Mandailing Natal, a.k.a. Madina, is a regency in North Sumatra Province of Indonesia. It covers an area of 6,620.70 square kilometres and it had a population of 403,894 people at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 472,886 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 513,536.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Mandailing Natal Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1202) The capital lies at Panyabungan. The Regency was formerly a part of South Tapanuli Regency until it was created as a separate regency on 23 November 1998. It is the southernmost regency in North Sumatra, and the largest regency by land area in the province, with Langkat Regency second to it.
Geography The regency is divided in two by the Bukit Barisan mountains. The portion to the west of the mountains drains to the west coast of Sumatra, and comprises the districts of Batahan, Sinunukan, Batang Natal, Lingga Bayu, Ranto Baek, Natal and Muara Batang Gadis; it covers an area of 4,037 km2, and had a population of 187,672 in mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Mandailing Natal Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1202) The portion to the east of the mountains comprises the remaining districts of the Regency, all of which drain towards the north; it covers an area of 2,583.7 km2 and had a population of 325,864 in mid 2025.
Administration At the 2010 Census, the regency was divided into eighteen districts (kecamatan). Subsequently, five additional districts (indicated by asterisks in the table below) have been created by the division of existing districts. The twenty-three districts are tabulated below with their areas and their population at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and the 2020 Census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with the official estimates as of mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Mandailing Natal Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1202) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 377 rural desa and 27 urban kelurahan), and its post code.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Areain km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025Admin centre No.ofvillagesPostcode 12.13.15 Batahan 497.0717,52422,50925,359Pasar Batahan18 (a) 22988 12.13.22 Sinunukan *172.6415,37521,52725,287Sinunukan III1422986 12.13.13 Batang Natal 651.5122,57525,33326,735Muara Soma31 (a) 22983 12.13.14 Lingga Bayu 192.6822,45327,57630,401Simpang Gambir19 (b) 22982 12.13.18 Ranto Baek *152.7211,25914,08515,667Manisak1722984 12.13.08 Kotanopan 325.1526,26427,87128,629Pasar Kotanopan36 (b) 22994 12.13.11 Ulu Pungkut 295.194,2504,6744,886Huta Godang13 (a) 22999 12.13.10 Tambangan 158.6011,47110,91310,915Laru Lombang20 (a) 22996 12.13.09 Lembah Sorik Marapi 34.7315,60510,96810,971Pasar Maga9 (a) 22993 12.13.20 Puncak Sorik Marapi *55.547,9548,9759,498Sibanggor1122995 12.13.12 Muara Sipongi 135.709,67012,52814,173Pasar Muara Sipongi16 (a) 22998 12.13.21 Pakantan * 93.602,1462,2222,255Pakantan822997 12.13.01 Panyabungan (Kota) 259.7777,44990,04996,679Panyabungan39 (c) 22915-22919 12.13.04 Panyabungan Selatan (South Panyabungan) 87.609,41010,32310,776Tano Bato11 (a) 22952 12.13.05 Panyabungan Barat (West Panyabungan) 87.228,91110,67711,631Longat10 (a) 22911 12.13.02 Panyabungan Utara (North Panyabungan) 63.7319,99122,57323,894Mompang12 (a) 22979 12.13.03 Panyabungan Timur (East Panyabungan) 397.8712,30714,21415,212Gunung Baringin15 (a) 22912 12.13.19 Huta Bargot * 116.215,7158,74810,729Bangun Sejati1222978 12.13.16 Natal 935.3727,29233,89737,573Pasar Natal30 (b) 22987 12.13.17 Muara Batang Gadis 1,435.0215,41622,32226,650Singkuang1422989 12.13.06 Siabu 345.3647,36453,28656,304Siabu28 (b) 22976 12.13.07 Bukit Malintang 68.7410,89412,77113,766Bukit Malintang1122977 12.13.23 Naga Juang * 58.693,6504,8455,546Banua Simanosor722975 Totals 6,620.70404,945472,886513,536Panyabungan404
Notes: (a) including one kelurahan. (b) including two kelurahan. (c) comprising nine kelurahan (Dalan Lidang, Kayu Jati, Kota Siantar, Panyabungan I, Panyabungan II, Panyabungan III, Pasar Hilir, Pidoli Dolok and Sipolu-Polu) and thirty desa.
National Park
see Batang Gadis National Park
References