With an area of 69,106 Sq. kilometres, the province has a population of 1,300,973. The province is bordered on the east by Malawi, south east by Mozambique and on the north-west side by the Northern Province.

As a province hosting the Luangwa National Parks, the province is witnessing a boom in the tourism industry in the South Luangwa Valley, renowned for its diversity of habitat. It has a large concentration of mammals, prolific birdlife and the finest wildlife sanctuary in Africa. Room for investment exists in this province for those wishing to put up lodges, camping sites, bush camps and self-catering resorts on the fringe of the South Luangwa National Park.

Other activities in the province include mining of gemstones, mostly done by small scale miners; timber production and crop production. The province is renowned for groundnut and maize growing.

The province has an agro-based economy with more than 90 per cent of its population living off the town centres, the government's feeder road project has opened up a lot of areas, providing easy access to the markets for farmers.

The game management project run in the province also ensures the equittable distribution of resources coming from the wildlife held by the parks. Finances from the hunting safaris and sale of animal products are ploughed back into the communities for provision of schools and clinics.