It originally included much of the southwestern part of the province, but on 21 June 2001 the town of Pagar Alam was removed from the regency to become an independent city, and on 2 January 2007 the western districts (except Tanjung Sakti Pumi and Tanjung Sakti Pumu) were split off to form the new Empat Lawang Regency.

[1] The city of Pagar Alam remains an enclave within the regency, but is administratively separate.

Notes: (a) The southwestern districts of Tanjung Sakti Pumu and Tanjung Sakti Pumi form nearly an exclave of the regency, from which they are physically almost completely separated by the city (kota) of Pagar Alam.

(d) comprising 17 kelurahan (Bandar Agung, Bandar Jaya, Gunung Gajah, Kota Baru, Kota Jaya, Kota Negara, Lahat Tengah, Pagar Agung, Pasar Baru, Pasar Bawah, Pasar Lama, Raden PJKA, Raden PJKA Bandar Agung, Sari Bunga Mas, Talang Jawa, Talang Jawa Selatan and Talang Jawa Utara) and 13 desa.

In Lahat Regency, near Pagar Alam city, there are 1,027 artifacts which spread over 40 sites in 12 communities.