Tana Toraja Regency

Tana Toraja Regency
Kabupaten Tana Toraja
Regency
The traditional tongkonans in Kete Kesu [id]
The traditional tongkonans in Kete Kesu [id]
Official seal of Tana Toraja Regency
Seal
Location within South Sulawesi
Location within South Sulawesi
CountryIndonesia
ProvinceSouth Sulawesi
Anniversary1 September 1247; 777 years ago (1247-09-01)
CapitalMakale
Area
[1]
 • Total2,043.62 km2 (789.05 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)[2]
 • Total257,901
 • Density130/km2 (330/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (WITA)
Area code(+62) 423
Websitewww.tanatorajakab.go.id

Tana Toraja (lit. 'Toraja Land' in Toraja language) is a landlocked regency (kabupaten) of South Sulawesi Province of Indonesia, and home to the Toraja ethnic group. It covers an area of 2,054.30 km2 (793.17 sq mi) and had a population of 221,081 at the 2010 census[3] and 280,794 at the 2020 census;[4] the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 291,046 (comprising 150,655 males and 140,391 females),[5] but the official figure for mid 2023 was a much reduced total of 257,901 (comprising 132,284 males and 125,617 females).[2]

The local government seat is in the town of Makale, while the traditional center of Toraja culture is in Rantepao. Formerly, the Tana Toraja area covered a larger area, but on 24 June 2008 this was divided into two regencies, consisting of Tana Toraja with its capital at Makale and Toraja Utara (North Toraja) with its capital at Rantepao.

The Tana Toraja boundary was determined by the Dutch East Indies government in 1909. In 1926, Tana Toraja was under the administration of the Bugis state, Luwu. The regentschap (or regency) status was given on 8 October 1946, the last regency given by the Dutch. Since 1984, Tana Toraja has been named as the second tourist destination after Bali by the Ministry of Tourism, Indonesia. Since then, hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors have visited this regency. In addition, numerous Western anthropologists have come to Tana Toraja to study the indigenous culture and people of Toraja.

Christian mission in Tana Toraja Regency, Netherlands colonial period.
picture credits : Tropenmuseum.
  1. ^ "Kabupaten Tana Toraja Dalam Angka 2020" (in Indonesian). 2018-07-20. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  2. ^ a b Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Tana Toraja Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7318)
  3. ^ Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  4. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  5. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023, Kabupaten Tana Toraja Dalam Angka 2023 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7318)