Dunfermline is a coastal parish, which lies in Fife Council Area, some 8 miles (14 km) south of Kinross in Perth and Kinross and 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Polmont in Falkirk.
It is located in the old county of Fife, which disappeared following the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1974.
The parish has an area of 93 sq. km (35.9 sq. miles) and includes the settlement of Dunfermline. Dunfermline has 8 neighbouring parishes; namely Aberdour, Beath, Carnock, Cleish, Dalgety, Inverkeithing, Saline and Torryburn. The boundaries of this parish were modified among significant changes recommended by the Boundary Commissioners after the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 and again by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1894.