Labuhanbatu Regency

Labuhanbatu Regency (Kabupaten Labuhanbatu, alternatively Kabupaten Labuhan Batu), alternatively written in space as Labuhan Batu Regency, is a regency of North Sumatra Province in Indonesia. Its administrative seat is Rantau Prapat. An original regency (formed on 7 November 1956) of the province, it had an area of 9,703 km2 as of early 2008, prior to the separation out of its southern and its north-western districts respectively to create the new South Labuhanbatu and North Labuhanbatu Regencies on 21 July 2008 (in accordance with Laws Nos. 22 and 23 respectively of that year). Subsequently, the reduced regency has an area of 2,772.57 km2 and had a census population in 2010 of 415,248, which rose to 493,899 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 527,043 (comprising 267,450 males and 259,590 females). The Panai Estuary, which consists of the Bilah River and Barumun River, is located in this regency, and it was the seat of the ancient Buddhist trading kingdom of Pannai, ca. 11th to 14th centuries, connected to the Bahal temple in North Padang Lawas Regency.