Historically, Imphal East district is located in two separate valleys of the state namely Central Valley and Jiribam Valley. It is the second most populous district in Manipur. The Imphal East was emerged as a separate district in the map of Manipur state on 18th June, 1997 with its headquarters located at Porompat occupying the eastern part of Imphal district. It has no rail network and thus communication is totally dependent on roads except Jiribam sub-division bordering the Cachar District of Assam where there is a railhead. As of 2017, a new rail line is under construction and a railway station will be hopefully operational by the year 2019. The district is well connected with the three N.H. such as N.H. 39, N.H. 53 and N.H. 150.

Kalpana Devi Thoudam is an Indian judoka who won the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games of 2014 and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Judo Championships in 2010. In 2013, she was the first Indian to win a bronze medal at the IJF Grand Prix in Tashken. Bombayla Devi Laishram is an Indian archer. She was the representative of India at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and at the London Olympics at the 2012. Dhanachandra Singh is an Indian footballer belongs to Mohun Bagan. Kothajit Singh Khadangbam is a midfielder in India's national hockey team. He played for India in Men's Hockey during the 2012 London Olympics. He was the part of the Indian team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in which he won the silver-medal.

Geographically, the district has a total 709 sq. km. area and occupies the rank 6th State and 608th in India on the bases of this size. It lies at 24°78' N latitude, 93°97' E longitude and 921 m altitude. In the year 2023, there was a total 13.67% forest area of total geographical area. It is surrounded by the Senapati District, North and East, by the Thoubal District in the South and by Imphal West District in the West. River Iril is the main river of the district. Generally, the climate of the district is characterized as salubrious type while in Monsoon it remains tropical. Most of its rainfall occurs in the monsoon season. The actual rainfall in the district was 1866.3 mm in the year of 2024-2025.

Administration wise, the district is divided into 3 sub-divisions namely Porompat, Keirao Bitra and Sawombung. The district comprises 15 towns and 195 villages. Meiteilon (Manipuri) is its official language. In the state of Manipur with an allotted district code of 278 district of Imphal East came into existence on 18th June, 1997 with its administrative headquarters located at Porompat, situated at a distance of 2 kms from the state capital.

Demographically, according to the 2011 census, the district has a total number of 91,806 households with a total of 4,56,113 comprising 2,26,094 are males and 2,30,019 are females which causing it to rank 2nd in the state and 550th in India. The density of population of the district is 643 (persons per sq km.). The sex ratio is pegged at 1017 (females per 1000 males) while the child ratio stands at 943 (females per 1000 males). Furthermore, the district has projected population of 5,56,225 comprising 2,76,129 males and 2,80,096 females for the year 2026. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21), the district has an estimated sex ratio of 1,059 females and a child sex ratio of 950 females per 1,000 males. The population growth rate during the period 2001 to 2011 was 15.51% including 13.98% were males and 17.06% were females. In the year 2023 the number of live births in the district was 9,575 out of which 5,025 were males and 4,547 were females. In the same year the number of deaths in the district was 1,783 out of which 1,155 were males and 628 were females. As per 2011 census the major religion in the district is Hindu and Muslim with 60.27% and 17.58% of the total population. According to 2011 census the principal language in the district is Manipuri with 85.19%.

Economically, the district is dependent on agriculture primarily. In the year 2006-2007 the Gross Domestic Product in the district was Rs. 91,927 lakh at current price and Rs. 78,683 lakh at constant 1999-2000 prices. The Net Domestic Product in the district during the period 2006-2007 was Rs. 81,543 lakh at current price and Rs. 71,327 lakh at constant 1999-2000 prices. The Per Capita Income or NDDP, At Factor Cost in the district during the period 2006-2007 was Rs. 19,017 at current price and Rs. 4,288 at constant 1999-2000 prices. Paddy, maize, sugarcane, wheat, potato and muster seed are the main agricultural products of the district. Handloom industry, handicrafts industry, agro based industries are major industries here. High quality spices like chilli, onion, ginger, turmeric and coriander are also produced in the district.

Education wise, according to 2011 census, the literacy rate is 81.95% out of which 88.77% are males and 75.32% are females. The total number of literates in the district is 3,24,664 including 1,73,314 are males and 1,51,350 are females. The total number of illiterates in the district is 1,31,449 including 52,780 are males and 78,669 are females. In addition, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the period July 2023-June 2024 estimated literacy rate in the district is 93.33% including 96.18% are males and 90.29% are females (Age 7 Years and Above).

GP Women’s College, Imphal College, Liberal College, Lilong Haereibi College, DM College of Teacher Education, Mangolnganbi College, Kanan Devi Memorial College of Education are some of the main educational institutes of the district.

In the year of 2019-20, there were total 51,902 domestic tourists and 1,030 foreign tourists who visited here. The district has many famous and beautiful tourists places to visit. These places are Shre Shre Govindajee Temple, Ramjee Prabhu Temple, Hanuman Thakur Temple, Second World War Cemetery at Dewlahland, Indian Army War Cemetery at Hatta, Khuman Lampak Sport Complex, Mmta at Minuthong, Maasi at Keirao, Kaina, Jiribam, Mutua Museum.