There are 13 protected swamp areas in the county, covering approximately 17 thousand hectares. Approximately 50% of the area is covered with forests, including the largest alvar forests in the world. The minerals of Raplamaa include layered clay, dolomite and limestone. The swamps of Rapla County give birth to seven rivers of three river basins (Keila, Pärnu and Kasari).

The forests and swamps offer a place to live for many animals and birds (all representatives of Estonian game, for example wolves, lynx, bears, deer, wild boars and elks).

Raplamaa is the hinterland of Estonia's capital, where commuting to work to Tallinn is a wide-spread practice. Besides the vicinity of Tallinn, Rapla county has the development advantages of communications. This is primarily the Via Baltica highway running through the western part of the county from Tallinn to Pärnu and Riga (this is the most direct continental connection with Latvia, Lithuania and other European countries).

The population of Rapla county is slightly more than 40 thousand residents, resulting in a density of population of 13,5 residents/km2. This is one of the least densely populated areas in Estonia.

The economy and business in Raplamaa have been connected with agriculture. Agriculture also leads among the spheres of activity of the enterprises, followed by timber industry. There are 138 agricultural cooperatives and approximately 2 400 farms in Rapla county. The new activities practised here include horse raising, seed production and herbal horticulture. 40% of the county's territory is covered with moraine. Peat also plays an important role as the swamps and swampy areas cover 31% of the county's territory.

The growing branch of economy here is tourism, which is largely based on the use of the renovated former (15.-19. century) manor complexes. More than 60 manors have survived until today.