Latehar District is one of the 24 districts of Jharkhand state in eastern India, and Latehar town is the administrative headquarters of this district. This district is part of Palamu Division and was created on 4 April 2001 by separating the erstwhile Latehar Subdivision of Palamu district.

Latehar District is situated on longitude 84° 31' E and 23° 44.4' N latitude, and covers an area of 3,622.50 sq. km2 The district is surrounded by Ranchi, Lohardaga, Gumla, Palamu and Chatra districts of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh state. The district has a varied topography, with hills, forests, rivers, waterfalls and plains. The district is rich in natural resources, such as coal, bauxite, iron ore and limestone. The district is also known for its wildlife attractions, such as Betla National Park, Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary, Lodh Falls and Lower Ghaghri Falls.

According to the 2011 census, Latehar District has a population of 726,978, of which 369,666 are males and 357,312 are females. The sex ratio of the district is 967 females per 1000 males, which is higher than the state average of 948. The district has a literacy rate of 59.51%, which is lower than the state average of 66.41%. The male literacy rate is 69.97% and the female literacy rate is 48.68%. The district has a predominantly tribal population, with 45.54% of the population belonging to Scheduled Tribes and 20.46% belonging to Scheduled Castes. The major tribes in the district are Oraon, Munda, Kharia, Kharwar and Gond. The major religions in the district are Hinduism (65.07%), Islam (9.60%) and Christianity (6.55%).

The district has a total of 772 villages, of which 732 are inhabited and 40 are uninhabited. The district has one municipal council, Latehar, and nine community development blocks, namely Latehar, Chandwa, Balumath, Manika, Barwadih, Garu, Mahuadanr, Bariyatu and Herhanj. The district has two Vidhan Sabha constituencies, Manika and Latehar, and one Lok Sabha constituency, Chatra.