Bone Regency is a regency of South Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Originally the seat of the Bone state, it joined Indonesia in 1950. The regency covers an area of 4,559.00 km2 and had a population of 717,682 at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 801,775 at the 2020 census.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. The official estimate of population as of mid 2025 was 836,715 (comprising 408,759 makes and 427,956 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Bone Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7311) Its main products are seaweed, rice, and fish. The administrative centre is the town of Watampone, which comprises the three districts of Tanete Riattang Barat, Tanete Riattang, and Tanete Riattang Timur within the regency.
History
Bone Regency was home to the Bone Kingdom, an adat-based Bugis kingdom which was founded by ManurungngE Rimatajang in 1330. It later entered an alliance with the Wajo and Soppeng kingdoms for mutual defense. This alliance became known as LaMumpatue Ri Timurung.
In 1605, during the reign of the tenth king of Bone Latenri Tuppu Matinro Ri Sidenreng, Islam entered Bone and caused a change in local culture, including a renaming of various aspects of the regal system. Bone State later enjoyed a period of prosperity in the middle of the 17th century.
In May 1950, the people held demonstrations in Watampone against the royalty and Bone's membership in the State of East Indonesia. This caused the sultan to step down and join Indonesia.
Geography Bone is located on the east coast of South Sulawesi. It has of coastline and covers a land area of . It includes a total of of rice fields.
Bone Regency is surrounded by Wajo to the north, Sinjai to the south, Soppeng, Maros, Pangkkajene, and Barru to the west, and the Gulf of Bone to the east, where it has a sea border with Sulawesi Tenggara.
The climate of Bone is tropical, with the wet season from April to September and the dry season from October to March. The temperature ranges from , with air humidity averaging 95% - 99%. The average annual rainfall varies from less than to .
Demographics According to a 2010 census, Bone Regency had 717,268 residents, consisting of 341,614 males and 376.068 females. This gave a sex ratio of 90.80 for the regency, or 91 males for every 100 females. It displayed a population growth rate of 0.67% per annum for the 2000-2010 period. At the 2020 census, Bone Regency had 801,775 residents, consisting of 391,682 males and 410,093 females.Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. The mid 2025 official estimate was 836,715 (comprising 408,759 makes and 427,956 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Bone Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7311)
The majority of residents of Bone Regency are Muslim, with numerous mosques and places for studying Islam. There are also some churches in Watampone.
Administrative districts Bone Regency in 2020 (as in 2010) comprised 27 administrative districts (Kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 2020 census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with the official estimates as of mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Bone Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7311) For convenience of location, these are grouped below into geographical sectors (which have no administrative significance). The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages within each district (totaling 328 rural desa and 44 urban kelurahan - 24 of the latter being in the town of Watampone), and its postal code(s).
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area inkm2 Pop'ncensus2010 Pop'ncensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025AdmincentreNo. ofvillagesPostcode(s) 73.08.01 Bontocani 463.3515,35117,74118,193Kahu11 (a) 92767& 92768 73.08.02 Kahu 189.5037,39940,66342,020Palattae20 (a) 92767 (b) 73.08.03 Kajuara 124.1334,599 36,89738,138Bojo18 (a)92777 73.08.04 Salomekko 84.9114,97016,63817,515Manera8 (a)92775 73.08.05 Tonra 200.3212,830 15,06415,805Bulu-bulu1192774 73.08.27 Patimpeng 130.4715,670 18,11718,957Latobang1092768 73.08.06 Libureng 344.2529,16531,94332,444Camming20 (c)92766 Sub-totals Southern sector 1,536.03159,984177,063183,072 98 73.08.07 Mare 263.5025,12928,81730,419Kadai18 (a)92773 73.08.08 Sibulue 155.8032,66435,41836,801Pattiro Bajo20 (a)92781 73.08.10 Cina 147.5025,43728,43829,668Tanete Harapan12 (a)92772 73.08.09 Barebbo (d) 114.2026,38329,80631,855Apala18 (a)92771 (e) 73.08.11 Ponre 293.0013,19815,10116,111Lonrong992765 Sub-totals Eastern sector 974.00122,811137,580144,854 77 73.08.12 Lappariaja 138.0023,18326,97028,124Matango992760 73.08.13 Lamuru 208.0024,29326,25227,109Lalebata12 (a)92764 73.08.25 Tellu Limpoe 318.1013,771 16,06416,468Tujue1192771 73.08.26 Bengo 164.0025,24727,00928,077Bengo992763 73.08.14 Ulaweng 161.6724,50426,93729,028Taccipi15 (a)92762 73.08.15 Palakka 115.3222,084 25,54827,925Passippo1592761 73.08.16 Awangpone 110.7028,58333,77336,274Componge18 (a)92776 Sub-totals Western sector 1,215.79161,665182,553193,005 89 73.08.17 Tellu Siattinge 159.3039,733 45,71147,965Tokaseng17 (f)92752 73.08.24 Amali 119.1320,546 21,25721,931Taretta15 (a)92756 73.08.18 Ajangale 139.0027,20328,54728,670Pompanua14 (g)92755 73.08.19 Dua Boccoe 144.9029,94133,15434,485Uloe22 (a)92753 73.08.20 Cenrana 143.6023,36226,57427,401Ujung Tanah16 (a)92754 Sub-totals Northern sector 705.93140,785155,243160,452 84 73.08.22 Tanete Riattang Barat (West Tanete Riattang)53.6843,51250,69953,522Macanang8 (h)92731- 92735 73.08.21 Tanete Riattang 23.7948,53252,33553,566Salekoe8 (j)92711- 92714 73.08.23 Tanete Riattang Timur (d) (East Tanete Riattang)48.8840,39346,30248,244Lonrae8 (k)92715- 92719 Sub-totals Watampone urban sector 126.35132,437149,336155,332 24
Notes: (a) including one kelurahan. (b) except for the desa (villages) of Biru (postcode 92714), Cenrana (postcode 92754) and Palakka (postcode 92761). (c) including the two kelurahan of Ceppaga and Tanah Batue. (d) including several small islands off the east coast of the district. (e) except the desa (village) of Kading (post code 90225). (f) including the two kelurahan of Otting and Tokaseng. (g) including the two kelurahan of Pompanua and Pompanua Riattang. (h) all 8 are kelurahan (Bulu Tempe, Jeppee, Macanang, Macege, Majang, Mattiro Walie, Polewali and Watang Palakka). (j) all 8 are kelurahan (Biru, Bukaka, Manurunge, Masumpu, Pappolo, Ta, Walanae and Watampone). (k) all 8 are kelurahan (Bajoe, Cellu, Lonrae, Pallette, Panyula, Tibojong, Toro and Waetuo).
Coat of arms The coat of arms of Bone consists of a blue shield with a harrow, anchor, unsheathed kris, rice, cotton plant, and - at the bottom of the shield - the words Kabupaten Bone in red text on a white banner. The harrow and rice stand for the agricultural history of the area. The anchor signifies Bone's nautical prowess, while its symmetry and location in the middle of the shield represent rationality. The kris and red text signify bravery, while the cotton plant represents the Bone people's struggle for independence. The white banner stands for purity and holiness.
Economy The majority of Bone residents are farmers, commercial gardeners, and fishermen. In the area near the Gulf of Boni, seaweed, crabs, shrimp, and milkfish are the main source of income. Seaweed production averages 3,821.5 tonnes per annum, while catches of shrimp, crabs, and milkfish average 4,318 tonnes, 2,061 tonnes, and 4,964 tonnes per annum each. Catches of other fish, mainly tuna, average 73,763.5 tonnes per annum.
Transportation Bone's sea transportation is handled by five harbours, a larger one located in East Taneteriattang named Bajoe and four smaller ones.
References Footnotes
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