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-2024 was 520,545 (comprising 264,150 males and 256,400 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.

Administrative districts

Following the separation off of thirteen districts (kecamatan) to form the new South Labuhanbatu and North Labuhanbatu Regencies on 21 July 2008 (in accordance with the enabling Laws enacted on 24 June 2008), the reduced regency is now divided administratively into nine districts, tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as of mid-2024. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 75 rural desa and 23 urban kelurahan - the latter chiefly in the town of Rantau Prapat), and its post code.

Kode WilayahName of District (kecamatan)Area in km2Pop'n Census 2010Pop'n Census 2020Pop'n Estimate mid 2024Admin centreNo. of villagesPost code
12.0.09Bilah Hulu (Upper Bilah)385.0256,38864,41667,134Aek Nabara2421451
12.10.14Pangkatan271.1331,73837,76639,796Pangkatan721462
12.10.07Bilah Barat (West Bilah)291.0533,75339,95342,041Janji1021411 (a)
12.10.08Bilah Hilir (Lower Bilah)472.2649,92859,37062,550Negeri Lama13 (b)21471
12.10.20Panai Hulu (Upper Panai)225.9833,14438,02839,679Tanjung Sarang Elang721470
12.10.18Panai Tengah (c) (Middle Panai)584.5633,57041,14343,703Labuhan Bilik10 (d)21472
12.10.19Panai Hilir (e) (Lower Panai)391.1335,81142,76145,102Sei Berombang8 (f)21473
12.10.02Rantau Selatan (South Rantau Prapat)60.2057,94873,97779,452Sioldengan9 (g)21421 - 21429
12.10.01Rantau Utara (North Rantau Prapat)91.2482,83096,485101,088Rantau Prapat10 (h)21411 - 21419
Totals2,772.57415,110493,899520,545Rantau Prapat98

Notes: (a) except the desa of Kampung Baru, which has a post code of 21415. (b) including the two kelurahan of Negeri Lama and Negeri Baru, with 7,112 and 5,105 inhabitants respectively as at mid 2023. (c) including the offshore island of Pulau Ongah Labuhan. (d) including the kelurahan of Labuhan Bilik, with 4,118 inhabitants as at mid 2023. (e) including the offshore island of Pulau Sikantan. (f) including the kelurahan of Sei Berombang, with 13,616 inhabitants as at mid 2023. (g) comprises 9 kelurahan - Bakaran Batu, Danobale, Lobu Sona, Perdamean, Sidorejo, Sigambal, Sioldengan, Ujung Bandar and Ujung Kompas; see Rantau Prapat for details. (h) comprises 10 kelurahan - Aek Paing, Bina Raga, Cendana, Kartini, Padang Bulan, Padang Matinggi, Pulo Padang, Rantau Prapat, Sirandorung and Siringo-ringo; see Rantau Prapat for details.