Aceh - Administration

Administration

Within the country, Aceh is governed not as a province but as a special territory (daerah istimewa), an administrative designation intended to give the area increased autonomy from the central government in Jakarta.

Administratively, the province is subdivided into 18 regencies (kabupaten) and 5 autonomous cities (kota). The capital and the largest city is Banda Aceh, located on the coast near the northern tip of Sumatra. Some local areas are pushing to create new autonomous areas, usually with the stated goal of enhancing local control over politics and development.

Name Capital Est. Statute Area (in km²) Population
2010 Census
Sabang (city) 1967 153.00 30,647
Banda Aceh (city) 1956 UU 24/1956 61.36 224,209
Aceh Besar Regency Jantho 1956 UU 24/1956 2,969.00 350,225
Aceh Jaya Regency Calang 2002 UU 4/2002 3,817.00 76,892
Pidie Regency Sigli 1956 UU 24/1956 2,856.52 378,278
Pidie Jaya Regency Meureudu 2007 UU 7/2007 574.44 132,858
Bireuen Regency Bireuen 1999 UU 48/1999 1,901.22 389,024
North Aceh (Aceh Utara) Regency Lhoksukon 1956 UU 24/1956 3,236.86 529,746
Lhokseumawe (city) 2001 UU 2/2001 181.06 170,504
Bener Meriah Regency Simpang Tiga Redelong 2003 UU 41/2003 1,457.34 121,870
Central Aceh (Aceh Tengah) Regency Takengon 1956 UU 24/1956 4,315.14 175,329
West Aceh (Aceh Barat) Regency Meulaboh 1956 UU 24/1956 2,927.95 172,896
Nagan Raya Regency Suka Makmue 2002 UU 4/2002 3,928.00 138,670
Southwest Aceh (Aceh Barat Daya) Regency Blangpidie 2002 UU 4/2002 2,334.01 125,991
Gayo Lues Regency Blangkejeren 2002 UU 4/2002 5,719.57 79,592
East Aceh (Aceh Timur) Regency Idi Rayeuk 1956 UU 24/1956 6,040.60 359,280
Langsa (city) 2001 UU 3/2001 262.41 148,904
Aceh Tamiang Regency Karang Baru 2002 UU 4/2002 1,939.72 250,992
Southeast Aceh (Aceh Tenggara) Regency Kutacane 1974 UU 7/1974 4,189.26 178,852
South Aceh (Aceh Selatan) Regency Tapaktuan 1956 UU 24/1956 3,851.69 202,003
Subulussalam (city) 2007 UU 8/2007 1,011.00 67,316
Aceh Singkil Regency
(including the Banyak Islands)		 Singkil 1999 UU 14/1999 2,597.00 102,213
Simeulue Regency Sinabang 1999 UU 48/1999 2,051.48 80,279

Notes:

  1. UU is an abbreviation from Undang-Undang (the Indonesia statute of law).

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