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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 Census and 111,402 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 119,070 (comprising 59,210 males and 59,870 females).

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.

Kaledupa Island exudes a cultural charm that is still maintained and preserved by the local community. The following are cultural tourism destinations that exist in Kaledupa Island.

Lariangi Dance Lariangi dance is a traditional dance from Kaledupa District that was first choreographed in 1634 during the rule of the first King of Buton, Wa Kaka. Hebalia Dance Hebalia dance is a traditional dance from Kaledupa District that was composed by the local shamans in ancient times. Sombo Bungkale Dance Sombo Bungkale dance is a traditional dance from South Kaledupa District, which is performed by twelve beautiful female dancers.

Karia'a Customary Festivity The Karia’a customary festivity is a typical tradition of the Kaledupa community to mark the coming of age of boys through circumcision. In this festivity, boys are paraded in the village on stretchers carried collectively by 15 to 20 persons. Pencak Silat Customary Tradition The pencak silat tradition is a customary tradition performed by the Kaledupa community.

Safara Customart Festivity The Safara customary festivity is a traditional feast of the Tomia community performed in every month of Safar (Islamic lunar month). Bose-Bose Tradition Bose-Bose is a tradition performed by decorating boats with colourful ornaments and loading them with traditional culinary dishes, such as Liwo, and then parading them along the coasts from Patipelong Quay towards Usuku Quay and up to One Mobaa Strait, while the people are beating drums. This traditional festivity is performed with the purpose of cleansing all of the sins of the people by taking them away with the sea water waves. Sajo Moane Dance Sajo Moane dance is a sacred dance performed by male dancers. Saride Dance Saride dance is a traditional dance symbolizing unity and togetherness in completing activities that are destined for the public interests.

Balumpa Dance Balumpa dance is one of the traditional dances originating from Binongko Island.

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.

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.

In the pre-independence period, Wakatobi was under the authority of the Sultanate of Buton.

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.

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.

Kabupaten Wakatobi berbentuk kepulauan dan terletak di tenggara Pulau Sulawesi. Secara astronomis, Kabupaten Wakatobi berada di selatan garis khatulistiwa, membujur dari 5,00º sampai 6,25º Lintang Selatan (sepanjang ± 160 km) dan melintang dari 123,34º sampai 124.64º Bujur Timur (sepanjang ± 120 km).

Adapun batas wilayah kabupaten Wakatobi ialah:

Kabupaten Wakatobi sama seperti daerah–daerah lain di Indonesia mengalami dua musim, yakni musim hujan dan musim kemarau. Wilayah daratan Kabupaten Wakatobi umumnya memiliki ketinggian di bawah 1.000 meter dari permukaan laut dan berada di sekitar daerah khatulistiwa, sehingga daerah ini beriklim tropika.