Editing Aceh (section)

=== Administrative divisions ===
[[File:Aceh Regencies.png|thumb|Municipalities of Aceh]]
Administratively, the province now is subdivided into eighteen [[Regency (Indonesia)|regencies]] (''kabupaten'') and five autonomous cities (''kota''). The capital and the largest city is [[Banda Aceh]], located on the coast near the northern tip of Sumatra. When originally devised in 1956, the province comprised the city of '''Banda Aceh''' and six regencies – '''Aceh Besar''', '''Pidie''', '''North Aceh''', '''East Aceh''', '''Central Aceh''', and '''West Aceh'''; however on 14 November 1956 a seventh regency ('''South Aceh''') was created from the southeastern districts of West Aceh Regency. A second city ('''Sabang City''') was separated from Aceh Besar on 10 June 1965 and '''Southeast Aceh Regency''' from part of Central Aceh on 4 June 1974; three additional regencies were formed in 1999 – '''Aceh Singkil''' from part of South Aceh Regency on 20 April, and '''Bireuen''' (from part of North Aceh Regency) and '''Simeulue''' (from part of West Aceh Regency) on 4 October.

The towns of '''Lhokseumawe''' and '''Langsa''' were given separate city status (from parts of North Aceh Regency and of East Aceh Regency respectively) on 21 June 2001, and five additional regencies were created on 10 April 2002 – '''Aceh Jaya''' and '''Nagan Raya''' (both from parts of West Aceh Regency), '''Aceh Tamiang''' (from part of East Aceh Regency), '''Gayo Lues''' (from part of Southeast Aceh Regency) and '''Southwest Aceh''' (from part of South Aceh Regency). '''Bener Meriah Regency''' was created on 19 December 2003 (from part of Central Aceh Regency), and '''Pidie Jaya Regency''' (from part of Pidie Regency) and '''Subulussalam City''' (from part of Aceh Singkil Regency) on 2 January 2007. Some other local areas are pushing to create new autonomous areas, usually with the stated goal of enhancing local control over politics and development.

The cities and regencies (subdivided into the 289 [[Districts of Indonesia|districts]] or ''kecamatan'' of Aceh), are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011">Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.</ref> and the 2020 census,<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021" /> together with the officially estimated population as at mid 2024.<ref name="BPS Provinsi Aceh 2025"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-bottom:0;"
|-
! Kode <br>Wilayah|| Name of<br>City or <br>Regency !! Regency<br>Capital !! Est. || Established<br /> by statute || Area <br />in<br />km<sup>2</sup> !! Pop'n<br />2010<br />census !! Pop'n<br />2020<br />census !! Pop'n<br />mid 2024<br />estimate !! [[Human Development Index|HDI]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bps.go.id/indicator/26/413/1/-metode-baru-indeks-pembangunan-manusia.html |title=Indeks-Pembangunan-Manusia-2021 |access-date=30 January 2020 |archive-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127193437/https://www.bps.go.id/indicator/26/413/1/-metode-baru-indeks-pembangunan-manusia.html |url-status=live }}</ref><br />2021 estimates
|-
| 11.72 || [[Sabang, Indonesia|Sabang City]]|| || 1967 || UU 10/1965 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 122.04}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 30653}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 41197}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 43500}} || 0.761 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.06 || [[Aceh Besar Regency]] || [[Jantho]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2882.83}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 351418}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 405535}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 428300}} || 0.735 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.71 || [[Banda Aceh]] City|| || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 55.85}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 223446}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 252899}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 265000}} || 0.857 ({{fontcolor|green|Very High}})
|-
| 11.14 || [[Aceh Jaya Regency]] || [[Calang]] || 2002 || UU 4/2002 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 3893.05}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 76782}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 93,159}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 99200}} || 0.698 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.07 || [[Pidie Regency]] || [[Sigli]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 3133.93}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 379108}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 435275}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 452500}} || 0.707 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.18 || [[Pidie Jaya Regency]] || [[Meureudu]] || 2007 || UU 7/2007 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 953.12}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 132956}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 158397}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 166500}} || 0.736 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.11 || [[Bireuen Regency]] || [[Bireuen]] || 1999 || UU 48/1999 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1793.27}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 389288}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 436418}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 459100}} || 0.723 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.08 || [[North Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Utara) || [[Lhoksukon]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2711.15}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 529751}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 602793}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 632000}} || 0.694 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.73 || [[Lhokseumawe]] City|| || 2001 || UU 2/2001 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 136.49}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 171163}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 188713}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 200400}} || 0.775 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.03 || [[East Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Timur) || [[Idi Rayeuk]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 5432.63}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 360475}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 422401}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 444600}} || 0.678 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.74 || [[Langsa]] City|| || 2001 || UU 3/2001 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 217.17}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 148945}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 185971}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 198000}} || 0.774 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.16 || [[Aceh Tamiang Regency]] || [[Karang Baru]] || 2002 || UU 4/2002 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2184.40}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 251914}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 294356}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 309000}} || 0.694 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.13 || [[Gayo Lues Regency]] || [[Blangkejeren]] || 2002 || UU 4/2002 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 5541.28}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 79560}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 99532}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 106800}} || 0.675 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.17 || [[Bener Meriah Regency]] || [[Simpang Tiga Redelong|Simpang Tiga <br>Redelong]] || 2003 || UU 41/2003 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1930.75}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 122277}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 161342}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 172000}} || 0.732 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.04 || [[Central Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Tengah) || [[Takengon]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 4521.70}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 175527}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 215860}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 226700}} || 0.733 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.05 || [[West Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Barat) || [[Meulaboh]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2818.17}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 173558}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 198736}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 206800}} || 0.716 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.15 || [[Nagan Raya Regency]] || [[Suka Makmue]] || 2002 || UU 4/2002 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 3416.32}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 139663}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 168392}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 176400}} || 0.693 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.12 || [[Southwest Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Barat Daya) || [[Blangpidie]] || 2002 || UU 4/2002 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1882.28}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 126036}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 150780}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 159200}} || 0.669 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.01 || [[South Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Selatan) || [[Tapaktuan]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 4175.37}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 202251}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 232410}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 242000}} || 0.674 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.02 || [[Southeast Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Tenggara) || [[Kutacane]] || 1974 || UU 7/1974 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 4179.12}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 179010}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 220860}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 234400}} || 0.694 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.75 || [[Subulussalam]] City|| || 2007 || UU 8/2007 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1183.60}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 67446}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 90751}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 99100}} || 0.652 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.10 || [[Aceh Singkil Regency]]<br />(including the <br>[[Banyak Islands]])|| [[Singkil, Indonesia|Singkil]] || 1999 || UU 14/1999 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1852.82}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 102509}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 126514}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 135700}} || 0.692 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.09 || [[Simeulue Regency]] || [[Sinabang]] || 1999 || UU 48/1999 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1821.75}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 80674}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 92865}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 98600}} || 0.664 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|}
{{refbegin}}'''Note:''' UU is an abbreviation from Undang-Undang ([[Law of Indonesia|the Indonesia statute of law]]).{{refend}}

Aceh is unique in Indonesia in grouping its [[Villages of Indonesia|villages]] into mukims. These are sometimes related to traditional indigenous communities. Beginning in September 2023, the Indonesian government provided legal recognition to the claims of some mukims over customary forests.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/for-1st-time-indonesia-government-recognizes-ancestral-forests-in-aceh-but-only-some/ |title=For 1st time, Indonesia government recognizes ancestral forests in Aceh — but only some |author=Hans Nicholas Jong |work=Mongabay |date=26 October 2023 |access-date=25 June 2024}}</ref>

The province comprises two of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the [[Indonesian Parliament|People's Representative Council]]. 
* The '''Aceh I Electoral District''' consists of 12 of the regencies in the province (Simeulue, Aceh Singkil, South Aceh, Southeast Aceh, West Aceh, Aceh Besar, Pidie, Southwest Aceh, Aceh Jaya, Gayo Lues, Nagan Raya and Pidie Jaya), together with the cities of Bandar Aceh, Sabang and Subulussalam, and elects 7 members to the People's Representative Council. 
* The '''Aceh II Electoral District''' consists of the remaining 6 regencies (East Aceh, Central Aceh, Bireuen, North Aceh, Aceh Tamiang and Bener Meriah), together with the cities of Langsa and Lhokseumawe, and elects 6 members to the People's Representative Council.<ref>Law No. 7/2017 (''UU No. 7 Tahun 2017'') as amended by Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 1/2022 and Regulation of General Elections Commission No. 6/2023.</ref>