List of Famous people born in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Tan Malaka was a teacher, Indonesian philosopher, founder of Struggle Union and Murba Party, independent guerrilla, Indonesian fighter, and Indonesian national hero. Tempo credited him as Father of the Republic of Indonesia.

Abisin Abbas, better known by his pseudonym Andjar Asmara, was a dramatist and filmmaker active in the cinema of the Dutch East Indies. Born in Alahan Panjang, West Sumatra, he first worked as a reporter in Batavia. He became a writer for the Padangsche Opera in Padang, where he developed a new, dialogue-centric style, which later spread throughout the region. After returning to Batavia in 1929, he spent over a year as a theatre and film critic. In 1930 he joined the Dardanella touring troupe as a writer. He went to India in an unsuccessful bid to film his stage play Dr Samsi.

Mohammad Yamin was an Indonesian poet, politician and national hero who played a key role in the writing of the country's 1945 constitution.

Dorce Gamalama is an Indonesian trans woman, who is a pop singer, actress, presenter, and comedian.

Muhammad Tulus Rusydi or better known by his mononym Tulus is an Indonesian singer and songwriter of Minangkabau descent.

Rizal Ramli is an Indonesian politician and economist. Ramli served as Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs under Joko Widodo administration as well as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Finance under the Abdurrahman Wahid administration. He was the Chairman of Komite Bangkit Indonesia and an independent candidate for President of Indonesia in the July 2009 election.

Eva Yanthi Arnaz is an Indonesian film actress who was prominent in Indonesian film in the 1980s. She was best known for her work in action films.

Arcandra Tahar is an Indonesian politician. He was formerly Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia on the Working Cabinet, replacing Sudirman Said who was dismissed by President Joko Widodo in a cabinet reshuffle on July 27, 2016.

Martinus Jacob van Doorn was a Dutch painter and graphic artist in the Expressionist style.

Patrialis Akbar is an advocate and politician who was member of the Constitutional Court Justice of the Indonesian Constitutional Court for the period 2013-2017 from Padang, West Sumatra. He has a complete career in three branches of state, legislative, executive and judicial power. He had served as a member of the House of Representatives for two periods.