Wakatobi Regency

Group of islands in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

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, Binongko and Tomia. 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 an area of 473.62 square kilometres and had a population of 92,922 at the 2010 Census and 111,402 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 117,630. Wakatobi is also the name of a national park established in 1996, with a total area of 1.39 million hectares that consists of marine biodiversity hotspot known as Wallacea and coral reefs, which condition and scale occupy one of the highest priorities of marine conservation in Indonesia. The Wakatobi Islands are a part of the Coral Triangle, which contains one of the richest marine biodiversity on earth.

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 2023 was 117,630. The most populated area in 2023 was the District of 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 2020 was 235.2 inhabitants per square kilometre. The districts with the densest populations in 2020 were Kaledupa with 333.40 inhabitants per km2, Tomia with 240.95 inhabitants per km2, and East Tomia with 199.24 inhabitants per km2. Age, gender, and ethnicity. The population structure in 2011 showed that 59.05 percent or 56,010 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 consists of 70,343 persons, of which 23,981 are male or 34.09 percent and 36.362 are female or 65.91 percent. There is a workforce of 40,395 persons that consists of 37,678 employed persons or 93.27 percent or 53.56 percent persons of the working age population and 6.73 percent of open unemployment. There is a non workforce of 29,408 persons or 41.81 percent of the working age that consists of 15,740 students or 53.52 percent, and 13,668 persons who take care of their households and other activities or 46.48 percent. Viewed from the domains of work that absorb the largest workforce, agriculture comes first with 43,609 persons or 61.99 percent of the workforce, followed by trade with 15,635 persons or 17.02 percent, and then the services, industry and transportation domains.

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 2023. 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 sq. km Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2023 District admin centre No. of kelurahanNo. of desaNo. of islands Postcode 74.07.01 Wangi Wangi 67.4923,36228,10032,870Wanci614593791 74.07.05 Wangi Wangi Selatan (South Wangi Wangi) 123.5524,63730,82429,840Mandati3183193795 74.07.02 Kaledupa 35.189,99911,72912,140Ambeua4121193792 74.07.06 Kaledupa Selatan (South Kaledupa) 56.086,6448,0518,590Sandi 10593790 74.07.03 Tomia 32.826,9077,9088,360Waha285493793 74.07.07 Tomia Timur (East Tomia) 46.028,4609,1699,360Usuku55 93797 74.07.04 Binongko 68.638,38510,07610,620Rukuwa45293794 74.07.08 Togo Binongko 43.854,7015,5455,850Popalia233193796 Totals 473.6292,922111,402117,630 2675150

The number of kindergartens in 2003 totalled 22 units that are distributed in five districts with 47 teachers and 989 students. In 2003, the teacher school ratio averaged 2; the student school ratio averaged 45, and the student teacher ratio averaged 21. For elementary education, the year 2003 recorded 101 schools, 684 teachers, and 14,742 students. In 2003, the teacher school ratio averaged 7; the student school ratio averaged 145, and the student teacher ratio averaged 22. For junior high school education, the year 2003 recorded 16 schools, 235 teachers, and 4,287 students. In 2003, the teacher school ratio averaged 15; the student school ratio averaged 268, and the student teacher ratio averaged 18. For senior high school education, the year 2003 recorded 4 schools, 93 teachers and 2,212 students. In 2003, the teacher school ratio averaged 23; the student school ratio averaged 553, and the student teacher ratio averaged 24.

Until 2003, the Wakatobi Regency had not established any general hospital. There were, however, 7 Puskesmas (Community Health Center), 12 Puskesmas Pembantu (Community Health Sub center), 5 doctors, 2 Public Health Graduates, 85 paramedics, and 9 paramedic assistants.

In 2003, the Wakatobi Regency had 112 Mosques and 22 Mushollah. It had, however, no Churches, Hindu temples, or Buddhist temples. This demonstrates that almost all of the Wakatobi people profess the Islamic religion.

Wakatobi Regency is currently headed by Regent Ir. Hugua and Vice Regent H. Arhawi, S. E.

The Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Wakatobi regency is measured based on the prevailing prices in 2003 that amounted to Rp 179,774,04, million, slightly higher than the GRD recorded in the previous year, amounting to Rp 160,473.67 million. Based on the prevailing prices at the time, the per capita GRDP of Wakatobi Regency in 2002 was Rp 1,833,775.23 GRDP and increased to Rp 2,026,993.35 in 2003, or increasing by 10.54 percent.

The regional elections for seats in the Local House of Representative of Wakatobi Regency in 2004 resulted in the following seat distribution based on the electoral party and electoral district: Golkar (Functional Group Party) received the most seats, 4 seats; followed by PBB (Crescent Star Party), PPP (United Development Party), PAN (National Mandate Party), PNBK (Freedom Bull National Party), PBR (Reform Star Party) and PDIP (Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle) which gained 2 seats, while Merdeka (Freedom) Party, PKB (National Awakening Party), Pancasila Patriot Party and PD (Democratic Party) had one seat each in the 20 seat parliament.

The main flight hub of the Wakatobi archipelago is Matahora Airport on Wangi wangi Island. Wings Air is currently the only airline flying to Matahora Airport. Flying is the fastest way to visit Wakatobi, alternatively 12 hours by several boats from Kendari to Baubau and then to Wakatobi. From Wangi wangi Island to Kaledupa Island takes 2 hours by boat and to Tomia 4 hours by boat. Maranggo Airport is a separate private airstrip on Tomia Island which is used exclusively to transport visitors of the Wakatobi Dive Resort.

Sail Wakatobi Belitong will be held in Wakatobi in July 2011 and in Belitung Island in August 2011. Wakatobi will make a mass wedding under the sea event. As a part of Sail Wakatobi Belitong, the organizing committee launch also International undersea photo contest with theme: "The Beauty of Under Water World Coral Reef Triangle" and will be initialized after the Sail Wakatobi Belitong is launched on July 16, 2011. To support Sail Wakatobi Belitong, Transportation ministry has given fund Rp.70 billion ($8.1 million) to improve Wangi Wangi port, Kaledupa port and Tomea Island port which will be finished before the event runs. The Wakatobi is also home to Operation Wallacea, a UK based for non profit conservation group looking at sustainable development of fisheries and coral reef research.

A collaborative movie work of WWF Indonesia, the Wakatobi administration and SET Film Workshop, The Mirror Never Lies, has portrayed the marine biodiversity with underwater scenery around the Wakatobi Islands and the life of the Bajo tribe, the sea nomads who rely entirely on marine resources for survival. The Mirror Never Lies got an Honorable Mention at the Global Film Initiative.