South Goa district is one of two districts that together constitute the state of Goa, India, within the region known as the Konkan. It is bounded by North Goa district to the north, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It ranks among the top 25 developed districts of India. The district capital city is Margao (Madgaon), which also serves as the commercial capital of Goa.

The Portuguese established a colony in Goa in 1510 and expanded the colony to its present boundaries during the 17th and 18th centuries. Goa was annexed by India on 19 December 1961. Goa and two other former Portuguese enclaves became the union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, and Goa was organised into a single district in 1965. On 30 May 1987 Goa attained statehood (while Daman and Diu became a separate union territory), and Goa was reorganised into two districts, North Goa and South Goa.

Asvin Chandru A, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service, is the Collector and District Magistrate of South Goa. There are deputy collectors and mamlatdars for each subdivision/taluka.

The headquarters of the district is Margao.

There are 205 revenue villages in South Goa District under seven Talukas (subdistricts) headed each by the Mamlatdar.

Margao is the administrative headquarters of the district. The 'Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex', the collectorate building, named after former minister and social activist Mr Mathany Saldanha, is located on the outskirts of the city, adjoining the intercity bus stand.

The district is divided into five subdivisions—Ponda, Mormugao-Vasco, Margao, Quepem, and Dharbandora; and seven talukas—Ponda, Dharbandora, Sanguem, Mormugao (Vasco), Salcete (Margao), Quepem, and Canacona (Chaudi).

Ponda taluka that was previously part of North Goa district became part of South Goa district in January 2015.