Myanmar
Asia Β· Capital: Naypyidaw
How it is run: Myanmar is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Myanmar is home to 54.9 million people in South-Eastern Asia, where people speak Burmese.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
54.9 million people
That is 0.7% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
676,578 kmΒ²
Bigger than Texas β a long road trip from one side to the other.
ποΈ How crowded
About 81 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
12th most people in Asia
10th largest by land in Asia.
π£οΈ Official languages
Burmese
π° Money
Burmese kyat (Ks)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
67.1 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$1,489
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
30.6% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
24.1% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+95
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.mm
π§ People here are called
Burmese
π·οΈ Name at home
ααΌααΊαα¬
Also written: Burma, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Pyidaunzu ThanmΔda MyΔma Nainngandaw.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Asia and the Pacific Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Myanmar touches 5 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Myanmar
French
Birmanie
Arabic
Ω ΩΨ§ΩΩ Ψ§Ψ±
Chinese
ηΌ ηΈ
Japanese
γγ£γ³γγΌ
Russian
ΠΡΡΠ½ΠΌΠ°
Portuguese
Myanmar
German
Myanmar
Put it in perspective π
- India β the most populated country in Asia β has about 26.7Γ as many people as Myanmar.
- Myanmar covers roughly 6,444 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Myanmar lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 27,425 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Myanmar lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
ποΈ Capital
Naypyidaw
π Region
Asia Β· South-Eastern Asia
π€ Country code
MM
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Myanmar π
π§ Where on the map
22.0Β° N, 98.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+7 β when it is noon in London it is about 19:00 in Naypyidaw.
- Myanmar is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Myanmar sits in South-Eastern Asia, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
- Myanmar lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
- Myanmar is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Myanmar is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Myanmar has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Myanmar can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Myanmar spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Myanmar?
Naypyidaw
Which money do people spend in Myanmar?
Burmese kyat (Ks)
How many countries share a land border with Myanmar?
5 β Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Thailand.
Roughly how many people live in Myanmar?
54.9 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.