Rantepao is a town and the capital of North Toraja Regency, which is known for being the cultural center of the Toraja ethnic group. National and regional tourism offices have developed the city as the starting point for visiting Tana Toraja, since the area was opened for tourism in the 1970s.

North Toraja is a landlocked regency (kabupaten) of South Sulawesi Province of Indonesia, and the home of the Toraja ethnic group. The local government seat is in Rantepao which is also the center of Toraja culture. Formerly this regency was the northern part of Tana Toraja Regency, but on 24 June 2008 the northeastern 36% of the latter's area was split off to form this separate North Toraja Regency. It covers an area of 1,289.13 km2 and had a population of 216,762 at the 2010 census and 261,086 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 261,652, comprising 133,529 males and 128,123 females.