Republic of the Union of Myanmar
South-Eastern Asia
Golden · Buddhist · Complex
Myanmar (officially Republic of the Union of Myanmar) is a country located in South-Eastern Asia. Its capital city is Naypyidaw, with other major cities including Mandalay and Yangon. With a population of approximately 54.0M, the main language spoken is Burmese. The country covers an area of 676,578 km². The official currency is the Burmese kyat (Ks). Traffic drives on the right side.
Bagan in Myanmar contains over 2,000 Buddhist temples spread across a plain — at its 13th-century peak there were over 10,000 temples, built during a frenzy of religious construction unmatched anywhere in the world.
Naypyidaw serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Myanmar, positioned in South-Eastern Asia. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Mandalay, Yangon, Bago — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Naypyidaw was built in secret and unveiled in 2006 as Myanmar's new capital, replacing Yangon — a purpose-built city of massive boulevards, hotel zones, and government ministries spread across 7,054 square kilometres (larger than London) in a location that the military junta chose for its central position and, according to reports, on the advice of an astrologer consulted about an auspicious date for the move.
With a population of approximately 54.0M, Myanmar is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is Burmese, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Myanmar is reached via the dialling code +95. Myanmar's 135 officially recognised ethnic groups include the Bamar majority and minorities (Karen, Shan, Kachin, Rakhine, Chin, Mon) whose armed ethnic organisations have maintained continuous low-level conflict with the central government since independence in 1948 — the world's longest-running civil war — while the 2021 military coup reversed a decade of partial democratic opening and created a new humanitarian crisis.
Myanmar spans 676,578 km², in the South-Eastern Asia subregion of Asia. Geographically centred around 22.0°N, 98.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Asia convention.
The official currency is the Burmese kyat (Ks), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Myanmar's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+06:30, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.
Football / Chinlone holds a special place in the heart of Myanmar's national identity. Chinlone — a circular sport where players pass a rattan ball using only feet, knees, and head, performed in circles without opposition — is Myanmar's traditional sport and a physical practice with the aesthetic quality of dance rather than competition, performed at festivals and temple celebrations where grace and creativity are judged rather than points scored against an opponent.
The highest point in Myanmar is Hkakabo Razi, rising to 5,881 metres above sea level. Inle Lake in Shan State sits at 880 metres altitude — a shallow lake 22 kilometres long where the Intha people row their traditional leg-rowing boats (standing on the stern and rowing with one leg wrapped around the oar for stability) through floating gardens of tomatoes and vegetables cultivated on mats of aquatic vegetation anchored to the lake bottom.