| Official Name: | Central Aceh Regency |
| Native Name: | Kabupaten Aceh Tengah |
| Native Name Lang: | id |
| Type: | Regency |
| Motto: | Keramat Meupakat (His Majesty Consulted) |
| Coordinates: | 4.5167°N 148°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Indonesia |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Sumatra |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1956 |
| Seat Type: | Regency seat |
| Seat: | Takengon |
| Leader Title: | Regent |
| Leader Name: | Teuku Mirzuan |
| Area Total Km2: | 4527.58 |
| Population As Of: | mid 2023 estimate |
| Population Total: | 223833 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Timezone1: | IWST |
| Utc Offset1: | +7 |
| Area Code: | (+62) 643 |
| Pushpin Map: | Indonesia_Aceh#Indonesia_Sumatra North#Indonesia_Sumatra#Indonesia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Aceh, Northern Sumatra, Sumatra and Indonesia |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Leader Title1: | Vice Regent |
| Leader Name1: | Vacant |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
Central Aceh Regency (Indonesian: Kabupaten Aceh Tengah) is a regency in Aceh Special Region (Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam) of Indonesia. It is located on Sumatra island. Formerly this regency covered a much larger area; on 4 June 1974, the Southeast Aceh Regency was separated from the Central Aceh Regency,[2] and on 18 December 2003 the Bener Meriah Regency was separated from the remaining Central Aceh Regency.
The remaining regency covers an area of 4,527.58 square kilometres and had a population of 175,527 according to the 2010 census,[3] which rose to 215,576 at the 2020 Census;[4] the official estimate as at mid 2021 was 223,833 - comprising 113,388 males and 110,445 females.[5] Most of its inhabitants are Gayo. Central Aceh is famous for its Lake Laut Tawar. Its capital is Takengon, in Lut Tawar District.
The residual regency is the main centre of coffee production within Aceh province and is home to the Gayo people who are mostly concentrated in this regency and in the neighbouring Bener Meriah Regency and Gayo Lues Regency.[6] [7]
The regency borders Pidie Regency, Bireuen Regency and Bener Meriah Regency to the north, East Aceh Regency to the east, Gayo Lues Regency to the south and West Aceh, Pidie, and Nagan Raya regencies to the west.
Central Aceh District is a highland area with an altitude between 200 – 2600 metres above sea level and with an area of 4,527.58 km2.
The regency is divided administratively into fourteen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census[8] and the 2020 Census,[9] together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.[10] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages (gampong) in each district, and its post code(s).
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.04.01 | Linge | 1,862.66 | 8,757 | 11,201 | 11,761 | Isaq | 26 | 24565 | |
| 11.04.18 | Atu Lintang | 67.17 | 5,803 | 6,989 | 7,211 | Merah Mege | 11 | 24563 | |
| 11.04.19 | Jagong Jeget | 171.24 | 8,871 | 10,352 | 10,584 | Jeget Ayu | 10 | 24564 | |
| 11.04.08 | Bintang | 521.95 | 8,504 | 10,773 | 11,280 | Bintang | 24 | 24571 | |
| 11.04.17 | Lut Tawar | 87.59 | 17,960 | 19,664 | 19,736 | Takengon Timur | 18 | 24511 - 24516 | |
| 11.04.11 | Kebayakan | 54.83 | 14,041 | 17,900 | 18,777 | Kebayakan | 20 | 24517 - 24519 | |
| 11.04.07 | Pegasing | 271.78 | 17,640 | 22,733 | 23,922 | Simpang Kelaping | 31 | 24560 | |
| 11.04.20 | Bies | 14.01 | 6,414 | 8,162 | 8,557 | Atang Jungket | 12 | 24561 | |
| 11.04.03 | Bebesen | 29.57 | 34,342 | 41,010 | 42,210 | Kemili | 28 | 24652 | |
| 11.04.12 | Kute Panang | 35.15 | 6,815 | 8,400 | 8,726 | Ratawali | 24 | 24568 | |
| 11.04.02 | Silih Nara | 91.48 | 20,542 | 24,581 | 25,316 | Angkup | 33 | 24569 | |
| 11.04.10 | Ketoi | 589.66 | 11,342 | 14,928 | 15,805 | Rejewali | 25 | 24566 | |
| 11.04.13 | Celala | 136.21 | 8,367 | 10,297 | 10,691 | Berawang Gading | 17 | 24562 | |
| 11.04.21 | Rusip Antara | 594.25 | 6,129 | 8,586 | 9,257 | Pantan Tengah | 16 | 24567 | |
| Totals | 4,527.58 | 175,527 | 215,576 | 223,833 | Takengon | 295 |
Its current regent is Drs. Shabela Abubakar, while his vice regent is H. Firdaus SKM. They have held the positions since 28 December 2017.[11]
The Parliament Members are:
There are several tourist attractions, such as Danau Laut Tawar, Pantan Terong (scenery attraction), Gunung Burni Telong (hot spring), Taman Buru Linge Isak (hunting), Gua Loyang Koro, Loyang Pukes, Loyang Datu, Burni Klieten (hiking), and Krueng Peusangan (rafting).