Padang Lawas Regency

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 Census^[2] and 261,011 at the 2020 Census;^[3] the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 275,648 - comprising 138,506 males and 137,142 females.^[1] Its administrative seat is the town of Sibuhuan. 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.

Padang Lawas Regency Kabupaten Padang Lawas
Regency
Sipamutung temple in Barumun
Coat of arms
Motto(s):  BERCAHAYA (Beriman, Cerdas, Sehat, Sejahtera, Berbudaya)
Country	Indonesia
Province	North Sumatra
Regency seat	Sibuhuan
Government
• Regent	Putra Mahkota Alam Hasibuan [id]
• Vice Regent	Achmad Fauzan Nasution [id]
• Chairman of Council of Representatives	Amran Pikal Siregar (Golkar)
• Vice Chairmen of Council of Representatives	Irsan Bangun Harahap (People's Conscience Party) and Sahrun Hasibuan (National Mandate Party)
Area
• Total	3,912.18 km2 (1,510.50 sq mi)
Population  (mid 2023 estimate)[1]
• Total	275,648
• Density	70/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+7 (WIB)
Website	padanglawaskab.go.id

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^[2] and the 2020 Census,^[3] together with the official estimates as of mid-2023.^[1] 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 of District (kecamatan)	Area in km2	Pop'n Census 2010	Pop'n Census 2020	Pop'n Estimate mid 2023	Admin centre	No. of villages	Post code
12.21.01	Sosopan	435.18	9,186	10,389	10,877	Sosopan	12	22761
12.21.06	Ulu Barumun	207.43	14,024	16,700	17,749	Paringgonan	15	22767
12.21.07	Barumun	126.10	44,040	40,934	43,681	Pasar Sibuhuan	17 (a)	22763
12.21.13	Barumun Baru	13.73	(b)	12,266	13,095	Hasahatan Julu	13	22763
12.21.10	Barumun Selatan (South Barumun)	109.87	6,780	7,954	8,417	Batang Bulu Lama	11	22764
12.21.04	Lubuk Barumun	289.58	16,201	20,024	21,513	Pasar Latong	24	22766
12.21.08	Sosa	283.52	31,765	19,487	21,072	Pasar Ujung Batu	16	22765
12.21.14	Ulu Sosa	211.67	(c)	9,076	9,470	Hapung	11	22765
12.21.15	Sosa Julu	155.95	(c)	10,295	11,100	Hurung Jilok	12	22765
12.21.17	Sosa Timur (East Sosa)	159.55	(d)	8,623	8,796	Tanjung Ale	13	22742 & 22776
12.21.09	Batang Lubu Sutam	184.75	11,990	8,113	8,364	Pinarik	20	22742
12.21.05	Huta Raja Tinggi	663.24	39,575	39,252	40,923	Huta Raja Tinggi	26	22776
12.21.03	Huristak	523.59	19,794	18,652	19,027	Pasar Huristak	27	22743
12.21.02	Barumun Tengah (Central Barumun)	119.40	18,153	16,307	16,888	Padang Hasior	21	22755
12.21.11	Aek Nabara Barumun	329.36	10,725	13,107	14,035	Aek Nabara	25	22755
12.21.12	Sihapas Barumun	48.25	4,574	5,685	6,117	Padang Hasior	13	22755
12.21.16	Barumun Barat (West Barumun)	51.01	(e)	4,147	4,524	Aek Nabara	10	22755
	Totals	3,912.18	226,807	261,011	275,648	Sibuhuan	304

Notes: (a) including Pasar Sibuhuan, the sole kelurahan in the regency. (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.^[3]
(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.^[3]
(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.^[3]
(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.^[3]

Archaeology

Buddha bronze statue found at Si Pamatung in Barumun Tengah district

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.