Aceh

Aceh (/ˈɑːtʃeɪ/) is a province of Indonesia at the northern end of Sumatra. Its capital and largest city is Banda Aceh. It is close to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India across the Andaman Sea.

Aceh
Province
Regional transcription(s)
• Jawoë	اچيه دارالسلام
From top left : Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, Lake Laut Tawar, Sabang, Gunung Leuser National Park, Seulawah Agam, Aceh Tsunami Museum
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Serambi Mekkah Porch of Mecca
Motto(s):  "Pancacita"(Sanskrit) "Five goals"
Anthem: Aceh Mulia
Location of Aceh in Indonesia.
Coordinates: 5°33′N 95°19′E
Country	Indonesia
Established	December 7, 1956
Capital (and largest city)	Banda Aceh
Government
• Governor	Irwandi Marzuki (PNA)
• Vice Governor	Nova Iriansyah
Area
• Total	58,376.81 km2 (22,539.41 sq mi)
• Rank	11th
Elevation	125 m (410 ft)
Highest elevation	3,466 m (11,371 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2017)[1]
• Total	5,189,500
• Rank	14th
• Density	89/km2 (230/sq mi)
• Rank	20th
Demonyms	Acehnese Warga Aceh (id) Kawom Aceh (ace)
Demographics
• Ethnic groups	70.65% Acehnese 8.94% Javanese 7.22% Gayo 3.29% Batak 2.13% Alas 1.49% Simeulue 1.40 Aneuk Jamee 1.11% Tamiang Malay 1.04% Singkil 0.74% Minangkabau[2]
• Religion	Islam 98.48% Protestantism 1.02% Buddhism 0.16% Catholicism 0.07% Hinduism 0.003% Confucianism 0.0008% Others 0.006%
• Languages	Indonesian (official) Acehnese (regional) Gayo, Simeulue, Tamiang Malay, Aneuk Jamee, Alas-Kluet, Singkil (minority)
Time zone	UTC+7 (Indonesia Western Time)
Postcodes	23xxx, 24xxx
Area codes	(62)6xx
ISO 3166 code	ID-AC
Vehicle sign	BL
GRP per capita	US$2,239.49
GRP rank	26th
HDI (2016)	0.700 (High)
HDI rank	12th (2014)
Website	acehprov.go.id

Aceh is a religiously conservative territory and the only Indonesian province practicing Sharia law officially. Islam first entered Indonesia here.

Aceh has large amounts of oil and natural gas. Some estimate that Aceh gas reserves are one of the largest in the world.^[3]

Tsunami disaster

Main article: 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami

Aftermath of the tsunami in Aceh

The west coast of Aceh, including the cities of Banda Aceh, Calang, and Meulaboh, were hit hard by the tsunami after the magnitude 9.2 Indian Ocean earthquake on 26 December 2004.^[4] More than 170,000 people were killed by tsunami in Aceh and about 500,000 were homeless.

Government

Aceh is governed not as an Indonesian province but as a special territory (daerah istimewa). This different title is to give the area more autonomy from the central government in Jakarta.

Internal divisions

Regencies of Aceh

The province is has eighteen regencies (kabupaten) and five cities (kota). The capital and the largest city is Banda Aceh. It on the coast near the northern tip of Sumatra.