Its population was 283,818 in the 2010 decennial census[2] and had risen to 303,650 at the 2020 census;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 322,073 (comprising 164,825 males and 157,248 females[1] The Southwest Sumba Regency when created was composed of eight districts (kecamatan), but since 2010, three additional districts have been created within the Regency, by the splitting of existing districts.

(e) including the two kelurahan of Langga Lero and Waitabula; also including the desa of Kalembu Kaha, which is an exclave separated from the rest of the district by Wewewa Barat and Kodi Utara Districts.

The populations in 2023 of these detached desa (which together form a non-administrative grouping along the northcoast of the regency) were as follows: Several tourist attractions in this district have been widely explored and visited by a variety of local and foreign tourists, but there are only a few who have access to roads and adequate facilities and infrastructure available, namely Mananga Aba Beach, Mbawana beach, Oro Beach, Kawona Beach, Newa Beach, Pantai Waikelo, Sumba Cultural Home, Lake Saltwater Weekuri, and Pabeti Waterfall.

This district includes several traditional villages such as Wainyapu and Ratenggaro [id] on the south-west coast, and others inland.

Wainyapu is particularly rich in dolmens, which - as of 2021 - are still built for collective graves.