Langsa (Indonesian: Kota Langsa, Jawi: ), is a city in Aceh, Indonesia. It is located on the island of Sumatra. Apart from a small seacoast to the northeast, it borders Manyak Payed District of Aceh Tamiang Regency to the east and is otherwise surrounded by Birem Bayeun District of Aceh Timur Regency (of which the city was formerly a part until 2001) to the north, west and south. The city covers an area of 239.83 square kilometres and had a population of 148,945 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. (compared with 117,256 at the previous 2000 Census); this grew to 185,971 at the 2020 Census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. and the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 184,016 (comprising 92,153 males and 91,863 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kota Langsa Dalam Angka 2026 (BPS Katalog 1102001.1173)
Langsa is located 440 kilometres (273 miles) from the city of Banda Aceh, the province's capital. Langsa is close to its province's southern border and is 167 kilometres (103 miles) from Medan, the capital city of North Sumatra. This makes Langsa a strategic city for trade and traffic between the two provinces.
There are several universities in the city of Langsa both state and private universities. Among them are Samudra University and IAIN Zawiyah Cot Kala, Campus LP3I. The city hosts several schools of nursing and midwifery, including the Academy of Nursing of "Harapan Ibu", the Academy of Nursing "Yayasan Cut Nyak Dhien" and the Academy of Nursing "UMMI".
History Darul Islam Rebellion On 21 September 1953, Darul Islam forces invaded Langsa. They attacked Military Police and the Mobile Brigade barracks. The Indonesian National Armed Forces repelled this Darul Islam attack after receiving reinforcement troops from Medan.
Tourism Langsa contains historical attractions covering Indonesia's Dutch colonial era until Indonesia's National Revolution, which could attract tourism to the city.
The built in 1910s, served as an office for export-import management for the Dutch, although afterwards the Japanese invasion of Dutch East Indies, it had been a military base office used by IJAF officials. During the Indonesian National Revolution, the Balee Juang Building was refurbished as a printing press facility to print out , a coupon used for a medium of exchange in the Aceh province during said time. In 2019 till now, it eventually now has been reestablished as the Balee Juang Museum of Langsa.
Administrative districts The city is divided into five districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with areas and their population at the 2010 and 2020 Censuses, together with the official estimates as of mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kota Langsa Dalam Angka 2026 (BPS Katalog 1102001.1173) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each village (urban gampong), and its postal codes.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025AdmincentreNo.ofvillagesPostcodes 11.74.01 Langsa TimurBadan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Langsa Timur Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1173010). (East Langsa) 78.23 13,818 16,627 18,009Seunebuk Antara 1624411 11.74.04 Langsa Lama Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Langsa Lama Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1173011). 45.05 26,877 33,231 33,941Meurandeh 1524411 & 24416 11.74.02 Langsa Barat Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Langsa Barat Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1173020). (West Langsa) 48.78 30,583 39,553 38,230Matang Seulimeng 1324410, 24413,24414 & 24415 11.74.05 Langsa Baro Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Langsa Baro Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1173021). 61.68 41,804 55,824 56,958Geudubang Aceh 1224415 11.73.03 Langsa Kota Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Langsa Kota Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1173030). (Langsa Town) 6.11 35,863 40,736 36,878Gampong Teungoh 1024410, 24412,24414 & 24416 Totals 239.83148,945185,971184,016 66 Note that, notwithstanding their names, the most westerly district of Langsa is Langsa Baro District, while Langsa Barat District is actually situated to the north of Lama Kota (Langsa Town), and Langsa Lama District lies to the south of Langsa Kota.
Climate Langsa has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with moderate rainfall from February to April and heavy rainfall in the remaining months.
Population
Langsa's population is mainly made up of people of Acehnese, Malay, Javanese, Chinese, and Batak ethnicities. Acehnese is the main language used by people who consider themselves as of Acehnese ethnicity, but the Indonesian language is the official language.
Islam is the religion of the majority in Aceh, including Langsa, but other religions exist, such as Christianity and Buddhism. Buddhism is common among Langsa's ethnically Chinese population.
People from Langsa Jessica Mila Kivlan Zen Jusman Syafii Djamal Johannes Antonius Franciscus Roelen Peter Kuiper Jalwandi Jamal
References
External links
Kota Langsa Official Website