Previously, the territory of Kalinga comprised the southern half of the province of Kalinga-Apayao. However, on February 14, 1995, Republic Act 7878 separated Kalinga and Apayao into distinct provinces. Currently, as one of the six provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Kalinga is bordered by the Cagayan Valley to the east, Abra to the west, and Mountain Province to the south. Its total land area measures 311,970 hectares, with Tabuk City serving as its capital.