Southeast Aceh Regency () is a regency in the Aceh province of Indonesia. It is located on the island of Sumatra. In 1974, the Southeast Aceh Regency was created by being separated from the Central Aceh Regency; however in 2002 the northern part of this regency was itself split away to form the new Gayo Lues Regency. The regency now covers an area of 4,179.12 square kilometres and had a population of 179,010 at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 220,860 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 237,910 (comprising 119,721 males and 118,189 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Aceh Tenggara Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1104) The seat of the regency government is at the town of Kutacane (in Babussalam district).
The main commodities produced in the regency are palm oil, cacao, coconut, coffee, nutmeg, walnut, and pachouli oil The main rivers are the Alas River and the Butan River. It contains the Leuser Ecosystem.
Ethnic groups The original inhabitants of Southeast Aceh Regency are the Alas people. They use the Alas language and live under the customs (adat) of those people. However, the population of the Southeast Aceh Regency has become very diverse due to migration from other regencies of Aceh and beyond. Although this Regency is part of Aceh province, the Acehnese people (an eastern coastal grouping) do not dominate this place.
Here are some other peoples other than Alas inhabiting the regency: Gayo people, the majority of whom live in Bambel district. Karo people in Babul Makmur, Lawe Sigala-Gala, Semadam, and Babussalam districts. Java Islanders (Javanese and Sundanese peoples) in Badar and Babussalam districts. Minangkabau people in Babussalam district (in the town of Kutacane). Singkil people in Bambel district. Acehnese people, mainly in Babussalam district (in the town of Kutacane).
There are other smaller ethnic groups that are still new to the Regency and do not constitute a majority population elsewhere, such as Tamiang Malays.
Administrative borders The regency is bordered by the following regencies: DirectionNeighbourNorthGayo Lues RegencyEastKaro, Dairi and Langkat Regencies of North SumatraWestSouth Aceh RegencySouthSouth Aceh Regency and Subulussalam City
Administrative districts The regency is divided administratively into sixteen districts (kecamatan), listed below with their areasBadan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kabupaten Aceh Tenggara Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1104) and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as of mid 2024.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kabupaten Aceh Tenggara Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1104) The densest populations are found in the eastern districts, along the borders with North Sumatra province. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages (gampong) in each district, and its post codes.
KodeWilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2024AdmincentreNo. ofvillagesPostcode 11.02.01 Lawe Alas 564.39 13,010 16,584 18,668Ngkeran 2824661 11.02.11 Babul Rahmah 376.88 7,439 9,170 10,580Lawe Sumur 2724675 11.02.15 Tanoh Alas 170.44 3,606 4,789 5,442Tenembak Alas 1424674 11.02.02 Lawe Sigala-gala 75.37 17,429 20,751 21,578Lawe Sigala 3524676 11.02.06 Babul Makmur 73.61 12,580 15,101 15,510Cinta Makmur 2124673 11.02.10 Semadam 37.94 10,702 13,249 13,784Simpang Semadam 1924678 11.02.16 Leuser 1,389.60 4,876 6,998 7,606Kane Mende 2324677 11.02.03 Bambel 26.77 15,090 19,219 20,678Kuta Lang Lang 3324672 11.02.09 Bukit Tusam 37.19 8,685 11,479 12,886Lawe Dua 2324671 11.02.14 Lawe Sumur 36.14 6,696 7,686 9,124Lawe Perlak 1824670 11.02.04 Babussalam 114.30 24,785 29,676 29,185Kutacane 2724664 11.02.08 Lawe Bulan 39.62 13,426 17,039 16,932Simpang Empat 2424665 11.02.05 Badar 107.28 12,119 14,512 14,964Purwodadi 1824666 11.02.07 Darul Hasanah 381.57 11,488 14,974 16,323Mamas 2824663 11.02.12 Ketambe 690.53 9,273 10,890 12,766Lawe Beringin 2524662 11.02.13 Deleng Pokhkisen 57.49 7,045 8,743 9,563Beringin Naru 2224660 Totals 4,179.12 179,010 220,860 235,589Kutacane 385
Regents No.NamePeriod1.Lettu. H. Syahadat1975-19812.T. Djohan Syahbudin, SH1981-19863.Drs. H. T. Iskandar1986-19914.Drs. Syahbudin BP1991-20015.H. Armen Desky2001-20066.Ir. H. Hasanuddin Beruh, MM2006-20177.Drs. H. Raidin Pinim, M.AP2017-now
See also
List of regencies and cities of Indonesia Kutacane Alas people
References