It occupies a total space of 5,719 km2 and comprises thirteen (13) chiefdoms. Following Cabinet Conclusion, CP (2011) 124 of 19th November 2011on the de-amalgamation of chiefdoms that created 41 additional chiefdoms nationally in addition to the 149 chiefdoms and three (3) new local councils, means that Port Loko District that initially had eleven (11) chiefdoms now has thirteen (13) chiefdoms. In terms of local governance, the district now has two local councils, the Port Loko District Council and Port Loko City Council. The 13 chiefdoms of the district are Bureh Kasseh Makonteh (BKM), Buya Romende, Dibia, Kaffu Bullom, Koya, Lokomasama, Maforki, Marampa, Masimera, Sanda Magbolontor, and Tinkatupa Makonteh Safroko (TMS). The district headquarter is Port Loko town. The main ethnic groups are Temne and Susu. In terms of the economy, the main economic activities include small scale mining and the production of food crops such as rice, cassava and sweet potato in particular.

Port Loko District is the second largest and populous district in Sierra Leone after Freetown. It has a population of about 615,376 of which, 294,954 are males and 329,422 female. Its household population is 612,920, out of which 293,456 are male and 319,464 are female. According to 2015 census, the institutional population is 2,456 and 1,498 constitute male and 958 female. Port Loko has five peri-urban towns which includes Port Loko town itself, Masiaka, Lungi, Lunsar and Patifu Lokomasama. Lunsar is the district’s largest town. Port Loko is the Headquarter of Port Loko District and the provincial headquarter of the North-Western Region. It is strategically located to the country capital Freetown.

After Freetown, Bo and Makeni, Port Loko is the leading mining, financial, educational and commercial center of Sierra Leone. With a rapidly increasing urban population, mainly as a result of the economic growth and establishment of agri-businesses and mining companies, existing waste management systems are unable to cope with increased demands.