Formazza is about 160 kilometres (99 mi) northeast of Turin and 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Verbania. It is on the border with Switzerland.
As of 2004 about 443 people lived there. It has an area of 131.8 square kilometres (50.9 sq mi).[3]
The municipality of Formazza contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Foppiano, Antillone, Fondovalle, Chiesa, Valdo, San Michele, Ponte, Brendo, Grovella, Canza, Sotto Frua, La Frua, and Riale.