Administrative divisions of Myanmar


is divided into twenty-one administrative subdivisions, which include:
The regions were called divisions prior to August 2010, and five of them are named after their capital city, the exceptions being Ayeyarwady Region and Tanintharyi Region. The regions can be described as ethnically predominantly Burman, while the states, the zones and Wa Division are dominated by ethnic minorities.
Yangon Region has the largest population and is the most densely populated. The smallest population is Kayah State. In terms of land area, Shan State is the largest and Naypyidaw Union Territory is the smallest.
States and regions are divided into districts. These districts consist of townships that include towns, wards ) and village-tracts. Village-tracts are groups of adjacent villages.

Structural hierarchy

Level1st2nd3rd4th5th
Division
Type		Union Territory
District
Township
Ward
-
Division
Type		Region

State
District
Township
Ward
-
Division
Type		Region

State
District
Township
Village tract
Village
Division
Type		Self-Administered Division
-Township
Village tract
Village
Division
Type		Self-Administered Zone
-Township
Village tract
Village

Administrative regions

States, Regions, and Union Territories

Self-Administered Zones and Self-Administered Divisions

NameBurmeseCapitalRegionPopulationArea Type
Danu Self-Administered ZonePindayaEastSelf-Administered Zone
Kokang Self-Administered ZoneLaukkaiEastSelf-Administered Zone
Naga Self-Administered ZoneLaheNorthSelf-Administered Zone
Pa'O Self-Administered ZoneHopongEastSelf-Administered Zone
Pa Laung Self-Administered ZoneNamhsanEastSelf-Administered Zone
Wa Self-Administered DivisionHopangEastSelf-Administered Division

System of administration

The administrative structure of the states, regions and self-administering bodies is outlined in the new constitution adopted in 2008.

States and regions

Each state or region has a Regional Government or a State Government consisting of a Chief Minister, other Ministers and an Advocate General. Legislative authority would reside with the State Hluttaw or Regional Hluttaw made up of elected civilian members and representatives of the Armed Forces. Both divisions are considered equivalent, the only distinction being that states have large ethnic minority populations and regions are mostly populated by the national majority Burmans.

Naypyidaw Union Territory

The constitution states that Naypyidaw shall be a Union Territory under the direct administration of the President. Day-to-day functions would be carried out on the President's behalf by the Naypyidaw Council led by a Chairperson. The Chairperson and members of the Naypyidaw Council are appointed by the President and shall include civilians and representatives of the Armed Forces.

Self-Administered Zones and Self-Administered Divisions

Self-Administered Zones and Self-Administered Divisions are administered by a Leading Body. The Leading Body consists of at least ten members and includes State or Regional Hluttaw members elected from the Zones or Divisions and other members nominated by the Armed Forces. The Leading Body has both executive and legislative powers. A Chairperson is head of each Leading Body.
Within Sagaing Region:
Within Shan State:

British colonisation

In 1900, Burma was a province of British India, and was divided into two subdivisions: Lower Burma, whose capital was Rangoon with four divisions, and Upper Burma, whose capital was Mandalay with six divisions.
On 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, on 4 January 1948, the Chin Hills area was split from Arakan Division to form Chin Special Division, 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 Special Division became a state, and its capital moved from Falam to Hakha. Kawthule State's name was reverted to Karen State. Mon State was created out of portions of Tenasserim Division and Pegu Division. Mon State's capital became Moulmein, and Tenasserim 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 Burma were altered in English to reflect Burmese pronunciations.
After 1995, in Kachin State Mohnyin District was created out of Myitkyina District as part of the peace agreement with the Kachin Independence Army.

2008 Constitution

The 2008 Constitution stipulates the renaming of the 7 "divisions" as "regions". It also stipulates the creation of Union territories, which include the capital of Nay Pyi Taw and ethnic self-administered zones and self-administered divisions. These self-administered regions include the following:
On 20 August 2010, the renaming of the 7 divisions and the naming of the 6 self-administered zones was announced by Burmese state media.