If your interest is in the core statistics and practical highlights of Myanmar as a destination, this guide assembles all the most relevant details in one place. For those keen to Travel to Myanmar with a focus on getting to know the essentials before arrival, these facts offer a foundation for preparation and curiosity.
Geographical and Demographic Snapshot:
- Total land area: 676,578 sq. km (slightly smaller than Texas)
- Border countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Thailand
- Coastline: 1,930 km
- Mean elevation: 702 m
- Population: 56,590,071, #25 in the world
- Urban/rural split: Approx. 70% rural, 30% urban (mainly Yangon and Mandalay)
- Population of largest cities: Yangon – 5.32 million, Mandalay – 1.44 million
- Ethnic groups: Bamar (68%), Shan (9%), Karen (7%), Rakhine (4%), Chinese (3%), Indian (2%), Mon (2%), other (5%); Myanmar has 135 officially recognized ethnic groups.
Language, Religion, and Literacy:
- Official language: Burmese (spoken by ~32 million as their first language)
- Most spoken minority languages: Shan (~3.2 million), Karen (~2.6 million), Kachin (~0.9 million), Chin (~0.78 million), Mon (~0.75 million), and Tamil (~1.1 million)
- Religions: Buddhist (88%), Christian (6%), Muslim (4%), Other (2%)
- Literacy rate: Approx. 75.6%–80%, higher in urban areas
Political and Practical Essentials:
- Time zone: Myanmar Time (MMT), UTC +6:30 (a unique half-hour offset)
- Currency: Kyat (MMK); conversion is straightforward in urban areas, with ATMs and card acceptance mainly in larger cities
- Main telephone code: +95; Internet domain: .mm
- Electric plug types: C, D, F, and G, 230V, 50Hz—bring appropriate adaptors
- Visa basics: Visitor numbers were 4–5 million annually pre-pandemic; eVisa and visa on arrival available for many nationalities
- Mobile coverage: As of recent years, 80-90% of the population had mobile phone subscriptions, with 4G widespread in cities
Geographic and Environmental Highlights:
- Tallest mountain: Hkakabo Razi (5,881 m)
- Longest river: Irrawaddy River (2,170 km), Myanmar’s main artery
- Largest lake: Lake Indawgyi (260 sq. km); Inle Lake (116 sq. km) famous but smaller
- Number of islands in the Mergui Archipelago: 800
- Forest area: 42.9% of land, among the highest percent in Southeast Asia
- Climate zones: Tropical monsoon with cool (Nov–Feb), hot (Mar–Apr), and rainy (May–Oct) seasons; average annual temperature is about 27°C
- Natural disaster propensity: Cyclones, monsoon floods, earthquakes, and landslides, notably affecting coastal and hilly regions
Culture and Society:
- National animal: Burmese Python (Python bivittatus)
- National flower: Padauk tree (Pterocarpus indicus)
- Country flag: Yellow, green, and red stripes with a white star
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 2 (Bagan and Pyu Ancient Cities)
- UNESCO Intangible Heritage: Traditional dance, puppetry arts, lacquerware craft (emerging on international heritage lists)
- Important public holidays:
- Thingyan (Water Festival, April, Burmese New Year)
- Thadingyut (Festival of Lights, October)
- Tazaungdaing (Festival of Lights, November)
- National/Independence Day (January 4)
- Standard business hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday (markets and small shops keep longer hours)
Transport and Traveler Info:
- Main international airports: Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw
- Local transport: Rail networks (slow, scenic), extensive bus routes (budget-friendly, main travel between cities), and river ferries (especially on the Irrawaddy)
Tourism and Sites:
- Most visited sites:
- Bagan Archaeological Zone (thousands of ancient pagodas)
- Shwedagon Pagoda (Yangon’s golden symbol)
- Inle Lake (famous for floating villages and gardens)
- Mandalay Hill and ancient royal cities
- Annual international visitors: Pre-pandemic, ~4.4 million arrivals; most come from Asia, but European visitors are on the rise
Cuisine Snapshots:
- Signature dishes: Mohinga (fish noodle soup), Laphet thoke (fermented tea leaf salad)
- Influences: Burmese cuisine reflects Indian, Chinese, and Thai flavors and cooking styles
Whether you’re planning an in-depth tour or just seeking orientation, these fast facts outline Myanmar’s core statistics and practical essentials—offering a solid starting point for deeper discovery with Shanti Travel.
Statistics sourced and synthesized from current demographic, geographic, and tourism datasets for 2023–2024.
