Batak in the context of Batak language

North Sumatra (Indonesian: Sumatera Utara; Batak: ᯘᯮᯔᯖᯩᯒ ᯥᯖᯒ) is a province of Indonesia located in the northern part of the island of Sumatra. Its capital and largest city is Medan on the east coast of the island. It borders Aceh to the northwest, Riau to the southeast, West Sumatra to the south, the Indian Ocean to the west, and the Strait of Malacca (with a maritime border with Malaysia) to the east.

With a 2020 population around 14.8 million and a mid-2024 estimate around 15.6 million, North Sumatra is Indonesia's fourth most populous province and the most populous province outside of Java Island. At 72,460.74 square kilometres (27,977.25 sq mi), North Sumatra is the third-largest province in area on the island of Sumatra behind South Sumatra and Riau. Major ethnic groups include the Malay, native to the east coast; several Batak groups, indigenous to the west coast and central highlands; the Nias people of Nias Island and its surrounding islets; and Chinese, Javanese, and Indian peoples, who first migrated to Sumatra during Dutch rule.

There are more than 600 ethnic groups in the multicultural Indonesian archipelago, making it one of the most diverse countries in the world. The vast majority of these belong to the Austronesian peoples, whose ancestors migrated from Taiwan. They are primarily concentrated in western and central Indonesia (Asia). A significant minority are Melanesian peoples, descendants of some of the earliest the modern humans to inhabit Southeast Asia, mostly found in eastern Indonesia (Oceania). However, genetic studies show that ethnic groups in Java, Bali, and Lombok have significant traces of Austroasiatic ancestry, even though Austroasiatic languages have long been replaced by Austronesian languages in the region.

Based on ethnic classification, the largest ethnic group in Indonesia is the Javanese who make up about 40% of the total population. The Javanese are concentrated on the island of Java, the world's most populous island, particularly in the central and eastern parts, but significant Javanese communities also exist in Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi due to historical migration and government-sponsored transmigration programs. It is also the largest ethnic group in Southeast Asia. The Sundanese are the next largest group; their homeland is located in the western part of the island of Java and the southern edge of Sumatra. The Malays, Batak, Madurese, Betawi, Minangkabau, and Bugis are the next largest groups in the country.

The Batak Christian Protestant Church (Indonesian: Huria Kristen Batak Protestan), abbreviated as HKBP, is an Evangelical Lutheran church among the Batak ethnic group, generally the Toba Batak people of Indonesia. This church uses an Ecumenical worship style influenced by the Dutch Reformed Church due to the influence of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia, as well as the Pietistic legacy left by the Rhenish Missionary Society when the church was founded. With a membership more than 6,500,000 (as of 2024), the church synod is the largest among the Protestant churches in Indonesia. It is one of the largest Protestant churches in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, making it the third largest religious organization in Indonesia after Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah. Its present leader is Ephorus (bishop) Victor Tinambunan.

HKBP also has several churches abroad, such as in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States of America.

Natuna Regency is an islands regency located in the northernmost part of the Province of Riau Islands, Indonesia. It contains at least 154 islands, of which 127 of them are reported as uninhabited. This archipelago, with a land area of 2,001.30 km out of a total area of 264,198.37 km area, This area is divided into island clusters such as the Natuna Island Cluster and the Serasan Island Cluster. However, several other islands that are not located in the two clusters are spread over a wider area. This division reflects the geographical and administrative location of the district, but there are also other small islands that are outside these two main clusters and are not always included in the grouping. Administratively, this area is divided into 17 districts (kecamatan) which function to facilitate management and services for the local community and support the development of the potential of the region which is rich in natural resources and tourism. This regency also plays an important role in maintaining Indonesia's sovereignty in the northern border area.

With 69,003 inhabitants at the 2010 Census and 81,495 at the 2020 Census, most of the population are Malays with 11% of Javanese migrants, Chinese, Minang, Batak, Banjar people, Dayak people, Buginese people, Sundanese people, and tiny percentage of migrants who come from Sulawesi, Bali, and other provinces across Indonesia. The official estimate as at mid 2025 was 86,760 (comprising 44,580 males and 42,180 females).

Buddhism has a long history in Indonesia, and it is one of the six recognized religions in the country, along with Islam, Christianity (Protestantism and Catholicism), Hinduism and Confucianism. According to 2023 estimates roughly 0.71% of the total citizens of Indonesia were Buddhists, numbering around 2 million. Most Buddhists are concentrated in Jakarta, Riau, Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung, North Sumatra, and West Kalimantan. These totals, however, are probably inflated, as practitioners of Taoism, Tridharma, Yiguandao, and other Chinese folk religions, which are not considered official religions of Indonesia, likely declared themselves as Buddhists on the most recent census. Today, the majority of Buddhists in Indonesia are Chinese Indonesians, but communities of native Buddhists (such as Javanese, Tenggerese, Sasak, Balinese, Dayak, Alifuru, Batak, and Karo) also exist.

The Toba (also known as Toba Batak) people (Batak Toba: ᯅᯖᯂ᯲ ᯖᯬᯅ) are one of the sub-ethnic groups of the Batak people, found mainly in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The general term "Batak" is sometimes used to refer to the Batak Toba people, for one thing because the Toba people are the largest sub-group of the Batak ethnicity, for another because they tend to self-identify as merely Batak instead of "Toba" or "Toba Batak", contrary to the habit of the Mandailing, Angkola, Karo, Simalungun and Pakpak communities who commonly self-identify with their respective sub-groups. Religiously, they predominantly adhere to Protestantism of Christianity.

The Toba people are found in Toba Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, Samosir Regency, North Tapanuli Regency, Central Tapanuli Regency (with Sibolga and its surrounding regions), and part of Dairi Regency. The Batak Toba people speak the Toba Batak language and are centered on Lake Toba and Samosir Island within the lake. Batak Toba people frequently build in traditional Batak architecture styles which are common in Samosir. Cultural demonstrations, performances, and festivities such as Sigale Gale are often held for tourists.