Manggarai Regency was one of the original regencies of East Nusa Tenggara Province, but was reduced in area and population on 25 February 2003 when some of its western districts were split off to form the West Manggarai Regency (Kabupaten Manggarai Barat), and then reduced again on 17 July 2007 when some eastern districts were split off to form the East Manggarai Regency (Kabupaten Manggarai Timur). The area of the remaining Manggarai Regency as at 2010 was divided into nine districts (kecamatan), but since 2010 three additional districts – Cibal Barat, Reok Barat, and subsequently Satar Mese Utara – have been created by splitting of existing districts.
The districts are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census[3] and the 2020 census,[4] together with the official estimates as at mid 2024.[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 145 rural desa and 26 urban kelurahan), and its postal codes.
Kode Wilayah | Name of District (kecamatan) | Area in km2 | Pop'n census 2010 | Pop'n census 2020 | Pop'n estimate mid 2024 | Admin centre | No. of villages | Post codes |
| 53.10.05 | Satar Mese [5] | 191.53 | 30,583 | 33,917 | 39,376 | Iteng | 23 | 86561 |
| 53.10.13 | Satar Mese Barat [6] (West Satar Mese) (a) | 128.16 | 30,044 | 18,944 | 21,907 | Narang | 12 | 86560 |
| 53.10.18 | Satar Mese Utara [7] (North Satar Mese) | 114.74 | (b) | 14,854 | 17,574 | Langke Majok | 11 | 86562 |
| 53.10.12 | Langke Rembong[8] (Ruteng Town) | 38.80 | 66,364 | 65,626 | 67,811 | Ruteng | 20 (c) | 86511 - 86519 |
| 53.10.03 | Ruteng (rural) [9] | 87.35 | 38,888 | 41,533 | 46,920 | Cancar | 19 (d) | 86523 |
| 53.10.01 | Wae Rii [10] | 83.26 | 25,596 | 28,788 | 32,592 | Timung | 17 | 86594 |
| 53.10.15 | Lelak [11] | 41.43 | 10,820 | 12,111 | 13,827 | Rejeng | 10 | 86521 |
| 53.10.14 | Rahong Utara [12] (North Rahong) | 84.58 | 20,659 | 22,180 | 25,508 | Purang | 12 | 86522 |
| 53.10.06 | Cibal [13] | 89.71 | 37,800 | 25,569 | 29,320 | Pagal | 17 (e) | 86591 |
| 53.10.17 | Cibal Barat [14] (West Cibal) | 76.25 | (f) | 15,111 | 17,307 | Golo Woi | 10 | 86590 |
| 53.10.11 | Reok [15] | 151.79 | 31,697 | 19,291 | 21,154 | Reo | 10 (g) | 86592 |
| 53.10.16 | Reok Barat [16] (West Reok) | 256.23 | (h) | 14,931 | 16,538 | Sambi | 10 | 86593 |
| Totals | 1,343.83 | 292,451 | 312,855 | 349,836 | Ruteng | 171 | |
Notes: (a) including the island of Pulau Mules off the south coast of Flores Island.
(b) the 2010 population of Satar Mese Utara District is included in the figure for Satar Mese Barat District, from which it was cut out.
(c) all 20 are kelurahan (Bangka Leda, Bangka Nekang, Carep, Compang Carep, Compang Tuke, Golo Dukal, Karot, Laci Carep, Lawir, Mbau Muku, Pau, Pitak, Poco Mal, Rowang, Satar Tacik, Tadong, Tenda, Wali, Waso and Watu).
(d) including the kelurahan of Wae Belang. (e) including the kelurahan of Pagal; there are also five preparatory villages (desa persiapan) which have recently been designated to bring the total to 22.
(f) the 2010 population of Cibal Barat District is included in the figure for Cibal District, from which it was cut out. (g) comprising 4 kelurahan (Baru, Mata Air, Reo and Wangkung) and 6 desa.
(h) the 2010 population of Reok Barat District is included in the figure for Reok District, from which it was cut out; these two districts are situated in the north of the regency.