North Padang Lawas (Padang Lawas Utara, abbreviated as Paluta) is a landlocked regency in the North Sumatra province of Indonesia. It has an area of 3,945.56 km2, and had a population of 223,049 at the 2010 censusPenduduk Menurut Wilayah, Daerah Perkotaan/Perdesaan, dan Jenis Kelamin, PADANG LAWAS UTARA, Tahun 2010 and 260,720 at the 2020 census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 285,659 - and projected to rise to 290,671 by mid 2026.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Padang Lawas Utara Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1220) North Padang Lawas Regency was created on 17 July 2007 (along with a separate Padang Lawas Regency to the south) from the eastern parts of the South Tapanuli Regency. Its administrative seat is the town of Gunung Tua.
Demographics Population The population of North Padang Lawas in the 2010 census results was 223,049 peoplePenduduk Menurut Wilayah, Daerah Perkotaan/Perdesaan, dan Jenis Kelamin, PADANG LAWAS UTARA, Tahun 2010 with a density of 57 per square kilometre, which in 2020 increased to 260,720 people with annual population growth averaging around 2.18%.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. The official estimate as of mid 2025 was 285,659 (comprising 145,530 males and 140,130 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Padang Lawas Utara Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1220)
Ethnic The population of North Padang Lawas district is quite ethnically diverse. Overall, the majority of the population comes from the Batak Angkola people, including various Angkola Batak clans, such as Harahap, Lubis, Siregar, Nasution, Hasibuan, Daulay, Dalimunte, Hutasuhut, Batubara. In addition, Batak Toba, Nias, and Javanese are also quite numerous in North Padang Lawas.
Religion Followers of religion Islam amounted to 90.40%, then Protestantism 9.21%, Catholicism at 0.38% and Buddhism around 0.01%. The Batak people of Angkola, Mandailing, Minangkabau, and Javanese, generally embrace Islam. Meanwhile, the ethnic Batak Toba, Karo, Simalungun, and Nias people, mostly embrace Christianity. Meanwhile, there are 593 mosques, 34 Protestant churches, and 1 Catholic church.
Administrative districts At the 2010 census, the regency was divided into nine districts (kecamatan). Subsequently, three additional districts (Padang Bolak Tenggara, Ujung Batu, and Halongonan Timur) have been created by the division of existing districts. The districts are tabulated below with their areasBadan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kabupaten Padang Lawas Utara Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1220) and their populations at the 2010 censusPenduduk Menurut Wilayah, Daerah Perkotaan/Perdesaan, dan Jenis Kelamin, PADANG LAWAS UTARA, Tahun 2010 and the 2020 census,Jumlah Penduduk menurut Kecamatan (Jiwa), 2000-2020 Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Padang Lawas Utara. together with the official estimates as of mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Padang Lawas Utara Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1220) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district (totaling 386 rural desa and 2 urban kelurahan), and its postcode.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Areain km2 Pop'ncensus2010 Pop'ncensus2020 Pop'nestimatemid 2025 Admin centre No. of villagesPost code 12.20.07 Batang Onang 295.8212,79013,77014,499Pasar Matanggor32 (a) 22762 12.20.05 Padang Bolak Julu 230.939,97211,54212,594Batu Gana2322753 12.20.06 Portibi 191.9823,22827,42530,654Portibi Jae3622741 12.20.04 Padang Bolak 616.4658,56053,99861,247Pasar Gunung Tua62 (b) 22754 12.20.10 Padang Bolak Tenggara(Southeast Padang Bolak) 117.55(c)11,74312,960Naga Saribu1422751 12.20.08 Simangambat 917.2646,76941,16744,132Langkimat2122747 12.20.12 Ujung Batu 151.98(d)11,76412,830Ujung Batu Jae1322746 12.20.03 Halongonan 332.4129,05820,89122,846Hutaimbaru3322753 12.20.11 Halongonan Timur(East Halongonan) 291.46(e)22,53225,869Siancimun1422752 12.20.02 Dolok 367.3722,57324,75526,299Pasar Sipiongot8622756 12.20.01 Dolok Sigompulon 360.1115,61016,19216,582Pasar Simundol4422757 12.20.09 Hulu Sihapas 72.244,6834,9415,147Aek Godang1022740 Totals 3,945.56223,531260,720285,659Pasar Gunung Tua388
Notes: (a) including the kelurahan of Pasar Matanggor (Matanggor Market) with 1,413 inhabitants in mid 2023.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Batang Onang Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1220010) (b) including the kelurahan of Pasar Gunung Tua (Gunung Tua Market), with 14,460 inhabitants in mid 2023.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Padang Bolak Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1220040) (c) The 2010 population of Padang Bolak Tenggara District is included in the figure for Padang Bolak District, from which it was split.(d) The 2010 population of Ujung Batu District is included in the figure for Simangambat District, from which it was split.(e) The 2010 population of Halongonan Timur District is included in the figure for Halongonan District, from which it was split.
Archaeology
The Padang Lawas archaeological site is partly located in the regency. The site covers approximately 1,500 km2, encompassing the kecamatan (districts) of Portibi and Padang Bolak in this regency, and Barumun and Barumun Tengah in the Padang Lawas Regency. Hindu-Buddhist remains are found on the site, including structures called biaro (from Sanskrit vihara, meaning "temple" or "monastery").
The village of Batu Gana in Padang Bolak Julu district is the location of a burial site consisting of a megalithic structure.
In the village of Padang Bujur in the same district, one can also find megalithic remains and what seems to be the base for a padmasana.
Other megalithic remains are found at Aek Korsik and Aek Tolong Huta, also in the Padang Bolak district.
References
Simanjuntak, Truman, M. Hisyam, Bagyo Prasetyo, Titi Surti Nastiti (éds.), Archaeology: Indonesian perspective : R.P. Soejono's festschrift, LIPI, Jakarta, 2006,