Polewali Mandar is one of the five 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 2,074.76 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 2023 was 495,371 (comprising 246,748 males and 248,623 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 near the sea-side area, on the coast of the Gulf of Mandar and about 200 km away from the capital city of West Sulawesi, Mamuju or 250 km 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. Polewali Mandar is also known as the origin of prau sandeq, a boat propelled especially by sails or paddles.

History

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.

Administration

The regency is divided into sixteen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the numbers of villages in each district (totaling 144 rural desa and 23 urban kelurahan), and its post code. Notes: (a) including 1 kelurahan - the district admin centre. (b) including 1 kelurahan - Pappang. (c) including 1 kelurahan - Batupanga. (d) all kelurahan (Darma, Lantora, Madate, Manding, Pekkabata, Polewali, Sulewatang, Takatidung and Wattang). (e) including 8 offshore islands. (f) except the desa of Mammi (with a post code of 91311) and the desa of Kuajang and Paku (with a post code of 91351).