Kepahiang is a regency in Bengkulu Province of Indonesia. It is located on the island of Sumatra, and was created on 25 February 2003 by splitting off the areas of the former southern districts of Rejang Lebong Regency. It covers an area of 710.11 km2, of which a high percentage (27%)The Official Website of Kepahiang Regency Government: Geographical Conditions and Regional Administrations is still forest; thus it is the smallest (by area) of the province's regencies. It had a population of 124,865 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 149,298 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 153,454 (comprising 79,124 males and 74,330 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Kepahiang Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1708) The regency seat is Kepahiang town. The local population consists of various ethnic groups such as the Rejang, Serawai, Javanese, Lembak and Sundanese, among which Rejang forms the majority in Kepahiang.
The Regency of Kepahiang is rich in natural resources including gold, coal, geothermal energy resources, gemstones as well as a range of agricultural, aquacultural and forest products. These include rice, oil- and coconut palms, coffee, tea, corn, wood, natural rubber and pepper, as well as various types of fruits and locally bred fish specimens and products.
The local government of Kepahiang operates several development projects to achieve improvements in the sector of agriculture, energy supply and education. Some of these initiatives gained nationwide attention and were implemented by the central government in Jakarta on a national scale.Tabloid Warta Kepahiang, "Seluna Mampu Tingkatkan Ekonomi Rakyat", Kepahiang, 2011, Edition 1, p. 9
Besides the formerly mentioned potentials, Kepahiang has significant tourism potential, which remains largely untapped. It is one of the official development goals to foster tourism in Kepahiang.
History
Colonial rule During the colonial rule of the Dutch in Indonesia, the town of Kepahiang was the capital of the regency of Rejang Lebong, which is a neighboring regency of Kepahiang today. Kepahiang remained the capital during the 3.5 years of Japanese rule in Indonesia. In the cause of the independence war and Indonesia's declaration of independence on 17 August 1945, Kepahiang became the regional center for Indonesian organisations, the independence movement in the region and its military forces. Due to this fact, the Dutch targeted and destroyed the entire administrative infrastructure in Kepahiang during an attempt to regain power over the region in 1948. The mayors office, administrative buildings, post offices, telecommunication centres and police stations were annihilated completely.Tabloid Warta Kepahiang, "Seluna Mampu Tingkatkan Ekonomi Rakyat", Kepahiang, 2011, Edition 1, p. 6f.
In 1949, the local administration was forced to relocate itself into the forest and was not able to return to Kepahiang as the infrastructure no longer existed. Because of this, the administration had to move to the larger town of Curup, which provided sufficient infrastructure at that time. In 1956, Curup was declared the new capital of Rejang Lebong Regency, and Kepahiang finally lost its prior position as the administrative center.Tabloid Warta Kepahiang, "Seluna Mampu Tingkatkan Ekonomi Rakyat", Kepahiang, 2011, Edition 1, p. 7
Reformation in 1998 to present In the context of political and administrative reforms in Indonesia that started in 1998, Kepahiang had a realistic chance to become an independent regency.Tabloid Warta Kepahiang, "Seluna Mampu Tingkatkan Ekonomi Rakyat", Kepahiang, 2011, Edition 1, p. 6 In 1999 a firm proposal was made to transform Kepahiang into such an independent regency, separate from Rejang Lebong Regency. The people of Kepahiang supported this by forming an organisation, namely the Panitia Persiapan Kabupaten Kepahiang (PPKK), which fostered the realisation of this project. In 2002 the PPKK handed over their proposals to respective regional and national authorities. This was accepted and finally ratified by General Hari Sabarno, who served as the Minister of Interior at that time, and came into effect at 7 January 2004.
Since then Kepahiang has had four local administrations under three different regents.
The newly formed regency progressed socially and economically since then at high pace. Its administration (4th period) received several honours from the central government in Jakarta and managed that locally applied development concepts were adapted by the government and implemented on a national scale.Tabloid Warta Kepahiang, "Seluna Mampu Tingkatkan Ekonomi Rakyat", Kepahiang, 2011, Edition 1, p. 8f. Kepahiang adopted a rather sustainable approach avoiding huge monocultural plantations such as oilpalm plantations. It depends on its sensitive natural environment and understand that it has to maintain and protect it properly in order to achieve long-lasting success.
Crest
The pentagonal frame of Kepahiang's crest reflects its territorial entity, as well as the Pancasila doctrine taught in Indonesia. The crest further contains elements that reflect certain natural and cultural characteristics of Kepahiang.
In the upper part of the crest there is the contour of mountains, illustrating that Kepahiang is a mountainous regency. Below that, one can see a wavelike symbol signifying Kepahiang's abundant water resources. The blue point between the waves is a symbol of the day Kepahiang became an independent regency.
In the middle is a betel nut paring. The paring plays an important role in local traditions and customs. Above the paring there is a curved blade of a traditional dagger called kris. The kris is a symbol of bravery and tradition, but also represents progress and development.
The paring and the kris are enframed by two different branches on the left and on the right. One of the branches is from a coffee tree, whereas the second branch is from a rice plant. Both reflect the favourable natural environment in Kepahiang, which provides its inhabitants with sufficient subsistence. The tranches are bound together seven times as a symbol for the regency's coherence.
At the bottom of the crest there is a writing showing the word SEHASEN. This word is a local acronym for the following combination: Selaras (Consistency) Elok (Beauty) Harmonis (Harmony) Aman (Safety) Sentosa (Peacefulness).[
Geography and location
Location Kepahiang has the following coordinates: Longitude 101° 55′ 19″ – 103° 01′ 29″; Latitude 020° 43′ 07″ – 030° 46′ 48″. Kepahiang is characterized by a rangy, arboreous and fertile natural environment. The highest point is 1,600 metres above sea level where the lowest point is 250 metres above sea level. The rangy environment is reflected in the crest of Kepahiang.
Climate The climate is tropical. The average temperature is 23.87 °C whereas the air humidity is 85.21% in average. The average rainfall amounts to 233.5 mm/ month.
Area Kepahiang has a total area of 710.11 km2 of which 48,393.69 ha cultivatable and further 18,106.31 ha of forest area. The forest area consists of a mountainous conservation area of 320 ha, a natural park of 8,515 ha and an area of protected forest of 9,588.11 ha.
Inland waters There are several rivers and a lake in Kepahiang Regency, which are vital to the local agricultural economy and the tourism potential as well. Kepahiang does not have a shortage of water resources, which is why water was an element used in its crest as well. Ten waterfalls have been counted, which would be suitable spots for recreational activities and tourism. The waterfall in Curug Embun is around 100 metres high and a regional place for excursions,Tabloid Warta Kepahiang,"Seluna Mampu Tingkatkan Ekonomi Rakyat", Kepahiang, 2011, Edition 1, p. 17 just as the Musi River, which has significant water volumes allowing a 3 × 70 MW water power plant to function properly.
Vegetation The south of Sumatra and the province of Bengkulu and Kepahiang in particular are the natural habitat for Rafflesia arnoldii flower. This flower was found by Joseph Arnoldi and Sir Thomas Raffles in 1818. Raffles was the governor of the province of Bengkulu at that time. The florescence of this flower is the biggest in the world. Its cross-section dimension can be up to 1 meter and it weighs up to 11 kg. The flower is interesting and adds to the tourism potential of the region.
Neighbouring regencies In the north Kepahiang Regency borders on the regency of Rejang Lebong. To the east there is the regency of Lahat. The regency of Central Bengkulu is located to the south from the regency of Kepahiang, whereas Kepahiang adjoins the regency of North Bengkulu in the west.
Administrative divisions Kepahiang Regency is subdivided into eight districts (kecamatan) comprising a total of 117 villages (of which 11 have urban status).Department of Statistics of the Province of Bengkulu (BSPB): "Provinsi Bengkulu Dalam Angka 2010", Bengkulu, 2010. p. 41 The districts are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and the 2020 Census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with the official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Kepahiang Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1708) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district (totaling 105 rural desa and 12 urban kelurahan), and its post code.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Areainkm2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid2025AdmincentreNo.ofdesaNo.ofkelu-rahanPost code 17.08.08 Muara Kemumu 163.8212,37813,92012,010Batu Kalung 8 - 39375 17.08.01 Bermani Ilir 93.5113,61214,78215,036Keban Agung 18 (a) 1 39374 17.08.07 Seberang Musi 107.836,4127,7608,115Lubuk Sahung 13 - 39377 17.08.03 Tebat Karai 66.3312,49314,71015,375Taba Saling 13 (b) 1 39373 17.08.04 Kepahiang 63.6840,36050,56052,334Pasar Ujung (c) 16 (c) 7 39372 17.08.06 Kabawetan 95.4010,60112,90213,979Tangsi Baru 14 (d) 1 39376 17.08.02 Ujan Mas 106.5119,26122,75724,868Ujan Mas Atas 16 (e) 1 39370 17.08.05 Merigi 13.039,74811,90711,737Durian Depun 7 (f) 1 39371 Totals 710.11124,865149,298153,454Kepahiang 105 12
Notes: (a) including the kelurahan of Keban Agung. (b) including the kelurahan of Tebat Karai. (c) comprising 7 kelurahan (Dusun Kepahiang, Kampung Pensiunan, Padang Lekat, Pasar Kepahiang, Pasar Sejantung, Pasar Ujung and Pensiunan) and 9 desa. (d) including the kelurahan of Tangsi Baru. (e) including the kelurahan of Ujan Mas Atas. (f) including the kelurahan of Durian Depun.
The capital and administrative centre of the Regency of Kepahiang is the town (and district) of Kepahiang, which has over a third of the regency's inhabitants as well.Department of Statistics of the Regency of Kepahiang (BPSK): "Hasil Sensus Penduduk 2010", Kepahiang, 2010, p. 12 The average population density was 216.1 people per km2 in 2024,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kabupaten Kepahiang Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1708) while the districts significantly differ in this regard. Merigi District in the northwest of the regency is substantially suburban to the town of Curup in neighbouring Rejang Lebong Regency.
Demographic development The population of Kepahiang Regency is growing at slow pace with an average of 1.01% per annum. There are 5% more men than women.Department of Statistics of the Regency Kepahiang (BPSK): "Hasil Sensus Penduduk 2010", Kepahiang, 2010. p. 8 Therefore, the demographic development in Kepahiang is significantly below the national average.
Politics