Overview
01Overview
Sandeq boats in Majene Polewali Mandar is one of the six regencies in West Sulawesi province of Indonesia. It borders on the regencies of Mamasa in the North, Majene in the West and Pinrang regency of South Sulawesi in the East. It covers an area of 2,075.27 km2 and had a population of 396,120 at the 2010 Census and 478,534 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 497,007 (comprising 248,599 males and 248,408 females). The regency is inhabited by various ethnic groups such as the Mandar, Buginese, Javanese and Toraja.
Mandar is an indigenous ethnic group forming the majority of the population. There are several national public figures originated from this region. The most famous one is the legendary Attorney General Baharuddin Lopa. The current provincial governor, Ali Baal Masdar, is the former regent of the region.
The capital town is Polewali, located in the south on the coast of the Gulf of Mandar and about away from the capital town of West Sulawesi, Mamuju, and away from Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi.
This regency is considered quite fertile with large enough paddy farm as well as plantation for chocolate and coconut plants. The regency covers both coast-line and mountain areas.
History
01History
Polewali Mandar Regency was formerly an Indonesian Regency that used to be part of South Sulawesi, but on 22 September 2004 became part of the new West Sulawesi province. Prior to this, on 14 April 2002, the regency was split into two: a residual Polewali Mandar Regency which is located to the south (including the coastal area), and a new Mamasa Regency to the north comprising the mountainous inland area. Polewali Mandar is mainly inhabited by the Mandar ethnic group, while Mamasa is home to the Mamasa people, who are related to the ethnic group Mamasa.
Geography
Not yet available in English; shown in Indonesian.
01Geografis
Kabupaten Polewali Mandar secara geografis terletak antara 2°40’00”-3°32’00” LU dan 118°40’27”-119°32’27” BT.
02Luas Wilayah
Luas wilayah Polewali Mandar adalah 2.022,30 km² dan secara administrasi kepemerintahan, Polewali Mandar terbagi menjadi 16 kecamatan.