Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 9, 2026

Karo Regency

Karo Regency is a landlocked regency of North Sumatra Province of Indonesia, situated in the Barisan Mountains. The regency, which was established on 7 November 1956, covers an area of 2,127.25 square kilometres (821.34 sq mi) and according to the 2010 census it had a population of 350,479, increasing to 404,998 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 429,954. 60.99% of the regency is forested. Its regency seat is the town of Kabanjahe. The Batak Karo language is spoken in the regency, as well as the Indonesian language. It borders Southeast Aceh Regency in Aceh to the west, Deli Serdang Regency and Langkat Regency to the north, Dairi Regency and Toba Samosir Regency to the south, and Deli Serdang Regency and Simalungun Regency to the east.

Last revised
Jul 9, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
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Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Karo Regency
Kabupaten Karo
Tanah karo
Regency
Sipiso-Piso Waterfall in Tongging, Karo Regency
Sipiso-Piso Waterfall in Tongging, Karo Regency
Coat of arms of Karo Regency
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Pijer Podi
("Mutual cooperation")
CountryIndonesia
ProvinceNorth Sumatra
Regency seatKabanjahe
Government
 • RegentAntonius Ginting
 • Vice RegentKomando Tarigan
 • Chairwoman of Council of RepresentativesIriani Tarigan (PDI-P)
 • Vice Chairmen of Council of RepresentativesSadarta Bukit (Gerindra) and David Kristian Sitepu (Nasdem)
Area
 • Total
2,206.88 km2 (852.08 sq mi)
Highest elevation
2,460 m (8,070 ft)
Lowest elevation
200 m (660 ft)
Population
 (mid 2025 estimate)1
 • Total
429,954
 • Density194.824/km2 (504.593/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (WIB)
Websitewww.karokab.go.id
Lau Kawar Lake source ↗

Karo Regency is a landlocked regency of North Sumatra Province of Indonesia, situated in the Barisan Mountains. The regency, which was established on 7 November 1956, covers an area of 2,127.25 square kilometres (821.34 sq mi) and according to the 2010 census it had a population of 350,479,2 increasing to 404,998 at the 2020 Census;3 the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 429,954 (comprising 211,712 males and 218,242 females).1 60.99% of the regency is forested.4 Its regency seat is the town of Kabanjahe. The Batak Karo language is spoken in the regency, as well as the Indonesian language. It borders Southeast Aceh Regency in Aceh to the west, Deli Serdang Regency and Langkat Regency to the north, Dairi Regency and Toba Samosir Regency to the south, and Deli Serdang Regency and Simalungun Regency to the east.

Economy

Traditional houses in Karo source ↗

The GDP per capita of Karo Regency in 2005 was 11.65 million rupiah, approximately US$1,200. 74% of the population works in agriculture, which comprises 60% of the regional GDP.5 The second-largest sector is government, which comprises 11% of the regional GDP.6

Administrative divisions

The regency is divided administratively into seventeen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas7 and their populations at the 2010 Census2 and the 2020 Census,3 together with the official estimates as of mid 2025.1 The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 259 rural desa and 10 urban kelurahan), and its post codes.

Kode
Wilayah		 Name of
District
(kecamatan)		 Area
in
km2		 Pop'n
Census
20102		 Pop'n
Census
2020		 Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2025		 Admin
centre		 No.
of
villages		 Post
code
12.06.10 Mardingding 325.30 17,062 19,954 20,328 Mardingding 12 22165
12.06.09 Laubaleng 184.16 17,713 20,652 20,767 Laubaleng 15 22164
12.06.08 Tigabinanga 176.44 19,900 22,395 23,418 Tigabinanga 20 (a) 22162
12.06.07 Juhar 220.02 13,244 14,787 15,458 Juhar Perangin-angin 25 22163
12.06.06 Munte 140.63 19,686 22,909 24,445 Munte 22 22161
12.06.13 Kuta Buluh 259.38 10,586 12,602 12,949 Kutabuluh 16 22155
12.06.11 Payung 31.36 10,837 12,249 11,630 Payung 8 22154
12.06.17 Tiganderket 67.17 13,178 14,555 15,504 Tiganderket 17 22156
12.06.12 Simpang Empat 65.13 19,015 21,355 24,241 Ndokum Siroga 17 22150
12.06.16 Naman Teran 121.89 12,796 14,622 14,436 Naman 14 22151
12.06.15 Merdeka * 42.45 13,310 15,580 16,553 Merdeka 9 22153
12.06.01 Kabanjahe 34.31 63,326 73,581 78,196 Kabanjahe 13 (b) 22111
- 22115
12.06.02 Berastagi * 33.76 42,541 48,244 51,701 Berastagi 10 (c) 22152
12.06.04 Tigapanah 127.04 29,319 34,263 39,098 Tigapanah 26 22170
12.06.14 Dolat Rakyat * 22.85 8,296 9,848 10,231 Dolat Rakyat 7 22171
12.06.05 Merek 229.36 18,054 22,746 25,526 Garingging 19 22173
12.06.03 Barusjahe * 125.63 22,097 24,656 25,473 Barusjahe 19 22172
Totals 2,206.88 350,960 404,998 429,954 Kabanjahe 269

Notes: (a) including one kelurahan (Tigabinanga town).
(b) comprising 5 kelurahan (Gung Leto, Gung Negeri, Kampung Dalam, Lau Cimba and Padang Mas) and 8 desa.
(c) comprising 4 kelurahan (Gundaling I, Gundaling Ii, Tambak Lau Mulgap I and Tambak Lau Mulgap Ii) and 6 desa.

Note that four of these districts (indicated by "*" above), with a combined area of 224.69 km 2 and 103,958 inhabitants in mid 2025, constitute a part of the Medan metropolitan area.

References

References

  1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Karo Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1211)
  2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. "Welcome to Karo Regency Website". Archived from the original on 2011-02-26. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  5. "Per capita Income". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2010-11-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kabupaten Karo Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1211)

3°06′N 98°30′E / 3.100°N 98.500°E / 3.100; 98.500