Wakatobi Regency is a group of ca. 150 islands forming an administrative regency located in Southeast Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. The four largest islands are Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko, and the official name of the regency is a contraction of WAngi-Wangi, KAledupa, TOmia and BInongko; the islands were traditionally known as the Tukang Besi islands. The capital of the regency is located on Wangi-wangi Island, and was established by virtue of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 29 of 2003 dated 18 December 2003.
The regency has a total land area of 473.62 square kilometres and had a population of 92,922 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 111,402 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 119,070 (comprising 59,210 males and 59,870 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Wakatobi Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7407)
Wakatobi is also the name of a national park established in 1996, with a total area of 1.39 million hectares that lie within the marine biodiversity hotspot known as Wallacea. The coral reefs condition and scale are one of the highest priorities of marine conservation in Indonesia. The Wakatobi Islands are a part of the Coral Triangle, which has some of the richest marine biodiversity on earth.
History of Region Before becoming an autonomous regency, the Wakatobi Regency was known as the Tukang Besi Islands. The name Wakatobi is an acronym of the names of the four main islands that form the archipelago: WAngi-wangi, KAledupa, TOmia, and BInongko.
The Pre-Independence Period
In the pre-independence period, Wakatobi was under the authority of the Sultanate of Buton.
The Post-Independence Period
After Indonesia gained independence, and Southeast Sulawesi was established as a province, the Wakatobi group of islands then constituted several administrative districts within the territory of the Regency of Buton.
The Reform Period
On 18 December 2003, Wakatobi was officially formed into one of three new regencies in Southeast Sulawesi that were established by virtue of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 29 of 2003 - the Regency of Bombana, the Regency of Wakatobi and the Regency of North Kolaka. When first established, Wakatobi only consisted of five districts namely the districts of Wangi-Wangi, Wangi-Wangi Selatan, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko. In 2005, by virtue of the Regulation of the Regency of Wakatobi Number 19 of 2005, the District of South Kaledupa was established; by virtue of the Regulation of the Regency of Wakatobi Number 20 of 2005, the District of East Tomia was established; and in 2007, by virtue of the Regulation of the Regency of Wakatobi Number 41 of 2007, the District of Togo Binongko was established which brought the total number of districts in the Regency of Wakatobi to eight districts, which are divided into 101 villages (76 desa and 25 kelurahan).
The Government at the Early Establishment
The Government of the Regency of Wakatobi as an autonomous region was officially marked by the inauguration of Syarifudin Safaa, SH, MM, as acting Regent of Wakatobi from 19 January 2004 until 19 January 2006. It was subsequently continued by H. LM. Mahufi Madra, SH, MH, as the substitute from 19 January 2006 until 28 June 2006.
The Government resulting from the Regional Head Elections
On the basis of the results of direct regional head elections; on 28 June 2006, the elected Regent and Vice Regent of Wakatobi – Ir. Hugua and Ediarto Rusmin, BAE – were inaugurated by the Governor of Southeast Sulawesi Ali Mazi, SH on behalf of the Minister of Home Affairs and by virtue of the Ministerial Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 132.74-314 dated 13 June 2006 on the Confirmation of the Appointment of Ir. Hugua as the Regent of Wakatobi and by virtue of the Ministerial Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 132.74-315 dated 13 June 2006 on the Confirmation of the Appointment of Ediarto Rusmin BAE as Vice Regent of Wakatobi for the tenure of 2006–2011. The current regional leadership of the Regency of Wakatobi is assumed by the tandem of Ir. Hugua as Regent and H. Arhawi, SE as Vice Regent, since inaugurated by the Governor of Southeast Sulawesi, H. Nur Alam, SE, on 28 June 2011 on behalf of the Minister of Home Affairs and by virtue of the Ministerial Decree of the 132.74-403, dated 30 May 2011 on the Confirmation of the Appointment of Ir. Hugua as the Regent of Wakatobi dan H. Arhawi, SE as Vice Regent of Wakatobi for the tenure of 2011–2016.
State of the Region
Location. The Regency of Wakatobi is an archipelago located to the southeast of Sulawesi. Geographically, the Regency lies south of the Equator, stretching latitudinally from 5º12´ to 6º25´ South Latitude (over ± 160 kilometers) and transversing longitudinally from 123º20´ to 124º39´ East Longitude (over ± 120 kilometers).
Area. The land area of the Regency extends to 473.62 square kilometres. The water area is estimated at 17,554 square kilometres.
Boundaries. Boundaries Region North Buton Regency and North Buton Regency South Flores Sea West Buton Regency East Banda Sea
Climate. Wakatobi has two seasons, the rainy and dry seasons, just like other regions of Indonesia. Generally, land in Wakatobi is between 3 and 350 meters above sea level and is located below the Equator. Hence it has a tropical climate.
Regional Demographics
Total Population. The population of the Regency of Wakatobi, based on the Population Census of 2010, totalled 92,995 inhabitants, consisting of 44,640 male and 48,355 female inhabitants. At the 2020 Census, the population grew to 111,402 inhabitants; the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 119,070.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Wakatobi Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7407) The most populated area in 2025 was the District of South Wangi-Wangi, while the least populated was the District of Togo Binongko.
Population distribution. Over half of the regency's population are on Wangi-wangi Island (in the Districts of Wangi-wangi and South Wangi-Wangi). The average population density of the Regency of Wakatobi in 2025 was 251.4 inhabitants per square kilometre. The districts with the densest populations in 2025 were Wangi-Wangi with 447.28 inhabitants per km2, Kaledupa with 347.81 per km2, South Wangi-Wangi with 271.66 per km2, Tomia with 255.12 per km2, and East Tomia with 205.00 per km2.
Age, gender, and ethnicity. The population structure in 2025 showed that 67.82 percent or 80,750 of the population were in the group of productive age of between 15 and 64 years old. The total population of Wakatobi in 2011, based on gender, was 45,944 male and 49,768 female inhabitants. There are eight ethnic groups inhabiting the Regency of Wakatobi. Based on data of 2000, out of a population of 87,793, the largest ethnic groups were Wakatobi with 91.33 percent and Bajau with 7.92 percent, with other ethnicities totalling less than 1 percent.
Employment. The working age population in 2025 consisted of 80,750 persons, of which 40,360 were male or 49.98 percent and 40,390 were female or 50.02 percent. There was a workforce of 64,924 persons that consists of 62,446 employed persons or 96.18 percent or 77.33 percent persons of the working age population, and 2,478 persons or 3.82 percent of open unemployment. There is a non workforce of 23,036 persons or 28.53 percent of the working age that consists of 5,102 students, 13,735 persons who take care of their households and 4,199 engaged in other activities. Viewed from the domains of work that absorb the largest workforces, agriculture involved 22,669 persons, manufacturing 10,460 persons, and services 29,317 persons.
Administrative Divisions There are eight districts (kecamatan) with each of the four main islands being split into two districts, listed below from north to south with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Wakatobi Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7407) The table also includes the location of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages (totaling 26 urban kelurahan and 75 rural desa) and of named islands within each district, and its postal code.
Kode Wiulayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025 District admin centre No. of kelurahanNo. of desaNo. of islands Postcode 74.07.01 Wangi-Wangi 67.4923,36228,10030,190Wanci614593791 74.07.05 Wangi-Wangi Selatan (South Wangi-Wangi) 123.5524,63730,82433,560Mandati3183193795 74.07.02 Kaledupa 35.189,99911,72912,240Ambeua4121193792 74.07.06 Kaledupa Selatan (South Kaledupa) 56.086,6448,0518,590Sandi-10593790 74.07.03 Tomia 32.826,9077,9088,370Waha285493793 74.07.07 Tomia Timur (East Tomia) 46.028,4609,1699,430Usuku55-93797 74.07.04 Binongko 68.638,38510,07610,780Rukuwa45293794 74.07.08 Togo Binongko 43.854,7015,5455,910Popalia233193796 Totals 473.6292,922111,402119,070 2675150
Regional Economic Potentials
Agriculture, plantation, and forestry
Out of the cultivation of five crops, cassava produces the highest yield with 40,199 tons in 2003. It is followed by corn with 1,715 tons, sweet potato with 58 tons, rice and peanut with 8 tons and 4 tons respectively. In 2003, the highest yield-producing fruits were mango with 9,229 quintals, banana with 5,788 quintals, and orange with 4,134 quintals. The most produced vegetables were long beans with 229 quintals, eggplant with 210 quintals, kale with 205 quintals, and red onion (shallot) with 160 quintals. In 2003, the highest community plantation production was 225 tons of coconut, 59 tons of cashew, 8 tons of hybrid coconut, 6 tons of cacao, 3 tons of coffee, and 0.35 tons of nutmeg. The forestry type in 2003 consisted only of a protected forest with an area of 11,300 hectares.
Livestock and fishery
The large livestock population in 2003 consisted only of 308 cows. Compared to the population in 2002, the number of cows increased 60.42 percent, from 192 cows in 2002 to 308 cows in 2003. The small livestock population in 2003 consisted only of 9,789 goats. Compared to the population in 2002, the number of goats decreased 5.43 percent, from 10,351 goats in 2002 to 9,789 goats in 2003. The fisheries production in 2003 amounted to 17,985.60 tons that consisted of 17,453.60 tons of marine fisheries and 532 tons of marine aquaculture products in the form of seaweeds.
Industry and energy
Up to 2003, there had not been any large or medium-sized industries, there were only small-sized industries and home industries. The small-sized industries amounted to 107 units with 514 workers, and the home industries amounted to 1,290 units with 1,863 workers. In 2003, the number of State Electricity consumers reached 9,652 clients with the installed capacity of 6,047,905 VA. Meanwhile, the electricity production amounted to 6,278,762 kWh with the sold electricity capacity amounting to 5,367,403 kWh and the sales value reaching Rp 2,791,737,755 thousand.
Trade
In 2003, the traded commodity volume totalled 233,650.13 tons with a value of Rp 28.639.873 thousand. Forestry products recorded the highest sales amounting to 231,529.68 tons with a value of Rp 13,761,355 thousand. Agricultural commodities consisting of food crops posted the second highest transactions, reaching 1,355.29 tons with a value of Rp 3,756,470 thousand. Meanwhile, the least traded commodity products were from plantation that amounted to 9.59 tons with a value of Rp 1,902,403 thousand, and followed by cattle farming that only reached 3.95 tons with a value of Rp 5,928 thousand.
Regional Tourism Potentials