Buton Regency (Kabupaten Buton) is a regency of Indonesia's Southeast Sulawesi Province, lying entirely on Buton Island. Until 2014 it had an area of 2,681.22 km2, and a population estimated at 276,944 (for January 2014). However, in 2014 it was divided into three regencies, with two new regencies being cut out of it; the residual area now is 1,647.87 km2, and the districts in that area contained a population of 94,388 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. while the 2020 Census produced a total of 115,207;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 122,423 (comprising 61,028 males and 61,395 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Buton Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7401) The capital is nominally at Pasarwajo, but the regency's administration is actually undertaken in the city of Baubau on the south-west of the island, although that city is administratively separate from the Regency.
Administration The original Buton Regency was formed in 1959 with a much wider area, including most of the island districts in the south of the province, but on 21 June 2001 the town of Bau-Bau was separated out to become an independent city, and on 18 December 2003 two new regencies were formed from parts of Buton Regency - Bombana Regency to the west and Wakatobi Regency to the east. At the time of the 2010 Census, the residual Buton Regency was divided into 21 districts (kecamatan), but in 2012 it was announced that the regency was to be further split, with the southern seven districts split off to form a new Buton Selatan Regency, and seven other districts split off to form a new Buton Tengah Regency (although the latter does not contain any part of Buton Island and is situated entirely on Muna Island and Kabaena Island). This division was made effective on 24 July 2014.
The remaining seven districts are tabulated below with their areas, 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 Buton Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7401) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district (totaling 83 rural desa and 12 urban kelurahan), and its post code.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus 2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025 AdmincentreNo. ofvillagesPostcode 74.04.23 Lasalimu (a) 318.9010,29012,39513,388 Kamaru15 (b) 93756 74.04.24 Lasalimu Selatan (South Lasalimu)147.0112,81515,20416,155 Ambuau Indah1693757 74.04.27 Siontapina 248.8112,16715,62416,982 Kumbewaha1193758 74.04.11 Pasarwajo 300.1337,06744,72546,589 Pasarwajo22 (c) 93752 74.04.28 Wolowa 94.554,9466,1886,968Wolowa793754 74.04.29 Wabula 66.114,9896,2226,842 Wabula793753 74.04.22 Kapontori (d) 472.3612,61914,84915,499 Watumotobe17 (e) 93755 Totals 1,647.8794,388115,207122,423Pasarwajo95
Notes: (a) includes 6 small offshore islands. (b) including 1 kelurahan (Kamaru). (c) comprising 9 kelurahan (Awainulu, Kahulungaya, Kambula-Bulana, Kombeli, Pasarwajo, Saragi, Takimpo, Wagola and Wasaga) and 13 desa. (d) includes 5 small offshore islands. (e) including 2 kelurahan (Wakangka and Watumotobe).
Climate Buton Regency has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) with moderate rainfall from July to October and heavy rainfall from November to June. The following climate data is for the town of Pasarwajo, the seat of the regency.
References