The Province of Samarkand is situated in center of Uzbekistan in the basin of Zarafshan River. The total area is 16 400 square kilometers. The climate is typically continental and arid.

The population is 2 322 000 of which three-quarters lives in rural areas.

The Province is divided into 16 administrative districts with an average population density of 149 people per square kilometer.

The administrative center of the Province is the city of Samarkand with a population of 368 000. Other important towns are Kattakurgan, Nurata, Urgut, Djuma and Aktash.