South Aceh Regency


South Aceh Regency is a regency in the Aceh province of Indonesia. It is located on the west coast of the island of Sumatra. The regency covers an area of 4,173.82 square kilometres and had a population of 202,251 at the 2010 Census and 232,414 at the 2020 Census; the official population estimate in mid 2024 was 241,994.
Its population density was thus inhabitants/km2 at the 2010 census, inhabitants/km2 at the 2020 census, and inhabitants/km2 in mid 2024. The seat of the regency government is at Tapaktuan.

Demography

Some 60% of the regency's population are ethically the Acehnese, some 30% of the people of the regency are the Minangkabau-descended Aneuk Jamee, and about 10% are ethnically the Kluet people.

History

South Aceh Regency was originally created on 14 November 1956 from the former southeastern districts of West Aceh Regency. On 20 April 1999 its own southeastern districts were in turn split off to create a separate Aceh Singkil Regency, and it was further reduced in size on 10 April 2002 by further districts in the northwest of the regency being split off to create a Southwest Aceh Regency.

Administrative districts

At the time of the 2010 Census, the regency was divided administratively into sixteen districts. Later in 2010, two additional districts were carved out of the existing districts. The districts are listed below with their areas and populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates for mid 2024. The districts are grouped into five geographical units, which have no administrative significance. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district, and its postal codes.
Kode
Kemendagri		Name of
District
Area
in
km2		Pop'n
Census
2010		Pop'n
Census
2020		Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2024		Admin
centre		No.
of
villages		Post
codes
11.01.09Trumon 765.925,6146,0256,895Keude Trumon1223774
11.01.16Trumon Timur
285.3410,3408,5289,272Krueng Luas823776
11.01.18Trumon Tengah
123.506,6927,186Ladang Rimba1023775
Subtotal Trumon area 1,174.7615,95421,24523,35330
11.01.01Bakongan 57.6210,9135,3645,524Bakongan723773
11.01.15Bakongan Timur
73.815,2086,1776,484Seubadeh723777
11.01.17Kota Bahagia
244.637,0067,235Bukit Gadeng1023778
Subtotal Bakongan area376.0616,12118,54719,24324
11.01.03Kluet Selatan
106.5812,47714,38014,937Kandang1723772
11.01.14Kluet Timur
449.039,41810,54111,222Paya Dapur923779
11.01.02Kluet Utara
73.2422,27124,86425,550Kota Fajar2123771
11.01.10Pasie Raja98.1115,50018,03818,796Ladang Tuha2123755
11.01.13Kluet Tengah
801.086,1207,5037,978Manggamat1323770
Subtotal Kluet area1,528.0465,78675,32678,48381
11.01.08Tapaktuan100.7322,54023,19023,702Tapaktuan1823711 - 23718
11.01.06Samadua112.9114,44016,05516,437Samadua2823752
11.01.07Sawang 189.3813,67915,96816,659Sawang1523753
11.01.05Meukek465.0618,26120,95621,719Meukek2323754
Subtotal Central area868.0868,92076,16978,51784
11.01.04Labuhan Haji54.8311,82313,38913,805Labuhan Haji1623761
11.01.11Labuhan Haji Timur
95.509,13710,03210,258Peulumat1223758
11.01.12Labuhan Haji Barat
76.5615,49517,70618,335Blang Keujeren1523757
Subtotal Labuhan Haji area226.8936,45541,12742,39843
Totals for regency4,173.82202,251232,414241,994Tapaktuan260

Note: including small offshore islands including Pulau Trumon.
The 2010 population of Trumon Tengah District is included in the 2010 figure for Trumon Timur District, from which it was split.
The Trumon area which forms the southern 28% of the Regency is adjacent to the city of Subulussalam to the east.
including offshore island of Pulau Kayee.
The 2010 population of Kota Bahagia District is included in the 2010 figure for Bakongan District, from which it was split.
including offshore island of Pulau Batukapal.