Padang Lawas is a regency in the North Sumatra province of Indonesia. It covers an area of 3,912.18 km2, and had a population of 226,807 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 261,011 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 285,704 (comprising 143,305 males and 142,399 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Padang Lawas Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1221) Its administrative seat is the town of Sibuhuan in Barumun District. Padang Lawas Regency was created on 17 July 2007 (along with a separate North Padang Lawas Regency) from southeastern parts of the South Tapanuli Regency. It is the only regency in this province that borders two other provinces, West Sumatra and Riau.
Administrative districts At the 2010 Census, the regency was divided into nine districts (kecamatan). Subsequently, three additional districts were created by the division of existing districts (Barumun Selatan created from part of Barumun District; Aek Nabara Barumun, and Sihapas Barumun from parts of Barumun Tengah). In 2019 a further five districts were created, although the populations of these areas at the 2010 Census are still included in the districts from which they were cut. The districts are tabulated 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 Padang Lawas Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1221) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 303 rural desa and a single urban kelurahan), and its postcode.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Areain km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025Admin centre No.ofvillagesPostcode 12.21.01 Sosopan 435.189,18610,38911,207Sosopan1222761 12.21.06 Ulu Barumun 207.4314,02416,70018,471Paringgonan1522767 12.21.07 Barumun 126.1044,04040,93445,580Pasar Sibuhuan17 (a) 22763 12.21.13 Barumun Baru13.73(b)12,26613,668Hasahatan Julu1322763 12.21.10 Barumun Selatan(South Barumun) 109.876,7807,9548,734Batang Bulu Lama1122764 12.21.04 Lubuk Barumun 289.5816,20120,02422,550Pasar Latong2422766 12.21.08 Sosa 283.5231,76519,48722,183Pasar Ujung Batu1622765 12.21.14 Ulu Sosa 211.67(c)9,0769,736Hapung1122765 12.21.15 Sosa Julu 155.95(c)10,29511,663Hurung Jilok1222765 12.21.09 Batang Lubu Sutam 184.7511,9908,1138,530Pinarik2022742 12.21.05 Huta Raja Tinggi 663.2439,57539,25242,046Huta Raja Tinggi2622776 12.21.17 Sosa Timur (East Sosa)159.55(d)8,6238,907Tanjung Ale1322742 & 22776 12.21.03 Huristak 523.5919,79418,65219,366Pasar Huristak2722743 12.21.02 Barumun Tengah (Central Barumun) 119.4018,15316,30717,275Padang Hasior2122755 12.21.11 Aek Nabara Barumun 329.3610,72513,10714,679Aek Nabara2522755 12.21.12 Sihapas Barumun 48.254,5745,6856,418Padang Hasior1322755 12.21.16 Barumun Barat (West Barumun)51.01(e)4,1474,791Aek Nabara1022755 Totals 3,912.18226,807261,011285,704Pasar Sibuhuan304
Notes: (a) including Pasar Sibuhuan (Sibuhuan Market), the sole town (kelurahan) in the regency, with 22,525 inhabitants (half of the Barumun District total) as at mid 2024.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Barumun Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1221030) (b) the 2010 Census population of the new Barumun Baru District is included in the figure for the Barumun District, from which it was cut out in 2019. (c) the 2010 Census populations of the new Sosa Julu and Ulu Sosa Districts are included in the figure for the Sosa District, from which they were cut out in 2019. (d) the 2010 Census populations of the new Sosa Timur District are included in the figures for the Batang Lubu Sutam and Hutaraja Tinggi Districts, from which it was cut out in 2019. (e) the 2010 Census populations of the new Barumun Barut District are included in the figure for the Barumun Tengah District, from which it was cut out in 2019.
Archaeology
The Padang Lawas archaeological site is partly located in the regency. Covering approximately 1,500 km² it spreads over the districts of Barumun and Barumun Tengah, and into South Tapanuli and North Padang Lawas regencies.
References