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Lhokseumawe (,, ), is the second largest city (by population, after Banda Aceh) in Aceh province, Indonesia, having recently overtaken Langsa. The city covers a land area of 181.06 square kilometres, and had a population of 171,163 at the 2010 census and 188,713 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 200,876 (comprising 98,717 males and 99,988 females in 2024). The city is a key regional centre important for the economy of Aceh.

The name Lhokseumawe comes from the words lhok and seumawe. Lhok means "deep", "bay", and "ocean trenches", and Lhokseumawe means the swirling water in the sea along the offshore of Banda Sakti and its surroundings. The city was formerly part of North Aceh Regency, from which it was separated to form an independent city on 21 June 2001. The area is linked to the emergence of the kingdom of Samudera Pasai around the 13th century, which later came under the sovereignty of Sultanate of Aceh in 1511.

Map of Aceh Sultanate during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda The Sultanate of Aceh was established by Sultan Ali Mughayatsyah in 1511. Later, during its golden era, in the 17th century, its territory and political influence expanded as far as Satun in southern Thailand, Johor in Malay Peninsula, and Siak in what is today the province of Riau. As was the case with most non-Javan pre-colonial states, Acehnese power expanded outward by sea rather than inland. As it expanded down the Sumatran coast, its main competitors were Johor and Portuguese Malacca on the other side of the Straits of Malacca. It was this seaborne trade focus that saw Aceh rely on rice imports from north Java rather than develop self sufficiency in rice production. After the Portuguese occupation of Malacca in 1511, many Islamic traders passing the Malacca Straits shifted their trade to Banda Aceh and increased the Acehnese rulers' wealth. During the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda in the 17th century, Aceh's influence extended to most of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Aceh allied itself with the Ottoman Empire and the Dutch East India Company in their struggle against the Portuguese and the Johor Sultanate. Acehnese military power waned gradually thereafter, and Aceh ceded its territory of Pariaman in West Sumatra to the Dutch in the 18th century.

thumbnail|Street scene in Lhokseumawe in the Dutch colonial period Before the 20th century, the country was ruled by uleebalang Kutablang. In 1903, after resistance fighters against Dutch colonists weakened Aceh, Aceh began to master.

Lhokseumawe conquered areas and from then on the status of Lhokseumawe was "Bestuur Van Lhokseumawe" with Zelf Bestuurder is Teuku Abdul Lhokseumawe subordinate Controeleur aspirants and also domiciled in Lhokseumawe and assistant resident district officer or Regent.

In the second decade of the 20th century, among the entire mainland of Aceh, a small island about 11 km2 widely separated by Krueng Cunda River. filled buildings General Government, Military, and Transportation Railway by the Dutch government. Small islands with villages of Keude Aceh, Kampung Jawa, Kuta blang, Mon Geudong, Teumpok Teungoh, Hagu Kampung, Uteuen bayi and Ujong Blang are entirely new 5,500 plural in Lhokseumawe call. Building by building fills this land until the city has realized embryos harbor, market, railway station and the offices of government agencies.

On 21 September and 22 September 1953, Darul Islam forces attacked Lhokseumawe twice, but the Indonesian army repelled the attack.

Since the Declaration of Independence, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has not established systemic to this district. At first Lhokseumawe combined with Bestuurder Van Cunda. The mainland population is increasingly crowded, coming from surrounding areas such as Buloh Blang Ara, Matangkuli, Blang Jruen, Lhoksukon, Nisam, Cunda and Pidie.

In 1956 the Emergency Law No. 7 of 1956, the autonomous regions were formed into regencies within the region of North Sumatra province, where one of them became the North Aceh Regency with its capital at Lhokseumawe.

Then in 1964 the Decree of the Governor of Aceh Special Region Number 341964 dated 30 November 1964, it was determined that Kemukiman Banda Sakti in Muara Dua, the District used its own under the name of the District Banda Sakti.

Based on the Act No. 5 of 1974 on the Principles of Regional Administration, Lhokseumawe began to improve the status of the City, on 14 August 1986, with the Regional Regulation No. 32 of 1986 (Establishment of the City of Lhokseumawe) signed by President of Indonesia Suharto, which was inaugurated by the Minister of Roestam Soeparjo country on 31 August 1987. Given that it is de jure and de facto Lhokseumawe became the city with an area of 181.06 km2 which includes 101 villages and 6 urban villages in five districts, namely the Districts of Banda Sakti, Muara Dua, Dewantara, Muara Batu, and Blang Mangat.

From 1988 onwards, the idea of raising the status of the town began. Law No. 2 of 2001 (dated 21 June 2001), signed by the president of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid, established Lhokseumawe as a separate municipality whose territory then included three districts, namely the Districts of Banda Sakti, Muara Dua and Blang Mangat (Dewantara and Muara Batu Districts remained in North Aceh Regency). In 2006 the District of Muara Dua was split into two - Muara Dua and Muara Satu - so Lhokseumawe now comprises four districts.

Lhokseumawe City is located between 4 - 5 North Latitude and 96 - 97 East Longitude with an average altitude of 13 metres above sea level. Lhokseumawe was given the status of an independent city (separate from North Aceh Regency, which surrounds it on all the landward sides) based on Law Number 2 of 2001, dated 21 June 2001. Lhokseumawe City is divided into 4 districts, 9 residents, 68 villages, and 259 sub-villages within the boundaries of the area. Lhokseumawe forms a semi-enclave within North Aceh Regency.

Lhokseumawe has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with moderate to heavy rainfall year-round.