Divisions of Myanmar

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Updates: 

On 2005-11-06, the government suddenly began a relocation from Yangon to Pyinmana, in Mandalay division. The name of the new capital, as of 2005-11-12, was Nay Pyi Daw or Naypyidaw, Burmese for "successful capital city" or "royal city". The move was said to be complete on 2006-02-17. Some reports say that the residents of the site of the new capital persist in calling it by its previous name, Kyetpyay, which means "fleeing chicken".

The name of the country's official language is being changed from Burmese to Myanmar.

The Permanent Committee on Geographical Names for British Official Use has issued a document  that discusses naming issues in Myanmar. Based on its contents, I've revised the standard names for some divisions and capitals. The document also shows populations and areas of divisions, but I didn't judge that they were reliable. For example, the population of each division is exactly what you would get if you multiplied the 1983 census figures, shown in the table below, by 1.44206 and rounded to the nearest 100. This is far too improbable to be a coincidence. The PCGN probably got the best estimate it could for the total population of Myanmar, divided it by the 1983 population, and got 1.44206, which it then used to extrapolate. In actuality, the different divisions of a country always grow at different rates.

Country overview: 

In 1900, Burma was one of the provinces of India. It was detached from India as a separate crown colony on 1937-04-01. It was occupied by Japan during World War II. It became independent on 1948-01-04. The government requested the use of the name Union of Myanmar in English as of 1989-06-19. Most western organizations have complied, with the exception, so far, of the U.S. Government.

Other names of country: 

1. Burmese: Myanmar Naingngandaw (formal)
2. Danish: Myanmar, Burma (obsolete)
3. Dutch: Myanmar, Unie Myanmar (formal)
4. English: Union of Myanmar (formal), Burma (obsolete)
5. Finnish: Myanmar, Burma (obsolete)
6. French: Myanmar, Birmanie f (obsolete)
7. German: Myanmar, Birma n (obsolete), Burma (obsolete)
8. Icelandic: Mjanmar
9. Italian: Myanmar, Birmania f (obsolete)
10. Norwegian: Myanmar, Unionen Myanmar (formal), Burma (obsolete)
11. Portuguese: Mianmar, Myanmar, Mianmá (Brazil), União f de Myanmar (formal), Birmânia f, Burma (obsolete)
12. Spanish: Myanmar, Unión f de Myanmar (formal), Birmania (obsolete)
13. Swedish: Myanmar, Burma (obsolete)

Origin of name: 

Burmese myamma naygan: strong

Primary subdivisions: 

Myanmar is divided into seven yin (dv: divisions) and seven pyine (st: states). Generally speaking, states are semi-autonomous areas allocated to particular ethnic groups.

Note: The capital of Rakhine has been known as Akyab or Sittwe interchangeably for many years. During the 1960s, the capital of Magway temporarily moved from Magwe to Yenangyaung.

Postal codes: 

Myanmar uses five-digit postal codes. The first two digits represent the division or state.

Further subdivisions:

See the Districts of Myanmar page.

The divisions and states are subdivided into kayaing (districts) and substates. These are further subdivided into townships and villages.

Territorial extent: 

1. Ayeyarwady includes the islands in the Preparis Channel: Great Coco, Little Coco, Preparis, and Table Islands, as well as the islands in the delta of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River.
2. Mon includes Bilugyun Island in the mouth of the Salween River, and some small coastal islands.
3. Rakhine includes Ramree and Cheduba Islands, Ye Kyun, and the Boronga Islands.
4. Tanintharyi includes the Mergui Archipelago, from Christie, Auriol, and Graham Islands in the south to Mali Kyun in the north; and the Moscos Islands off Tavoy. The largest islands in the Merguis are Kadan Kyun (King), Kanmaw Kyun (Kissaraing), Letsok-aw Kyun (Dome), and Lanbi Kyun (Sullivan).

Origins of names: 

1. Ayeyarwady: from the river name, which comes from Sanskrit for refreshing
2. Kawthule: Karen for flowery land
3. Tanintharyi: from Malay for land of delight
4. Yangon: Burmese for armistice, named by King Alompra after conquering the area

Change history: 

In 1900, Burma was a province of India, and was divided into Lower Burma (capital Rangoon) and Upper Burma (Mandalay). Upper Burma contained the divisions of Mandalay, Meiktila, Minbu, Sagaing, and the Federated Shan States (North and South). Lower Burma consisted of Arakan, Irrawaddy, Pegu, and Tenasserim. These divisions were further subdivided into districts.

1. 1922-10-10: Karenni States (Bawlake, Kantarawaddy, and Kyebogyi) placed under the administration of the Federated Shan States.
2. ~1940: Name of Minbu division changed to Magwe; Meiktila division merged with Mandalay.
3. 1948-01-04: Burmese independence. Chin Hills special division split from Arakan division. Kachin state formed by taking Myitkyina and Bhamo districts from Mandalay; Karen state formed by taking parts of Amherst, Thaton, and Toungoo districts from Tenasserim; Karenni state split from Federated Shan States; Shan state formed by merging the Federated Shan States and the Wa States.
4. 1952-01-14: Name of Karenni state changed to Kayah.
5. 1964: Rangoon division, formerly a district of Pegu division, split from Pegu. Capital of Pegu division changed from Rangoon to Pegu. Name of Karen state changed to Kawthule.
6. 1972-06: Hanthawaddy and Hmawbi districts transferred from Pegu division to Rangoon division.
7. 1974-01-04: New constitution enters in force. Status and name of Chin Hills special division changed to Chin state. Capital of Chin moved from Falam to Haka. Name of Kawthule state changed back to Karen. Mon state split from Tenasserim division. Capital of Tenasserim moved from Moulmein to Tavoy. Status of Arakan division changed to state.
8. 1989-06-19: Name of country changed from Burma to Myanmar. Names of Irrawaddy, Magwe, Pegu, Rangoon, and Tenasserim divisions and Arakan, Karen, and Karenni states changed to Ayeyarwady, Magway, Bago, Yangon, Tanintharyi, Rakhine, Kayin, and Kayah, respectively. Name of national capital changed from Rangoon to Yangon.

Other names of subdivisions: 

Names of the states often include the generic (e.g., Chin State; État Mon).

1. Ayeyarwady: Ayeyarwaddy, Ayeyawady (variant); Irawadi (German); Irraouaddi (French); Irrauaddy (Portuguese); Irrawaddy (obsolete)
2. Bago: Pégou (French); Pegu (obsolete)
3. Chin: Chin Hills (obsolete)
4. Kayah: Karenni (obsolete)
5. Kayin: Karen, Kawthule (obsolete); Karin, Kawthoolei, Kawthulay (variant)
6. Magway: Magwe (variant); Minbu (obsolete)
7. Mon: Mun (variant)
8. Rakhine: Arakan (obsolete)
9. Tanintharyi: Tenasserim (obsolete); Thanintharyi (variant)
10. Yangon: Rangoon (obsolete); Rangum (Portuguese); Rangun (German); Rangún (Spanish)