West Sulawesi

West Sulawesi (Sulawesi Barat) is a province of Indonesia. It borders the provinces of South Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi to the east, Makassar Strait to the west, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The province also shares maritime borders with East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan to the west and West Nusa Tenggara to the south. It is located on the western side of Sulawesi island. It covers a land area of 17,152.99 km2, and its capital is the town of Mamuju. The 2010 Census recorded a population of 1,158,651, while that in 2020 recorded 1,419,228; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 1,481,077 (comprising 750,773 males and 730,304 females).

The province was established in 2004, having been split off from South Sulawesi Province.

Geography
The province is on the island of Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) and includes the regencies (kabupaten) of Polewali Mandar, Mamasa, Majene, Mamuju, Central Mamuju and Pasangkayu (formerly called North Mamuju), which until 2004 were part of the neighbouring province of South Sulawesi. The area of the province is 17,152.99 km2.

Economy
Its economy consists mainly of mining, agriculture and fishing. Its capital is Mamuju.

Archaeological findings
On 11 December 2019, a team of researchers led by Dr. Maxime Aubert announced the discovery of the oldest hunting scenes in prehistoric art in the world which is more than 44,000 years old from the limestone cave of Leang Bulu’ Sipong 4. Archaeologists determined the age of the depiction of hunting a pig and buffalo thanks to the calcite ‘popcorn’, different isotope levels of radioactive uranium and thorium.

Administrative divisions
West Sulawesi Province is divided into six regencies: Polewali Mandar, Mamuju, Pasangkayu, Mamasa, Majene, and Central Mamuju. The sixth regency - Central Mamuju Regency (Kabupaten Mamuju Tengah) - was cut out of the existing Mamuju Regency on 14 December 2012.

The province now forms one of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the People's Representative Council. The West Sulawesi Electoral District consists of all of the 6 regencies in the province, and elects 4 members to the People's Representative Council.

Demographics
Its population at the 2010 census was 1,158,651 increasing at 2.67% annually. Of those 171,356 were classified as below the poverty line of Indonesia. The official estimate as at mid 2023 was 1,481,077.