El Tarf is located in the far north-east of Algeria, with an area of 2,908 square kilometers, and a population of about 427,109 in 2011. The territory of this state is determined as follows:
• east on the Algerian-Tunisian border,
• To the west, through the states of Annaba from the west and northwest, and through the Wilayat of Guelma from the west and southwest.
• In the south in the state of Souk Ahras,
• In the north on the Mediterranean Sea. It should be noted, in this connection, that the coast of this state has a great sea front facing east and west, generally straight, but locally meandering with a linear length of about 90 kilometres.
The last administrative division of the state includes 07 districts (El Tarf, El Kala, Ben M’hidi, Besbas, Dhra’an, Bouhjar and Bou Tlja) and 24 municipalities distributed as follows:
| DAIRA | ATTACHED MUNICIPALITIES |
|---|---|
| EL TARF | El Tarf, Ain Assel, Bougous et Zitouna |
| EL KALA | El Kala, Souarekh, Raml Souk et El aioune |
| BEN M’HIDI | Ben M’hidi, Echatt et Berrihane |
| BESBES | Besbes, Asfour et Zerizer |
| DREAN | Drean, Chebaita Mokhtar et Chihani |
| BOUHADJAR | Bouhadjar, Ain Kerma, Oued Zitoun et Hammam-B-Salah |
| BOUTHELDJA | Boutheldja, Lac des oiseaux et Cheffia |