Southeast Sulawesi

Southeast Sulawesi (, ; often abbreviated to Sultra, ) is a province on the island of Sulawesi, forming the southeastern peninsula of that island, together with a number of substantial offshore islands such as Buton, Muna, Kabaena, and Wawonii (formerly called Wowoni), together with many smaller islands. It is bordered by South Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi to the north, sharing a maritime border with Maluku and North Maluku to the east and East Nusa Tenggara to the south, as well a very narrow maritime border with East Timor to the south. The capital is the city of Kendari, on the east coast of the peninsula.

The province has no highway road connecting to the rest of the island, and the primary transportation link is a ferry across the Bone Gulf between Watampone (Bone) in South Sulawesi and the port of Kolaka in Southeast Sulawesi.

History From the seventeenth century until the early twentieth century, the region was the site of the Buton Sultanate (Butung).

Geography

The two major mountain ranges in Southeast Sulawesi are the Tanggeasinua Range and the Mekongga Range. The major rivers are the Lalinda, the Lasolo, and the Sampara.

Demographics The population of the province was 2,232,586 at the 2010 decennial census (1,120,225 males, and 1,110,344 females),Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. increasing to 2,624,875 at the 2020 Census.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. The official estimate as at mid 2025 was 2,836,740.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.74) Konawe Selatan, Konawe, Kolaka and Muna are the four most populous regencies.

A third of the population is centered on Buton and Muna islands off the south coast of Sulawesi, and another 15% live in and around Kendari.

Religion

Islam is the predominant religion (96.2%). According to the 2021 estimates, 2,560,000 people were Muslims, 50,780 were Hindus, 44,870 were Protestants, 16,180 were Roman Catholics, 1,610 were Buddhists, 113 were Confusians and 63 adhered to Folk religions.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2022.

Ethnic groups The ethnic groups in Southeast Sulawesi are Buton (Wolio, Lasalimu, Kumbewaha, Cia-cia), Muna (Busoa, Kaimbulawa, Liabuku, Pancana, Kioko), Wakatobi (Tukangbesi, Bonerate), Tolaki, Culambacu, Kalisusu (Taloki, Koroni), Moronene, Wawonii, and others.

Government and administrative divisions Southeast Sulawesi Province is divided into fifteen regencies (including the five new regencies established in 2013 and 2014) and two autonomous cities.

As at 1995, there were just four regencies within the province - Buton, Kolaka, Konawe and Muna. On 3 August, the city of Kendari was created from part of Konawe Regency, and on 21 June 2001 the city of Bau-Bau was created from part of Buton Regency.

On 25 February 2003, South Konawe Regency was created from part of Konawe Regency. On 18 December 2003, three new regencies were created - Bombana Regency and Wakatobi Regency from parts of Buton Regency, and North Kolaka Regency from part of Kolaka Regency. On 2 January 2007, two new regencies were created - North Konawe Regency from part of Konawe Regency, and North Buton Regency from part of Muna Regency.

In 2013 the Indonesian Government enacted the creation of 11 new Regencies and Municipalities, including the following in Southeast Sulawesi:

Konawe Islands Regency, from part of Konawe Regency (enacted by Act No.8 of 2013, on 11 January 2013). East Kolaka Regency, from part of Konawe Regency (enacted by Act No.11 of 2013, on 11 May 2013).

Subsequently, on 24 June 2014, the Indonesian Parliament agreed to create three more new regencies, based on consideration of technical, administrative, area, strategic and geopolitic factors:

South Buton Regency, from part of Buton Regency (enacted by Act No.16 of 2014, on 23 July 2014). Central Buton Regency, from part of Buton Regency (enacted by Act No.16 of 2014, on 23 July 2014). West Muna Regency, from part of Muna Regency (enacted by Act No.16 of 2014, on 23 July 2014).

These regencies and cities are tabulated below, with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.74) The table also includes the location of the regency/city headquarters and their Human Development Index.

Kode WilayahName ofCity orRegency Area(km2) PopulationCapital HDI2022Census2010 Census2020 Estimatemid 2025 74.71 Kendari City265.85289,966345,107377,270 Kendari 0.845 () 74.06 Bombana Regency (a) 3,291.92 139,235150,706163,160 Rumbia 0.668 () 74.01 Kolaka Regency 2,958.87208,817237,587251,540 Kolaka 0.739 () 74.02 Konawe Regency 5,352.92213,038257,011278,550 Unaaha 0.720 () 74.08 North Kolaka Regency(Kolaka Utara)2,931.68 121,340137,659151,360 Lasusua 0.704 () 74.11 East Kolaka Regency(Kolaka Timur)3,992.53 106,415120,699129,310 Tirawuta 0.687 () 74.09 North Konawe Regency(Konawe Utara)4,219.21 51,53367,87175,400 Wanggudu 0.711 () 74.05 South Konawe Regency(Konawe Selatan)4,234.21 264,587308,524334,620 Andoolo 0.694 () Peninsula Regencies 27,247.201,394,9311,625,1641,761,210 74.10 North Buton Regency(Buton Utara)1,752.37 54,73666,65370,620 Buranga 0.690 () 74.72 Bau-Bau City294.10136,991159,248170,890 Baubau 0.766 () 74.04 Buton Regency1,664.9894,388115,207123,850 Pasarwajo 0.672 () 74.15 South Buton Regency(Buton Seletan)516.4874,974 95,261102,790 Batauga 0.654 () 74.14 Central Buton Regency (b) (Buton Tengah)835.56 86,350114,773123,110 Labungkari 0.653 () 74.03 Muna Regency (c)1,856.91196,645215,527231,270 Raha 0.696 () 74.13 West Muna Regency(Muna Barat)816.7271,63284,59092,630 Laworo 0.662 () 74.12 Konawe Islands Regency (d) (Konawe Kepulauan) 704.1828,94437,05040,350 Langara 0.667 () 74.07 Wakatobi Regency450.8092,995111,402120,040 Wanci (on Wangi-wangiIsland) 0.708 () Island Regencies 8,892.10837,655999,7111,075,530

Notes

(a) Bombana Regency is mainly peninsula (the areas around Poleang and Rumbia on Sulawesi Island) but partly insular (including most of Kabaena Island). (b) The Central Buton Regency comprises the southern part of Muna Island and a small southern part of Kabaena Island, but does not include any part of Buton Island. (c) Under discussion by the Indonesian government in 2013 was a proposal to create an additional municipality of Raha, on Muna Island, but any such proposal is in abeyance and this potential extra municipality is not separated in the table above. (d) The Konawe Islands Regency comprises Wawonii Island and small offshore islets around it.

The province now forms one of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the People's Representative Council. The Southeast Sulawesi Electoral District consists of all of the 15 regencies in the province, together with the cities of Kendari and Bau-Bau, and elects 6 members to the People's Representative Council.Law No. 7/2017 (UU No. 7 Tahun 2017) as amended by Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 1/2022 and Regulation of General Elections Commission No. 6/2023.

Transportation Airports Betoambari Airport, Baubau Haluoleo Airport, South Konawe Matahora Airport, Wakatobi Sangia Nibandera Airport, Kolaka Sugimanuru Airport, West Muna Tomia Airport, Wakatobi

Ports Antam Pomalaa, Kolaka Bungkutoko, Kendari Ferry (ASDP), Kolaka Ferry Batulo, Baubau Ferry Lagasa, Muna Ferry Pure, Muna Ferry Tampo, Muna Ferry Tondasi, West Muna Ferry Wamengkoli, Central Buton Liana Banggai, Central Buton Maligano, Muna Murhum, Baubau Nusantara, Kendari Nusantara Raha, Muna Pangulu Belo, Wakatobi Samudra, Kolaka Simpu, South Buton Transito Talaga Raya, Central Buton

Notable people

Southeast Sulawesi

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