The river Pekel Aa crosses the municipality from north to south. The main population centres in the municipality are the villages of Boven Pekela [nl] (Upper Pekela), Nieuwe Pekela (New Pekela), and Oude Pekela (Old Pekela). Part of the village of Alteveer and the hamlets of Bronsveen and Hoetmansmeer [nl] are also in the municipality.
The municipality has a total area of 50.20 km2 (19.38 sq mi), of which 49.04 km2 (18.93 sq mi) is land and 1.16 km2 (0.45 sq mi) is water.[2]