Part of the Mi'irabawi Zone, Tselemti is bordered on the south by the Amhara Region, on the west by Wolqayt, on the north by Asigede Tsimbela, and on the northeast from Medebay Zana, and on the east by the Mehakelegnaw (Central Area) Zone. The Tekezé defines the boundary between Tselemti and both the last two woredas and the Zone; other rivers in this woreda include the Abata, a tributary of the Tekezé. Towns in Tselemti include Dima and Maytsebri.
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 130,972, of whom 64,464 were males and 66,508 were females; 9,225 or 7.04% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 14.7%. With an estimated area of 2,496.25 square kilometers, Tselemti has an estimated population density of 52.5 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 40.62.