Central Sulawesi

**Central Sulawesi** (Indonesian: _Sulawesi Tengah_) is a province of Indonesia. It is at the center of the island of Sulawesi. The  capital and largest city is Palu. The population was 2,633,420 in the 2010 census. In 2014, the government reported the population as 2,839,290. The area of Central Sulawesi is

The province used to be called Central Celebes. It covers the northern part of the island of Sulawesi, the southern part of the northern peninsula and the eastern peninsula. It has ten districts (kabupaten, also called regency). It is very mountainous, and there are many ethnic groups. Most of the people live on the plains near the coast. The other areas are difficult to reach, and the roads are in a bad state, especially on the eastern peninsula. The dominant religion is Islam, with 79% of the population. About 16% are Protestants, and 1% are Catholics. There are also people who follow indigenous faiths. Palu is the only city, and the only bigger settlement. In the district Poso, there may be tensions, which are fueled by religious disputes.

Because of its relative isolation, the province is one of the least developed ones in Indonesia. Timber and forestry is the most important branch of the economy. There is the Lore-Lindu National park, in the mountains just south of Palu. This national park is important for many indigenous species.

In the last few years, growing cocoa has become more important.

Islam reached the region in the 17th century, since the 18th century it was a Dutch colony. With Dutch  colonization, Protestant missionaries also started their work. Today, about a sixth of the population are Protestants. This is one of the highest values in Indonesia.

In the Second World War, the province was occupied by Japanese forces. After the independence of Indonesia, in 1949, the area was part of the province North Sulawesi. The current province was established in 1964.

## References

- Ernst Kündig: _Morphologie und Hydrographie der Toili-Ebene (Ostcelebes)_, in: Mitteilungen der Geographisch-Ethnographischen Gesellschaft Zürich, Bd. 32, 1931–1932 (Digitalisat )

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Central Sulawesi
- **native name lang**: id
- **type**: Provinces of Indonesia, Province
- **image caption**: From top, left to right : Madale Beach in Poso, City View of Luwuk, Lake Poso festival, Gulf of Palu, Sabo Beach in Ampana, Kadidiri Island in Kepulauan Togean National Park, Behoa Valley
- **image seal**: Coat of arms of Central Sulawesi.svg
- **image flag**: flag of Central Sulawesi.png
- **motto**: _Maliu Ntinuvu_ (Palu)
 (Unites All The Elements and The Potential that Exists)
- **image map**: IndonesiaCentralSulawesi.png
- **map caption**: Location of Central Sulawesi in Indonesia
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **established title**: Founded
- **established date**: 13 April 1964
- **seat type**: List of capitals of provinces in Indonesia, Capital
- **seat**:  Palu
- **leader party**: Great Indonesia Movement Party, Gerindra
- **leader title**: Governor
- **leader name**: Rusdy Mastura
- **leader title2**: Vice Governor
- **leader name2**: Ma'mun Amir
- **unit pref**: Metric
- **area total km2**: 61841.29
- **population total**: 2839290
- **population as of**: 2014
- **population density km2**: auto
- **demographics type1**: Demographics
- **demographics1 title1**: Ethnic groups
- **demographics1 info1**: Butonese people, Buton (23%)
 Kaili people, Kaili (20%)
 Bugis (19%)
 Tolaki (16%)
 Muna people, Muna (15%)
 Gorontaloan people, Gorontaloan (7%)
- **demographics1 title2**: Religion
- **demographics1 info2**: Islam (78.9%)
 Protestantism (16.31%)
 Hinduism (3.64%)
 Roman Catholicism (0.9%)
 Buddhism (0.14%)
- **demographics1 title3**: Languages
- **demographics1 info3**: Indonesian language, Indonesian (official)
- **timezone1**: Time in Indonesia, Indonesia Central Time
- **utc offset1**: +08
- **postal code type**: Postal codes in Indonesia, Postcodes
- **postal code**: 90xxx, 91xxx, 92xxx
- **area code**: (+62) 4xx
- **area code type**: Telephone numbers in Indonesia, Area codes
- **registration plate**: Vehicle registration plates of Indonesia, DN
- **blank name sec1**: Human Development Index, HDI
- **blank info sec1**: 0.681 ()
- **blank1 name sec1**: HDI rank
- **blank1 info sec1**: List of Indonesian provinces by Human Development Index, 26th (2017)
- **iso code**: ID-ST
- **blank name sec2**: Largest city by area
- **blank info sec2**: Palu –
- **blank1 name sec2**: Largest city by population
- **blank1 info sec2**: Palu – (335,297 – 2010)
- **blank2 name sec2**: Largest regency by area
- **blank2 info sec2**: Morowali Regency –
- **blank3 name sec2**: Largest regency by population
- **blank3 info sec2**: Parigi Moutong Regency – (413,645 – 2010)