Jeneponto Regency (, ) is a regency of South Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It covers most of the south coast of the southern peninsula of Sulawesi, with a total area of 796.00 km2 and a population of 342,222 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 401,610 at the 2020 Census.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. The official estimate for mid 2025 was 426,298 (comprising 210,361 males and 215,937 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Jeneponto Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7304) The principal town lies at Bontosunggu. The northern part of the regency (including an inland salient towards the northeast, forming Rumbia District) consists of a plateau with an altitude of 500 to 1400 metres above sea level, the middle part has an altitude of 100 to 500 metres, while the south includes lowland areas with an altitude of 0 to 150 metres, including a coastline of 114 km on the Flores Sea.
Etymology
The name Jeneponto derives from the Makassarese words jeʼneʼ (“water; river”) and ponto (“bracelet”), referring to the circular, bracelet-like formation of the Jeneponto River near its estuary.Caldwell, I., & Bougas, W. (2004). The early history of Binamu and Bangkala, South Sulawesi. Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia, 160(4), 473. https://doi.org/10.1163/22134379-90003720 The settlement at the river’s mouth was also called Jeneponto (today known as Jeneponto Lama), where the Dutch established the office of the Onderafdeeling Jeneponto. From this river or this settlement, the name was extended to designate the entire regency. Historically, Jeneponto was regarded as one of the four principal tributaries of the Binamu kingdom.
Administrative districts Jeneponto Regency is divided into eleven Districts (Kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and 2020 Census, together with the official estimates for mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Jeneponto Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7304) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district (totalling 82 rural desa and 31 urban kelurahan), and its post code(s).
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Areainkm2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025AdmincentresNo.ofvillagesPostcode(s) 73.04.01 Bangkala 130.8449,85959,42063,726Benteng14 (a) 92352 73.04.06 Bangkala Barat (West Bangkala) 159.5526,34030,524 33,495Bontogaddong8 (b) 92353 73.04.02 Tamalatea 65.4340,35149,50652,093Tanetea12 (c) 92350 73.04.07 Bontoramba 96.8334,97540,06142,052Bontoramba12 (d) 92351 73.04.03 Binamu 67.3152,52063,57066,068Bontosunggu Kota13 (e) 92311, 92314 - 92316 73.04.08 Turatea 58.5229,91935,08436,203Lebangmanai1192312 & 92313 73.04.04 Batang 30.8319,19221,51922,253Parang6 (f) 92360 73.04.09 Arungkeke 32.0318,23321,31823,515Palenggo792361 73.04.11 Tarowang 42.8422,33724,84527,430Allu892362 73.04.05 Kelara 49.0026,44030,29131,369Bungunglompoa10 (g) 92371 73.04.10 Rumbia 62.7422,63425,47227,995Bontopanno1292371 (h) Totals 796.00342,222401,610426,298Bontosunggu113
Note: (a) comprising 4 kelurahan (Benteng, Bontorannu, Pallengu and Pantai Bahari) and 10 desa. (b) including one kelurahan (Bulujaya). (c) comprising 6 kelurahan (Bontotangnga, Manjangloe, Tamanroya, Tonrokassi, Tonrokassi Barat and Tonrokassi Timur) and 6 desa. (d) including one kelurahan (Bontoramba). (e) comprising 12 kelurahan (Balang, Balang Beru, Balang Toa, Biringkassi, Bontoa, Empoang, Empoang Selatan, Empoang Utara, Monro-Monro, Pabiringa, Panaikang and Sidenre) and one desa. (f) comprising 2 kelurahan (Bonto Raya and Togo-Togo) and 4 desa. (g) comprising 5 kelurahan (Tolo, Tolo Barat, Tolo Selatan, Tolo Timur and Tolo Utara) and 5 desa. (h) except the 3 desa of Jenetallasa (post code 92314), Loka (post code 92516) and Bontotiro (post code 92572).
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