Faqir Muhammad Khan Goya, the poet and courtier of Awadh; "Shaayar-e-Inquilaab"Padma Bhushan Josh Malihabadi(born as Shabbir Hasan Khan), who later migrated to Pakistan. Abdul Hameed Khan Kandhari, who created the mango breed Dasheri in Allupur; Kaleem Ullah Khan, Padma Shri grows 300 varieties of mangoes on one mango tree; Abdur Razzaq Malihabadi, journalist and freedom fighter; Ahmad Saeed Malihabadi ,member of Lok Sabha; and journalist Abrar Hasan Khan; Asar Malihabadi,writer and poet, Ghaus Mohammad Khan, Padma Shri and Wimbledon tennis player; Anwar Nadeem, stage artist, writer and poet; Abdullah Ramzi Khan is a lawyer, author and a historian. It has also produced some great Urdu writers like Mohsin Khan^{[citation needed]} who possess a remarkable writing style. His Urdu play Khvab ki Ta'bir was awarded first prize in a radio-play contest drawing participants from nineteen Indian languages.^[6]

Malihabad block contains the following 100 villages:^[1]

• Ghaus Mohammad Khan, sportsperson
• Josh Malihabadi, writer, revolutionary poet
• Kaleem Ullah Khan, Mango farmer
• Abdur Razzaq Malihabadi, journalist