Narathiwat is one of five southern provinces that border Malaysia. The economic and border tourism centre is at Amphoe Su-ngai Kolok where Malaysians and Singaporeans like to spend their holiday and shop. The area has a constant flow of culture and trading.

The majority of the population is Muslims, with the Yawi language used in speaking and writing (Yawi has roots from the spoken Malay language and uses consonants and alphabets of the Arabic language).

Narathiwat has a total area of 4,475 square kilometres. It is on the eastern coast of the Malay Peninsula. The north borders Pattani and the Gulf of Thailand, the west borders Yala, the east borders the Gulf of Thailand, and the south borders Kelantan in Malaysia. Most of the area is jungles and mountains. The plains where 4 rivers converge are adjacent to the gulf. The rivers are Sai Buri, Bang Nara, Tak Bai, and Su-ngai Kolok. Narathiwat has a tropical climate and has only 2 seasons; summer and rainy. The wettest period is during November to December.