The Acehnese (also Achinese) are a people in Aceh, Indonesia.

Their homeland is located in the northernmost tip of the island of Sumatra and had a history of political struggle against the Dutch.

Their language, the Acehnese, belongs to the Aceh–Chamic groups of Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.They were at one time Hinduised, as is evident from their traditions and the many Sanskrit words in their language.

They have been Muslims for several centuries.

The estimated number of Acehnese ranges between 4.2 to 4.4 million people and at least 3.4 million people live in Indonesia.Traditionally, there have been a large number of Acehnese agriculturists, metalworkers and weavers.

Traditionally matrilocal, their social organization is communal.

They live in gampôngs, which combine to form districts known as mukims.Aceh came to international attention as being the hardest-hit region of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake with 120,000 people dead.