Oryol Oblast (Russian: Орло́вская о́бласть, Orlovskaya oblast) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Oryol. Population: 786,935 (2010 Census).

It is located in the southwestern part of the Central Federal District, in the Central Russian Upland. Kaluga and Tula Oblasts border it to the north; Bryansk Oblast is located to the west; Kursk Oblast—to the south, and Lipetsk Oblast is to the east. From north to south, it extends for more than 150 kilometers (93 mi), and from west to east—for over 200 kilometers (120 mi). In terms of area, at 24,700 square kilometers (9,500 sq mi) it is one of the smallest federal subjects.

The climate is temperate. The average January temperature is −8 °C (18 °F) and the average July temperature is +18 °C (64 °F). Rainfall averages 490 to 590 mm, and snow cover averages 126 days.

There are 4,800 square kilometers (1,900 sq mi) of black earth soils (chernozems) in the oblast, which amounts to three-quarters of the world chernozem reserves.

In the 12th century, chronicles mention Mtsensk, known as Novosil then. Then modern Orlovschina was part of the Chernigov Principality. After the death of Mikhail of Chernigov Novosil Principality was formed on these territories. By the end of the 15th century it had disintegrated into four separate principalities, along with all the other fragments of the Chernigov principality became a part of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In the 16th century, the fortress town of Oryol was founded, restored destroyed in the 13th century, Livny. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the territory of modern Oryol was the borderland of the Tsardom of Russia, there are many on the strengthening of large defense line. As the reduction of the threat posed by the Tatars, agricultural activity of the area had intensified. It was created in 1937 out of three other oblasts: Kursk Oblast, Western Oblast, and Voronezh Oblast. It also included present Bryansk Oblast between 1937-1944.

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