East Sumba Regency () is, geographically, the largest of the four regencies which divide the island of Sumba, within East Nusa Tenggara Province of Indonesia. It occupies 62% (nearly two-thirds) of the entire island, being much less densely populated than the western third. The town of Waingapu is the capital of East Sumba Regency (its urban area comprises the kecamatan of Kota Waingapu and Kambera). The population of East Sumba Regency was 227,732 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 244,820 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 262,975 (comprising 134,682 males and 128,293 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Sumba Timur Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302)
Administrative districts
The East Sumba Regency is composed of twenty-two districts (kecamatan), whose areas (in km2) and populations at the 2010 Census and 2020 Census are listed below, together with the official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Sumba Timur Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302) The table also includes the locations of the district headquarters, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 140 rural desa and 16 urban kelurahan), and its postal code.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025 AdmincentreNo. ofvillagesPostcode 53.11.03 Lewa Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Lewa Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302010) 281.115,42315,40415,944Pamati Karata8 (a) 87150 53.11.04 Nggaha Oriangu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Nggaha Oriangu Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302011) 286.4 8,6149,61110,830Karipidita887155 53.11.18 Lewa Tidahu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Lewa Tidahu Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302012) 322.16,1296,8267,454Laikeri687151 53.11.19 Katala Hamu Lingu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Katala Hamu Lingu Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302013) 453.13,6994,0434,375Kombapari587152 53.11.05 Tabundung Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Tabundung Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302020) 514.48,3019,0519,782Malahar1087160 53.11.06 Pinupahar Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Pinupahar Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302021) 246.66,4106,8557,340Tawui687161 53.11.12 Paberiwai Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Paberiwai Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302030) 199.75,6196,2216,773Kananggar787175 53.11.13 Karera (b) Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Karera Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302031) 334.67,3657,6688,104Nggongi787172 53.11.15 Matawai La Pawu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Matawai La Pawu Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302032) 405.45,7866,0926,474Tanarara687174 53.11.14 Kahaungu Eti Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Kahaungu Eti Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302033) 475.18,2148,7259,311Kamanggih987171 53.11.22 Mahu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Mahu Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302034) 196.63,9224,1194,372Wairara687170 53.11.21 Ngadu Ngala Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Ngadu Ngala Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302035) 207.94,7875,0475,367Praiwitu587172 53.11.10 Pahunga Lodu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Pahunga Lodu Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302040) 349.812,24713,06613,974Ngala887182 53.11.11 Wula Waijelu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Wula Waijelu Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302041) 221.36,9027,6368,311Wula787183 53.11.09 Rindi Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Rindi Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302051) 366.59,0709,62810,273Tanaraing887181 53.11.08 Umalulu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Umalulu Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302052) 307.916,25117,66719,067Melolo10 (c) 87180 53.11.07 Pandawai Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Pandawai Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302060) 412.614,77617,29819,350Kawangu7 (d) 87176 53.11.17 Kambata Mapambuhang Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Kambata Mapambuhang Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302061) 412.73,4343,8224,172Lukuwingir887171(e) 53.11.01 Kota Waingapu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Kota Waingapu Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302070) 73.835,14235,85637,526Waingapu7 (f) 87111 - 87116 53.11.16 Kambera Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Kambera Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302071) 52.031,13733,46635,919Pakukinjara8 (g) 87113 - 87116 53.11.02 Haharu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Haharu Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302080) 601.55,5866,2486,837Rambangaru1087153 53.11.20 Kanatang Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Kanatang Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5302081) 279.48,91810,27111,399Temu7 (h) 87154 Totals 7,000.5227,732244,820262,975Waingapu156
Note: (a) includes the kelurahan of Lewa Paku. (b) includes islands off the south of Sumba Island, the largest being Pulau Halura, Pulau Manggudu and Pulau Koatak. (c) includes the kelurahan of Lumbukore. (d) includes the 2 kelurahan of Kawangu and Watumbaka. (e) except the desa of Lukuwingir (which has a postcode of 87116). (f) comprises 4 kelurahan (Hambala, Kamalaputi, Kambajawa and Matawai) and 3 desa (Lukukamaru, Mbatakapidu and Pambotandjara). (g) comprises 7 kelurahan (Kambaniru, Lai Mbonga, Lambanapu, Malumbi, Mau Hau, Prailiu and Wangga) plus the desa of Kiritana. (h) includes the kelurahan of Temu.
Transport Airport Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport, formerly known as Mau Hau Airport, is situated east of Waingapu near the mouth of the Kambaniru River. It has a 6,070-ft (1,850 metres) long runway with 98-ft (30 metres) width, which can accommodate Boeing 737-300 aircraft. The airport inaugurated a new terminal in 2016 which has been able to improve the passenger services compared with the previous old terminal. Ferry services Waingapu is connected by ferry services with Bajawa and Ende, both on Flores Island and about 40 km to the north.
Ecology East Sumba is among the focus areas of the Terumbu Karang Sehat Indonesia coral-reef programme implemented by Konservasi Indonesia.
References