East Aceh Regency () is a regency in eastern Aceh province of Indonesia. It is located on the island of Sumatra. The regency covers an area of 6,040.6 square kilometres and had a population of 360,475 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 422,401 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 472,102 (comprising 237,710 males and 234,392 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Aceh Timur Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1105) The regency capital is the town of Idi Rayeuk, in the district of the same name.
The regency borders the Malacca Strait to the north-east, the city of Langsa and Aceh Tamiang Regency to the south-east, Gayo Lues Regency to the south, and Central Aceh Regency, Bener Meriah Regency and North Aceh Regency to the west.
Economy This regency is rich in petroleum, more so than the North Aceh and Aceh Tamiang regencies. Fishing employs many people in the regency but little of it is exported; people depend on it for food. The main fishing centre in the regency is in Idl. The regency also has several food-plant based industries producing tofu, tempeh and sun-dried banana chips. Some areas are under plantation exploitation for palm oil and rubber, although there is only one state-owned company (TPN I) operating in the area. Plantations also produce cacao and chocolate and in the Lokop area iron ore and lead is mined.
Administrative districts
The regency is divided administratively into twenty-four districts (kecamatan), listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and 2020 Census; together with the official estimates as of mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Aceh Timur Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1105) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages (gampong) in each district, and its postal code.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025AdmincentreNo. ofvillagesPostcode 11.03.05 Serbajadi 2,165.66 5,766 6,701 8,177 Lokop 1724460 11.03.20 Simpang Jernih 544.63 3,397 3,626 4,027 Simpang Jernih 824464 11.03.24 Peunaron 79.74 8,206 9,154 9,876 Arul Pinang 524461 11.03.04 Birem Bayeun 253.68 25,330 28,710 30,334 Birem Bayeun 2724452 11.03.08 Rantau Selamat 159.80 11,223 12,372 13,855 Bayeun 1424451 11.03.19 Sungai Raya 159.00 10,672 12,672 14,141 Labuhan Keude 1324466 11.03.07 Peureulak 318.02 39,691 46,245 51,695 Peureulak 3824453 11.03.17 Peureulak Timur (East Peureulak) 182.70 12,601 14,457 16,053 Alue Tho 2024440 11.03.18 Peureulak Barat (West Peureulak) 92.30 13,633 17,367 19,639 Beusa Seubrang 1524450 11.03.10 Ranto Peureulak 129.00 21,945 25,945 30,081 Ranto Peureulak 2324441 11.03.03 Idi Rayeuk 79.60 33,136 39,086 43,025 Idi Rayeuk 3524442 11.03.16 Peudawa 75.90 10,274 12,958 14,653 Seuneubok Peudawa 1724469 11.03.15 Banda Alam 90.95 7,296 8,651 9,915 Pantai Rayeuk M. 1624458 11.03.14 Idi Tunong 74.70 8,895 11,305 13,061 Buket Teukuh 2524443 11.03.21 Darul Ihsan 54.50 5,447 7,343 8,428 Keude Dua 1624468 11.03.23 Idi Timur (East Idi) 55.15 5,210 6,762 8,082 Keude Redep 1324456 11.03.01 Darul Aman 131.50 17,043 20,569 23,896 Idi Cut 4524455 11.03.06 Nurussalam 137.07 15,308 17,843 19,860 Bagok 3124467 11.03.22 Darul Falah 42.40 2,902 3,752 4,184 Tunung Ulee Gajah 1124454 11.03.02 Julok 234.36 23,884 26,835 29,640 Kuta Binjei 3724459 11.03.13 Indra Makmur 89.05 15,772 16,416 17,243 Alue le Mirah 1324457 11.03.11 Pante Bidari (or Pante Beudari) 233.25 21,490 25,588 28,725 Lhok Nibong 2524463 11.03.09 Simpang Ulim 123.80 18,136 21,136 23,480 Simpang Ulim 2324465 11.03.12 Madat 200.84 23,218 26,908 30,032 Madat 2624462 Totals 6,040.60 360,475 422,401 472,102Idi Rayeuk 513
References