[3] Administratively, Wetar is divided into four of the districts (kecamatan) of the Maluku Barat Daya Regency.

The principal towns on Wetar are Lioppa in the northwest, Ilwaki in the south, Wasiri in the north, Masapun in the east, and Arwala in the northeast.

It is not, however, principally of volcanic origin, being instead mainly oceanic crust that has been lifted by the plate collision.

[4] There are a number of gold mines on Wetar, which have been poorly managed and constitute an environmental concern.

[5] Along with other nearby islands, it formed part of Wallacea, the area of deep water separated from both the Asian and Australian continental shelves.

[6] There are a number of Malayo-Polynesian languages endemic to Wetar and the nearby islands of Liran and Atauro.