Polewali Mandar is one of the six regencies in West Sulawesi province of Indonesia. It borders on the regencies of Mamasa in the North, Majene in the West and Pinrang regency of South Sulawesi in the East. It covers an area of 2,075.27 km2Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Polewali Mandar Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7602) and had a population of 396,120 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 478,534 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 497,007 (comprising 248,599 males and 248,408 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Polewali Mandar Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7602) The regency is inhabited by various ethnic groups such as the Mandar, Buginese, Javanese and Toraja.
Mandar is an indigenous ethnic group forming the majority of the population. There are several national public figures originated from this region. The most famous one is the legendary Attorney General Baharuddin Lopa. The current provincial governor, Ali Baal Masdar, is the former regent of the region.Hopes fade after Indonesia crash. BBC News, 2 January 2007. Accessed 18 September 2017.
The capital town is Polewali, located in the south on the coast of the Gulf of Mandar and about away from the capital town of West Sulawesi, Mamuju, and away from Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi.
This regency is considered quite fertile with large enough paddy farm as well as plantation for chocolate and coconut plants. The regency covers both coast-line and mountain areas.
Polewali Mandar is also known as the origin of prau sandeq, a boat propelled especially by sails or paddles.
History Polewali Mandar Regency was formerly an Indonesian Regency that used to be part of South Sulawesi, but on 22 September 2004 became part of the new West Sulawesi province. Prior to this, on 14 April 2002, the regency was split into two: a residual Polewali Mandar Regency which is located to the south (including the coastal area), and a new Mamasa Regency to the north comprising the mountainous inland area. Polewali Mandar is mainly inhabited by the Mandar ethnic group, while Mamasa is home to the Mamasa people, who are related to the ethnic group Mamasa.
Administration The regency is divided into sixteen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and the 2020 Census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with the official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Polewali Mandar Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7602) It is divided for convenience into two geographical sectors - west and east - which have no administrative role. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the numbers of villages in each district (totaling 144 rural desa and 23 urban kelurahan), and its post code.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025AdmincentreNo.ofvillagesPostcode 76.04.01 Tinambung 22.1222,31724,80125,332Batulaya8 (a)91356 76.04.12 Balanipa 32.9824,02129,12030,148Balanipa11 (a)91354 76.04.11 Limboro 69.4716,98119,35819,412Limboro11 (a)91321 76.04.05 Tubbi Taramanu (or "Tutar") 436.0018,27323,16123,994Taramanu13 (a)91355 76.04.15 Allu 164.1511,98014,68615,195Petoosang8 (a)91325 76.04.02 Campalagian 114.5252,30763,93065,885Parappe18 (b)91357 76.04.10 Luyo 123.8226,69232,75934,327Mambu11 (c)91358 Sub-totals Western sector963.06172,571207,815214,293Polewali90 76.04.03 Wonomulyo 76.8445,26951,36353,194Sidodadi14 (a)91342 76.04.08 Mapilli 102.7527,22033,54034,917Mapilli12 (a)91359 76.04.07 Tapango 129.3921,49225,70327,110Tapango14 (a)91341 76.04.14 Matakali 72.6121,31027,51129,240Matakali7 (a)91352 76.04.16 Bulo 228.918,63310,45711,200Bulo991353 76.04.04 Polewali 32.3854,84365,80068,095Pekkabata9 (d)91311,91313 - 91315 76.04.06 Binuang (e) 145.8930,50439,32640,870Amassangan10 (a)91312 (f) 76.04.13 Anreapi 89.049,27311,18411,957Anreapi5 (a)91315 76.04.09 Matangnga 234.405,0055,8356,131Matangnga7 (a)91350 Sub-totals Eastern sector1,112.21223,549270,719282,714Polewali87 Totals 2,075.27396,120478,534497,007Polewali167
Notes: (a) including one kelurahan - the district admin centre as named. (b) including one kelurahan - Pappang. (c) including one kelurahan - Batupanga. (d) all kelurahan (Darma, Lantora, Madate, Manding, Pekkabata, Polewali, Sulewatang, Takatidung and Wattang). (e) including 8 offshore islands in the Gulf of Mandar. (f) except the desa of Mammi (with a post code of 91311) and the desa of Kuajang and Paku (with a post code of 91351).
See also Polewali-Mamasa
References