West Aceh Regency () is a regency in the Aceh Province of Indonesia. It is located on the island of Sumatra. The regency formerly covered a much larger area, but on 4 October 1999 the districts on the island of Simeulue were separated out to form their own regency, and on 10 April 2002 two additional regencies - Aceh Jaya and Nagan Raya - were created from parts of West Aceh; the residual regency currently covers an area of 2,927.95 square kilometres and had a population of 173,558 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 198,736 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 210,979 (comprising 106,286 males and 104,693 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Aceh Barat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1107)
The town of Meulaboh remains the seat of the regency government (notwithstanding incorrect reports that on 8 July 2013 it was separated out as an independent city). The regency is a palm oil-producing area. While the majority of the population are Acehnese people, some of the people of the regency are Minangkabau-descended Aneuk Jamee.
The regency was among the hardest-hit areas during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
The regency is bordered by the regencies of Aceh Jaya to the west, Pidie to the north, Central Aceh to the northeast, and Nagan Raya to the southeast, and by the Indian Ocean to the southwest.
Administrative districts The regency was divided administratively into twelve districts (kecamatan), listed below with their areas and populations 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 Aceh Barat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1107) The table also includes the location of the district administrative centres, and the number of administrative villages (gampong) in each district, and its post code.
KodeWilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area inkm2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025 Admincentre No. of villages Postcode 11.05.01 Johan Pahlawan 44.91 56,050 64,646 66,536Meulaboh 2123617 &23618 11.05.05 Samatiga 140.69 13,322 15,656 16,596Suak Timah3223650 11.05.06 Bubon 129.58 6,545 6,817 7,213Banda Layung1723651 11.05.07 Arongan Lambalek 130.06 10,609 11,871 12,622Drien Rampak2723652 11.05.04 Woyla 249.04 12,073 13,576 14,567Kuala Bhee4323654 11.05.10 Woyla Barat (West Woyla) 123.00 6,858 7,837 8,263Pasi Mali2423682 11.05.11 Woyla Timur (East Woyla) 132.60 4,138 5,144 5,534Tangkeh2623683 11.05.02 Kaway XVI 510.18 18,753 21,216 22,462Keudee Aron4423681 11.05.09 Meureubo 112.87 26,510 30,066 32,982Meureubo2623615 11.05.08 Pantai Ceuremen 490.25 9,635 11,133 12,332Pante Ceureumen2523680 11.05.12 Panton Reu 83.04 5,671 6,586 7,070Meutulang1923684 11.05.03 Sungai Mas 781.73 3,394 4,188 4,802Kajeung1823685 Totals 2,927.95 173,558 198,736 210,979Meulaboh 322
See also
List of regencies and cities of Indonesia
References