West Sumba Regency Explained

Official Name:West Sumba Regency
Native Name:Kabupaten Sumba Barat
Settlement Type:Regency
Pushpin Map:Indonesia_Sumba#Indonesia_Lesser Sunda_Islands#Indonesia
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Sumba, Lesser Sunda Islands and Indonesia
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Indonesia
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Lesser Sunda Islands
Subdivision Type2:Province
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:Waikabubak
Leader Title:Regent
Leader Name:Agustinus Niga Dapawole
Leader Title1:Vice Regent
Leader Name1:Marthen Ngailu Toni
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:737.42
Population As Of:mid 2023 estimate
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:152414
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:ICST
Utc Offset:+8
Coordinates:-9.5667°N 119.45°W
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:(+62) 387

West Sumba Regency (Indonesian: Kabupaten Sumba Barat) is a regency in East Nusa Tenggara Province of Indonesia. Established in 1958,the regency was considerably reduced on 2 January 2007 with the creation of new Regencies on Sumba Island under Law UU No.16 of that year. Its area is now 737.42 km2, and its population was 110,993 at the 2010 census[2] and 145,097 at the 2020 Census;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 152,414 (comprising 77,964 males and 74,450 females).[4] It has its seat (capital) in (Kota) Waikabubak.

The region is rather dry. One of the main problems for people living in rural areas in the province is frequent shortages of water. Although there are some local supplies of water from wells and springs, water from these sources often becomes scarce during the long dry seasons. In some villages local non-government organisations, some supported with international assistance, support small projects to improve village water supplies.[5]

Administrative Districts

The West Sumba Regency (following the re-organisation on 2 January 2007 which created Southwest Sumba Regency and Central Sumba Regency out of parts of West Sumba Regency) is now composed of six districts (kecamatan), whose areas (in km2) and populations at the 2010 Census[6] and 2020 Census,[7] are listed below, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.[8] The table also includes the locations of the district headquarters, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 63 rural desa and 11 urban kelurahan), and its postal code.

Kode
Wilayah
Name of
District
(kecamatan)
Area
in
km2
Pop'n
Census
2010
Pop'n
Census
2020
Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2023
Admin
centre
No.
of
villages
Post
code
53.12.12 Lamboya 125.6515,85622,05923,561Kabukarudi1187271
53.12.11 Wanokata 133.6814,16318,81119,823Pogo Katoda1487272
53.12.18 Laboya Barat
(West Laboya)
161.237,3278,8159,026Hodi487270
53.12.10 Loli132.3627,10338,93241,971Dokakaka14 (a) 87284
53.12.15 Kota Waikabubak
(Waikabubak town)
44.7128,87433,06433,374Waikabubak13 (b) 87211
- 87217
53.12.04 Tana Righu 139.7917,67023,41624,659Malata1887257
Totals 737.42110,993145,097152,414Waikabubak74

Notes: (a) comprising 5 kelurahan (Dira Tana, Loda Pare, Sobawawi, Wee Dabo and Wee Karou) and 9 desa.
(b) comprising 6 kelurahan (Kampung Baru, Kampung Sawah, Komerda, Maliti, Pada Eweta and Wailiang) and 7 desa.

Villages

Villages in the area include:

Tourism

In 2016 and 2017 Travel + Leisure magazine gave the title of World's Best Hotel (with the highest 98.35 score based on readers' choice) to Nihiwatu Resort (now known as Nihi Sumba[9]). The hotel is one of the leading sectors for ecotourism.[10]

Climate

Waikabubak has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) with moderate to little rainfall from June to September and heavy to very heavy rainfall from October to May.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Sumba Barat Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5312)
  2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Sumba Barat Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5312)
  5. News: Emanual Dapa Loka . Andrew Graff: Taking initiative in West Sumba . The Jakarta Post . 27 April 2012.
  6. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  7. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  8. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Sumba Barat Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5312)
  9. Web site: Nihi Sumba Hotel Review, the Best Hotel in the World. Once in a Lifetime Journey. 10 September 2017.
  10. Web site: Nihiwatu Resort Sumba Terpilih Sebagai Hotel Terbaik Dunia . July 19, 2016.