Rumphi District extends from Lake Malawi in the east to the Zambian border in the west. The northern end of the Mzimba Plain extends into the eastern portion of the district. Most of the district is drained by the South Rukuru River and its tributaries. The Viphya Mountains extend into the southeastern portion of the district, and much of central portion of the district lies on the Nyika Plateau.

Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve covers the western end of the district, and Nyika National Park covers much of the center.

Rumphi is the district capital. Other towns include Chilumba, Chitango, Chiweta, and Livingstonia.

At the time of the 2018 Census of Malawi, the distribution of the population of Rumphi District by ethnic group was as follows:^[1]

• 96.2% Tumbuka
• 2.0% Chewa
• 1.2% Ngoni
• 0.8% Nkhonde
• 0.8% Tonga
• 0.8% Lambya
• 0.5% Lomwe
• 0.9% Yao
• 0.3% Sukwa
• 0.1% Mang'anja
• 0.1% Sena
• 0.1% Nyanja
• 0.5% Others

There are three National Assembly constituencies in Rumphi:

• Rumphi - East
• Rumphi - North
• Rumphi - West

Since the 2009 election all of these constituencies have been held by members of an independent party.^[2]

Rumphi has produced some notable residents like:

• Edgar Chibaka, founder and Managing Editor of the Nyasa Times one of Malawi's top online and print newspaper.
• Chakufwa Chihana 'the father of Malawian Democracy', founder of AFORD
• Dindi Gowa Nyasulu, Malawian engineer and former President of AFORD
• Kamlepo Kalua, president of an opposition party
• Dennis Nkhwazi, a former member of the cabinet
• Mwiza Munthali, talk show host and activist
• Kenneth Thindwa, pharmacist, entrepreneur and politician
• Moses Chirambo, ophthalmologist, entrepreneur, and politician
• Robert Ng'ambi, soccer player
• Gabadhinyo Mhango, soccer player
• Jacob Kumwenda, Entrepreneur, Agribusiness Specialist and Project Manager at ACE

10°45′S 33°50′E / 10.750°S 33.833°E / -10.750; 33.833