Administrative divisions of Myanmar

Myanmar is divided into 14 administrative subdivisions, which include 7 states (pyi-neh) and 7 divisions (taing). The names of divisions (except for Ayeyarwady Division and Tanintharyi Division) are also the names of the capital cities. In addition, Myanmar's subdivisions can be described as ethnically-divided. Divisions are Bamar-dominant, while states are ethnic minority-dominant.

Ayeywarwady Division has the largest population and Yangon Division is the most densly populated. The smallest population is Kayah State. In terms of land area, Shan State is the largest and Yangon Division is the smallest.

The subdivisions are divided into districts, which in turn are divided into townships that consist of towns, wards and villages.

Administrative divisions

File:Myanmar.geohive.gif

Administrative division of Myanmar.

States

• Chin State
• Kachin State
• Kayah State
• Kayin State
• Mon State
• Rakhine State
• Shan State

Divisions

• Ayeyawady Division
• Bago Division
• Magway Division
• Mandalay Division
• Sagaing Division
• Tanintharyi Division
• Yangon Division

No. of Districts, Townships, Cities/Towns, Wards, Village Groups and Villages in Myanmar in December 31 2001

No.	State/Division	District	Township	City/Town	Wards	Village Groups	Villages
1	Kachin State	3	18	20	116	606	2630
2	Kayah State	2	7	7	29	79	624
3	Kayin State	3	7	10	46	376	2092
4	Chin State	2	9	9	29	475	1355
5	Sagaing Division	8	37	37	171	1769	6095
6	Taninthayi Division	3	10	10	63	265	1255
7	Bago Division	4	28	33	246	1424	6498
8	Magway Division	5	25	26	160	1543	4774
9	Mandalay Division	7	31	29	259	1611	5472
10	Mon State	2	10	11	69	381	1199
11	Rakhine State	4	17	17	120	1041	3871
12	Yangon Division	4	45	20	685	634	2119
13	Shan State	11	54	54	336	1626	15513
14	Ayeyawady Division	5	26	29	219	1912	11651
	Total	63	324	312	2548	13742	65148

History

British colonisation

In 1900, Myanmar was a province of British India, and was divided into two subdivisions: Lower Myanmar, whose capital was Rangoon, and Upper Myanmar, whose capital was Mandalay. Within Lower Myanmar were four divisions (Arakan, Irrawaddy, Pegu, Tenasserim). Upper Myanmar had 6 divisions (Meiktila, Minbu, Sagaing, N. Federated Shan States and S. Federated Shan States).

In 10 October 1922, the Karenni States of Bawlake, Kantarawaddy, and Kyebogyi became a part of the Federated Shan States. In 1940, Minbu division's name was changed to Magwe, and Meiktila Divisions became part of Mandalay District.

Post-independence

Upon independence, in 4 January 1948, the Chin Hills area was split from Arakan Division to form Chin State, and Kachin State was formed by carving out the Myitkyina and Bhamo districts of Mandalay Division. Karen State was also created from Amherst, Thaton, and Toungoo Districts of Tenasserim Division. Karenni State was separated from the Federated Shan States, and Shan State was formed by merging the Federated Shan States and the Wa States.

In 1952, Karenni State was renamed Kayah State. In 1964, Rangoon Division was separated from Pegu Division, whose capital shifted to Pegu. In addition, Karen State was renamed Kawthule State.

In 1972, the Hanthawaddy and Hmawbi districts were moved under Rangoon Division's juridstiction.

In 1974, after Ne Win introduced a constitution, Chin Division became a state, and its capital moved from Falam to Hakha. Kawthule State's name was reverted to Karen State, and Mon State was separated from Tenassarim Division. Mon State's capital became Mawlamyaing, and Tenassarim Division's became Tavoy. In addition, Rakhine Division was granted statehood.

In 1989, after the coup d'état by the military junta, the names of many divisions in Myanmar were altered in English to reflect Burmese pronunciations.