Barbalha is a municipality situated in the state of Ceará within the Northeast region of Brazil. Located in the southern part of the state, it sits approximately 575 km (357 mi) from the capital city of Fortaleza. The municipality covers an area of 569.5 km2 (219.9 mi2) and has a population of 61,228, resulting in a population density of 100 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The city is geographically positioned at the foot of the Chapada do Araripe, which is a large plateau shared on the border between Ceará and Pernambuco. Additionally, the eastern portion of the Araripe-Apodi National Forest, which was established in 1946, is located within the boundaries of Barbalha.