North Aceh Regency () is a regency in Aceh province of Indonesia. It is located on the island of Sumatra. The regency covers a land area of 2,705.26 square kilometres and had a population of 534,085 at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 602,793 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 647,619 (comprising 322,625 males and 324,994 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Aceh Utara Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111)
The administrative centre is now at the town of Lhoksukon; this followed the splitting off of the western districts from the regency to form (by Law No. 48 of 1999) a separate Bireuen Regency on 4 October 1999, and then the creation (by Law No. 2 of 2001) of the independent city of Lhokseumawe out of what was formerly the capital, which was cut out of the regency on 21 June 2001.
Economy This regency is included in one of the largest industrial regions outside Java, especially with the opening of liquid gas processing industry plants based on PT Arun LNG in Lhokseumawe, 1974. There were several large factories nearby at the time: PT.Kertas Kraft Aceh, pabrik Pupuk AAF (Aceh Asean Fertilizer) and pabrik Pupuk Iskandar Muda (PIM). The Port of Krueng Geukueh is located in the regency.
In the agricultural sector, the regency has a good reputation as an important rice producer. The whole North Aceh Regency has the greatest potential of any region in Aceh and its income per capita is above Rp 1.4 million (without oil and natural gas) or Rp 6 million (with oil and natural gas).
Gas and petroleum fields were found in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh's former capital city around the 1970s. Then, many investors interested in its natural resources came to Aceh. Since then, liquefied natural gas (LNG) processed in refinery of PT. Arun Natural Gas Liquefaction (NGL) Co, coming from the installation of PT. ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia (EMOI) in Lhokseumawe industrial zone (now : Arun Lhokseumawe Special Economic Zone), had changed this regency to modern petrochemistry industrial region.
There are 2 sectors dominating economical activity in North Aceh, i.e. mining and excavating, and processing industrial sector. In mining sector, the gas wells processed by PT. EMOI surely become one of this sector's pioneering factor.
Religion North Aceh's inhabitants are predominantly Muslim. Minorities have the freedom to worship according to their respective religions.
Border North: Malacca Strait East: East Aceh Regency South: Central Aceh Regency West: Bireuen Regency
Administrative districts
The regency is divided administratively into twenty-seven districts (kecamatan), listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as of mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Aceh Utara Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages (gampong) within each district, and its post code.
Kode Wilayah Name of District(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025 Admin centre No.of villagesPostcode 11.08.15 Sawang Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Sawang Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111010 379.3334,024 39,06341,639Sawang3924377 11.08.16 Nisam Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Nisam Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111020 70.4417,255 19,66321,659Keude Amplah2924378 11.08.27 Nisam AntaraBadan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Nusam Antara Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111021 147.3612,195 13,46514,250Alue Dua624379 11.08.26 Banda Baro Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Banda Baro Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111022 26.917,437 7,9268,613Ulee Nyeue924376 11.08.03 Kuta Makmur Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Kura Makmur Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111030 143.3722,208 26,37929,712Buloh Blang Awa3924371 11.08.22 Simpang Keramat Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Simpang Keramat Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111031 95.518,781 9,95711,599Kedee Simpang Empat1624313 11.08.11 Syamtalira Bayu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Syamtalira Bayu Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111040 33.7119,110 22,39323,775Baru3824370 11.08.25 Geureudong Pase Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Geureudong Pase Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111041 107.624,484 5,5346,243Mbang1124373 11.08.07 Meurah Mulia Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Meurah Mulia Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111050 39.5517,756 21,02422,966Jungka Gajah5024372 11.08.05 Matangkuli Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Matangkuli Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111060 27.3916,558 18,75620,442Matang Kuli4924386 11.08.20 Paya Bakong Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Paya Bakong Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111061 271.0312,794 15,55516,611Keude Paya Bakong3924383 11.08.24 Pirak Timu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Pirak Timu Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111062 34.067,474 8,7999,478Alue Bungkoh2324384 11.08.17 Cot GirekBadan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Cot Girek Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111070 307.3218,492 20,30521,339Cot Girek2424352 11.08.14 Tanah Jambo Aye Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Tanah Jambo Aye Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111080 93.4539,461 44,22246,622Panton Labu4724395 11.08.18 Langkahan Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Langkahan Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111081 181.8521,090 22,51824,140Langkahan2324394 11.08.09 Seunuddon Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Seunuddon Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111090 77.4123,457 25,98227,337Seunuddon3324393 11.08.01 Baktiya Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Baktiya Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111100 122.9632,731 37,65741,175Alue Le Puteh5724392 11.08.19 Baktiya Barat Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Baktiya Barat Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111101 (West Baktiya)73.2717,082 18,98020,536Keude Sampoiniet2624396 11.08.04 LhoksukonBadan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Lhoksukon Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111110 146.9644,358 49,73352,992Lhoksukon7524382 11.08.12 Tanah Luas Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Tanah Luas Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111120 156.2722,217 25,19327,399Blang Jruen5724387 11.08.21 Nibong Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Nibong Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111121 17.399,121 10,77811,696Keude Nibong2024385 11.08.08 Samudera Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Samudera Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111130 32.5924,589 27,14729,339Geudong4024374 11.08.10 Syamtalira Aron Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Syamtalira Aron Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111140 24.5916,591 19,34520,384Simpang Muling3424381 11.08.13 Tanah Pasir Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Tanah Pasir Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111150 13.778,445 9,97810,542Jrat Manyang1824390 11.08.23 Lapang Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Lapang Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111151 25.507,974 8,8069,168Lapang1124391 11.08.06 Muara Batu Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Muara Batu Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111160 27.2924,585 27,75329,683Krueng Mane2424355 11.08.02 Dewantara Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Dewantara Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1111170 28.3843,797 45,88248,280Krueng Geukueh1524354 Totals 2,705.26534,085 602,793 647,619 Lhoksukon852
Politics The current regent is Muhammad Thaib also known as Cek Mad.
References
External links Official website