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Map of Myanmar

Myanmar is a country in Asia with its capital at Naypyidaw, home to about 54.85 million people across 676,577 km². The interactive map below plots 37 cities and towns, 11 rivers, 6 mountain summits and 6 ports recorded for Myanmar in YearMaps.

Population
54.85 million
#27 of 225 · World Bank, 2025
Area
676,577 km²
#41 by area
Capital
Naypyidaw
Largest city: Rangoon
Continent
Asia
81 people per km²

Interactive Map of Myanmar

4.4

Centred on Naypyidaw at 16.7853° N, 96.1647° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.

Great Monument of Myanmar

Ananda Temple (Bagan) is marked on the map above. Click a pin or use "Show on map" to fly to it.

Ananda Temple (Bagan)
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Mon-Burmese SanctuaryBuilt 1105 CE

Ananda Temple (Bagan)

Pagan Kingdom of Myanmar (Kyansittha) · High Middle Ages

The Ananda Temple (Burmese: အာနန္ဒာ ဘုရား, pronounced [ànàɰ̃dà pʰəjá]), located in Bagan, Myanmar is a Buddhist temple built in 1105 AD during the reign (1084–1112/13) of King Kyansittha (Hti-Hlaing Min) of the Pagan Dynasty. The temple layout is cruciform with several terraces leading to a small pagoda at the top covered by an umbrella known as hti, which is the name of the umbrella or top ornament found in almost all pagodas in Myanmar. The Buddhist temple houses four standing Buddha statues, each one facing the cardinal direction of East, North, West and South. The temple is said to be an architectural wonder in a fusion of Mon and adopted Indian style of architecture. The impressive temple has also been titled the "Westminster Abbey of Burma". The temple has close similarity to the Pathothamya temple of the 10th–11th century, and is also known as “veritable museum of stones”.

The temple was damaged in the earthquake of 1975. However, it has been fully restored and is well maintained by frequent painting and whitewashing of the walls. On the occasion of 900th anniversary of its construction celebrated in 1990, the temple spires were gilded. It is a highly revered temple of Bagan.

Adapted from Wikipedia: Ananda Temple (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Built by
Pagan Kingdom of Myanmar (Kyansittha)
Built
1105 CE
Era
High Middle Ages
Type
Mon-Burmese Sanctuary
Status
UNESCO World Heritage Site (Bagan)
Coordinates
21.1706° N, 94.8678° E

Architectural Significance

A cruciform plan of corridors around a central cube, lit by windows angled so daylight falls on the faces of the four standing Buddhas.

Photos of Ananda Temple (Bagan)

  • Ananda temple in Bagan, Myanmar.
    Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Ananda temple in Bagan, Myanmar.
    Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Ananda temple in Bagan, Myanmar.
    Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 3.0
History & architecture of Ananda Temple (Bagan)

History

History of this perfectly dimensioned temple structure built in 1105 is credited to King Kyansittha. It denotes "the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period". The timing of building this temple is considered as a culmination of religious education that began during the Pahothanya temple building activity in 1080 AD. The Theravada Buddhism adopted by the King motivated him to present the teachings of Buddha to his people in an accurate and a genuine way through the medium of this temple, to unite Burma under one flag and thus "creating mass religious enthusiasm". It has been inferred that the King, as the upholder of the Law wanted to convey his firm belief in the Buddhist doctrine according to his interpretation:

(He) shall purify (and) make straight, write down (and) establish all the holy scriptures. (He) shall proclaim (and) voice the Law, which is even as a resounding drum. (He) shall arouse all the people that are slumbering carelessly. (He) shall stand steadfast in the observance of the commandments at all times.

Through the iconographic depictions (in stone images, the numbered jataka plaques and the standing Buddha images), presented in the symmetrically planned layout of the Ananda temple, King Kyansittha established and conveyed his doctrine to his people in a visual format. The King who founded this temple is associated with Buddhist architecture.

Architecture

Ananda temple is a perfectly dimensioned stylistic structure, a fusion of Mon and Indian architectural styles and is the central monument built in the Pagan valley. It has been built with bricks and plaster depicting iconographic images in stones and plaques (terra-cotta glazed tiles) with the main purpose of educating the people of the region in the religious ethos of Theravada Buddhism and in accordance with the personal beliefs of the King Kyansittha.

The temple structure is in the form of a simple corridor. It has a central square of 53 metres (174 ft); gabled porches project out by 57 feet (17 m) from each face of the square. The superstructure is 51 metres (167 ft) in height formed by decorated terraces. The total length of the temple from end to end is about 290 feet (88 m). In the crucifix layout adopted for the temple, the main plinth over which two receding curvilinear roofs have been built followed by four receding terraces above it. The four terraces lead to the top, where it terminates in a small pagoda and an umbrella known as hti, which is the name of the top ornament found in almost all pagodas in Myanmar. The core part of the temple, at the centre of the terraces, is in the shape of a cube, which houses the four standing Buddha massive statues on its four faces, each of 9.5 metres (31 ft)height (above a 8 feet (2.4 m) high throne). The spire rises above this cubic structure. Two passages delimit the central cube, with the four sides of the cube; each face is decorated with a massive image of the Buddha. The four entrances are provided with teak wood carved doors in the interior and these entrances form a perfect cross or cruciform. A stupa finial crowns each entrance. Jataka scenes (life story of the Buddha – said to be sourced from Mon texts) are embossed over 554 terra cotta tiles that decorate the base, sides and terraces. Each niche, inside the four entrances of the cubical structure, form the sanctum where standing Buddhas, fully gilded and in different mudras or forms are deified and worshipped.

The two circumambulatory passages have vaulted roof. In these inner passages, surrounding the central cubicle, sculptural ornamentation in the form of 80 large reliefs carved out of volcanic rocks, representing Buddha's life from birth to death, are depicted. The two main passages have cross passages also, which provide the link between the porch and the standing images of the Buddha.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Ananda Temple (CC BY-SA 4.0).

About Myanmar

Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has a population of about 55 million. It is bordered by India and Bangladesh to the northwest, China to the northeast, Laos and Thailand to the east and southeast, and the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal to the south and southwest. The country's capital city is Naypyidaw, while its largest city is Yangon (formerly Rangoon).

Early civilisations in the area included the Tibeto-Burman-speaking Pyu city-states in Upper Myanmar and the Mon kingdoms in Lower Myanmar. In the 9th century, the Bamar people entered the upper Irrawaddy valley, and following the establishment of the Pagan Kingdom in the 1050s, the Burmese language and culture and Theravada Buddhism slowly became dominant in the country. The Pagan Kingdom fell to Mongol invasions, and several warring states emerged. In the 16th century, reunified by the Taungoo dynasty, the country became the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia for a short period. The early 19th-century Konbaung dynasty ruled over an area that included modern Myanmar and briefly controlled Assam, the Lushai Hills, and Manipur as well. The British East India Company seized control of the administration of Myanmar after three Anglo-Burmese Wars in the 19th century, and the country became a British colony. After a brief Japanese occupation, Myanmar was reconquered by the Allies. In 1948, Myanmar declared independence under the terms of the Burma Independence Act 1947.

Myanmar's post-independence history has been checkered by continuous unrest and conflict. A coup d'état in 1962 resulted in a military dictatorship under the Burma Socialist Programme Party. The 8888 Uprising in 1988 resulted in a transition to a multi-party system two years later, but the country's post-uprising military junta, led by members of the Tatmadaw, refused to cede power and continued to rule the country directly until 2011, when the junta was officially dissolved following the 2010 general election. A nominally civilian government was installed, and longtime political prisoners like Aung San Suu Kyi were released, but the military retained power over key government operations. The 2015 general election led to a transition of power to the National League for Democracy, although the country's treatment of its ethnic minorities, particularly the Rohingya genocide, continued to be a source of international tension.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Myanmar (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Myanmar
Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Geography and Climate of Myanmar

Burma is home to ethnic Burmans and scores of other ethnic and religious minority groups that have resisted external efforts to consolidate control of the country throughout its history. Britain conquered Burma over a period extending from the 1820s to the 1880s and administered it as a province of India until 1937, when Burma became a self-governing colony. Burma gained full independence in 1948. In 1962, General NE WIN seized power and ruled the country until 1988 when a new military regime took control. In 1990, the military regime permitted an election but then rejected the results after the main opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) and its leader AUNG SAN SUU KYI (ASSK) won in a landslide. The military regime placed ASSK under house arrest until 2010. In 2007, rising fuel prices in Burma led pro-democracy activists and Buddhist monks to launch a "Saffron Revolution" consisting of large protests against the regime, which violently suppressed the movement. The regime prevented new elections until it had drafted a constitution designed to preserve the military's political control; it passed the new constitution in its 2008 referendum. The regime conducted an election in 2010, but the NLD boycotted the vote, and the military’s political proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, easily won; international observers denounced the election as flawed. Burma nonetheless began a halting process of political and economic reforms. ASSK's return to government in 2012 eventually led to the NLD's sweeping victory in the 2015 election. With ASSK as the de facto head of state, Burma’s first credibly elected civilian government drew international criticism for blocking investigations into Burma’s military operations -- which the US Department of State determined constituted genocide -- against its ethnic Rohingya population. When the 2020 elections resulted in further NLD gains, the military denounced the vote as fraudulent. In 2021, the military's senior leader General MIN AUNG HLAING launched a coup that returned Burma to authoritarian rule, with military crackdowns that undid reforms and resulted in the detention of ASSK and thousands of pro-democracy actors. Pro-democracy organizations have formed in the wake of the coup, including the National Unity Government (NUG). Members of the NUG include representatives from the NLD, ethnic minority groups, and civil society. In 2021, the NUG announced the formation of armed militias called the People's Defense Forces (PDF) and an insurgency against the military junta. As of 2024, PDF units across the country continued to fight the regime with varying levels of support from and cooperation with the NUG and other anti-regime organizations, including armed ethnic groups that have been fighting the central government for decades.

Location
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand.
Climate
Tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
Terrain
Central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands.
Highest point
Gamlang Razi 5,870 m.
Lowest point
Andaman Sea/Bay of Bengal 0 m.
Coastline
1,930 km.
Land borders
Total: 6,522 km; border countries: Bangladesh 271 km; China 2,129 km; India 1,468 km; Laos 238 km; Thailand 2,416 km.
Major rivers
Mekong (shared with China [s], Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween river mouth (shared with China [s] and Thailand) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river mouth (shared with China [s]) - 2,809 km; Chindwin - 1,158 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
Natural resources
Petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower, arable land.
Land use
Agricultural land: 19.9% (2023 est.); arable land: 16.9% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 0.7% (2023 est.); forest: 42.4% (2023 est.); other: 37.7% (2023 est.)
Natural hazards
Destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts.
Geographic note
Strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes; the north-south flowing Irrawaddy River is the country's largest and most important commercial waterway.
Languages
Burmese (official)
Religions
Buddhist 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2014 est.)
Ethnic groups
Burman (Bamar) 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%.
Economy
Slowly recovering Southeast Asian economy; household incomes weaken domestic consumption; growing trade deficit; declining employment; high inflation and reduced currency power; agriculture sector remains most stable.

From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.

Myanmar in Numbers

Population
54.85 million
2025
GDP
US$81.7 billion
2025
GDP per person
US$1,489
2025
Life expectancy
67.1 years
2024
Population growth
0.64% a year
2025
Population density
84 per km²
2024
Urban population
30.6%
2025
Surface area
676,578 km²
2024
Forest cover
42.0%
2024
Arable land
16.9%
2024
Access to electricity
80.4%
2024
Internet users
45.5%
2020

Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.

Myanmar in Depth

History

Archaeological evidence shows that Homo erectus lived in the region now known as Myanmar as early as 750,000 years ago, with no more erectus finds after 75,000 years ago. The first evidence of Homo sapiens is dated to about 25,000 BP with discoveries of stone tools in central Myanmar. Evidence of Neolithic age domestication of plants and animals and the use of polished stone tools dating to sometime between 10,000 and 6,000 BCE has been discovered in the form of cave paintings in Padah-Lin Caves.

The Bronze Age arrived c. 1500 BCE when people in the region were turning copper into bronze, growing rice and domesticating poultry and pigs; they were among the first people in the world to do so.

Geography

Myanmar has a total area of 678,500 square kilometres (262,000 sq mi). It lies between latitudes 9° and 29°N, and longitudes 92° and 102°E. Myanmar is bordered in the northwest by the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh and the Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh states of India. Its north and northeast border is with the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan for a Sino-Myanmar border total of 2,185 km (1,358 mi). It is bounded by Laos and Thailand to the southeast. Myanmar has 1,930 km (1,200 mi) of contiguous coastline along the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea to the southwest and the south, which forms one quarter of its total perimeter.

In the north, the Hengduan Mountains form the border with China.

Economy

Myanmar's economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with a nominal GDP of US$76.09 billion in 2019 and an estimated purchasing power-adjusted GDP of US$327.629 billion in 2017 according to the World Bank. Foreigners can legally lease but not own property. In December 2014, Myanmar set up its first stock exchange, the Yangon Stock Exchange.

The informal economy's share in Myanmar is one of the biggest in the world and is closely linked to corruption, smuggling, and illegal trade activities. In addition, decades of civil war and unrest have contributed to Myanmar's current levels of poverty and lack of economic progress. Myanmar lacks adequate infrastructure.

Demographics

The provisional results of the 2014 Myanmar Census showed that the total population was 51,419,420. This figure includes an estimated 1,206,353 persons in parts of northern Rakhine State, Kachin State and Kayin State who were not counted. People who were out of the country at the time of the census are not included in these figures. There are over 600,000 registered migrant workers from Myanmar in Thailand, and millions more work illegally. Burmese citizens account for 80% of all migrant workers in Thailand. At the beginning of the 20th century, Burma's population was approximately 10 million.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Myanmar (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Myanmar: Key Facts

Key facts about Myanmar
Currencykyat
Official languageBurmese
Head of stateMyint Swe
Head of governmentMin Aung Hlaing
Form of governmentrepublic
Calling code+95
Internet domain.mm
Highest pointHkakabo Razi
Lowest pointIndian Ocean
Established4 January 1948

Facts from Wikidata Q836 (CC0).

History of Myanmar: Empires and States

The atlas records 17 polities whose mapped territory included part of Myanmar, from Pyu City-States in 84 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.

Polities that held Myanmar, in chronological order
PolityPeriod here
Pyu City-States84–1045 CE
Pagan Kingdom860–1293 CE
Myinsaing Kingdom1294–1313 CE
Hanthawaddy Kingdom1294–1546 CE
Shan States1294–1563 CE
Kingdom of Pinya1314–1374 CE
Sagaing Kingdom1326–1374 CE
Ava Kingdom1375–1528 CE
Ayutthaya Kingdom1375–1761 CE
Prome Kingdom1482–1546 CE
First Toungoo Empire1502–1756 CE
Konbaung Dynasty1741–1819 CE
Burma1820–1989 CE
British Colonial Empire1825–1852 CE
The British Empire1825–1947 CE
British Raj1859–1947 CE
Union of Myanmar1990–2024 CE

Historical Maps of Myanmar

Myanmar on the world map in each year one of these states held it:

Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.

Visiting Myanmar

Myanmar (မြန်မာ myanma), or Burma is a country in Southeast Asia. The country features awe-inspiring ancient temples, lively local markets, and captivating landscapes, such as unspoiled beaches, picturesque hills, and verdant forests. The genuine warmth of the Burmese people, combined with delectable cuisine, creates an ideal destination for gastronomes and culture aficionados alike.

Since the 1960s, the country has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. For a considerable period, Myanmar has been afflicted with political instability, sectarian violence, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and a prolonged history of colonial exploitation that paid scant attention to human development.

Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Myanmar (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Largest Cities in Myanmar

37 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.

Largest Cities in Myanmar
#NamePopulation
1Rangoon4.09 million
2Mandalay1.30 million
3Naypyidaw930,000
4Mawlamyine438,861
5Bago284,318
6Myeik266,720
7Pathein237,089
8Monywa226,222
9Hinthada180,728
10Sittwe179,032
11Letpadan176,571
12Myingyan163,812
13Taunggyi160,115
14Mudon152,300
15Dawei146,212
16Myitkyina139,100
17Pyay135,308
18Pakokku126,938
19Magway125,973
20Yaynangyoung110,553
21Taungoo106,945
22Chauk90,870
23Shwebo88,914
24Sagaing78,739
25Phyarpon65,601
The other 12 (population, region, role)
  1. Allanmyo · 57,897 · Magway · Populated place
  2. Thongwa · 52,496 · Yangon · Populated place
  3. Ye · 50,798 · Mon · Populated place
  4. Pa-an · 50,000 · Kayin · Admin-1 capital
  5. Namtu · 48,591 · Shan · Populated place
  6. Wakema · 48,405 · Ayeyarwady · Populated place
  7. Pyu · 40,386 · Bago · Populated place
  8. Yandoon · 36,172 · Ayeyarwady · Populated place
  9. Hakha · 20,000 · Chin · Admin-1 capital
  10. Loikaw · 17,293 · Kayah · Admin-1 capital
  11. Kyaukphyu · 4,261 · Rakhine · Populated place
  12. Labutta · 1,667 · Ayeyarwady · Populated place

Highest Mountains in Myanmar

6 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.

More on these mountains →
Highest Mountains in Myanmar
#NameElevation
1Hkakabo Razi5,881 m
2Saramati3,826 m
3Mount Victoria3,053 m
4Kennedy Pk2,703 m
5Loi Leng2,673 m
6Myinmoletkat Taung2,072 m

Rivers in Myanmar

11 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.

See all 11 rivers →
Rivers in Myanmar
NameType
AyeyarwadyRiver
ChindwinRiver
Irrawaddy DeltaRiver
KaladanRiver
MekongRiver
MytingeRiver
MytithaRiver
NmaiRiver
NuRiver
SalweenRiver

Ports in Myanmar

6 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.

Ports in Myanmar
#NameChannel Depth
1Moulmein Harbor56.7 m
2Mergui49.4 m
3Bassein49.4 m
4Sittwe49.4 m
5Yetagun Marine Terminal5.5 m
6Rangoon—

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Myanmar

2 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.

More on these World Heritage Sites →
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Myanmar
#NameInscribed
1Pyu Ancient Cities2014
2Bagan2019

Largest Islands of Myanmar

1 island recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.

Largest Islands of Myanmar
#NameArea
1Myeik Arch986 km²

Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Myanmar

10 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.

More on these mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms →
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Myanmar
#NameArea
1Asia46.28M km²
2Indochina Peninsula1.90M km²
3Malay Peninsula214,867 km²
4Shan Plateau183,978 km²
5Naga Hills47,332 km²
6Chin Hills26,723 km²
7Himalayas17,334 km²
8Isthmus of Kra12,603 km²
9Arakan Yoma3,108 km²
10Irrawaddy Delta2,033 km²

States and Provinces of Myanmar

3 first-level divisions with their own map.

Countries Bordering Myanmar

Land and maritime neighbours.

More Maps in Asia

Myanmar: Quick Answers

What is the capital of Myanmar?
The capital of Myanmar is Naypyidaw.
What is the population of Myanmar?
Myanmar has a population of about 54.85 million, the #27 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
How big is Myanmar?
Myanmar covers 676,577 km², ranking #41 by area, with about 81 people per square kilometre.
Which continent is Myanmar in?
Myanmar is in Asia.
Which countries border Myanmar?
Myanmar shares a land or maritime border with China, India, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh.
What is the largest city in Myanmar?
Rangoon is the largest city in Myanmar, with a metropolitan population of about 4.09 million.
What is the highest mountain in Myanmar?
The highest summit recorded for Myanmar in YearMaps is Hkakabo Razi at 5,881 m (19,295 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
What are the famous wonders and monuments of Myanmar?
Myanmar's great monuments in YearMaps are Ananda Temple (Bagan). Each is written up on this page with photographs and its history.