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Global Sourcebook for International Data Management
by Graham Rhind
Formerly known as Burma. Small parts of Myanmar on the border with Thailand are controlled by Karen and Mon rebels.
For supplementary information, see links to post office home pages here , to postal code pages here and to other personal name and addressing issues pages here .
50 279 900 (2014) [1]
Note: This section last updated 24th May 2021
1,234.45
(where . indicates the decimal separator and , the thousands separator)
110 languages are spoken in Myanmar. The official language is Burmese , with 21 553 000 first-language speakers and 3 000 000 second-language speakers. Other languages spoken include Arakanese (1 875 000 speakers); Jingpo (625 000 speakers); Pa’o Karen (560 000 speakers), Pwo Karen (1 209 800 speakers), S’gaw Karen (1 284 700 speakers); Mon (835 100 speakers); Shan (2 920 000 speakers); Vo (558 000 speakers) and Yangbye (810 300 speakers).
The use of forms of address in Burmese is complex and difficult to comprehend for many outsiders. In short, the forms of address are:
Males:
Under 30 Mg (Maung) Aged 30-45 Ko Over 45 U Military officers and people regarded as “leaders”: Bo
Females:
Under 35 Ma Over 35 Daw Women of any age with “status”, such as teachers or lawyers: Daw
Other forms of address are Saw, Naw, Ludu U and Hanthawaddy U.
Most Westerners do not realize that these strings are forms of address and not part of the person’s name. The Burmese former United Nations Secretary General, U Thant, is a good example of this. It is, of course, always wrong to duplicate the forms of address by writing, for example, Mr U Thant.
Names are usually written with the form of address being followed by the family name (if used) and then the given name. Women do not change their name upon marriage. The eldest son may take the father’s family name whilst the eldest daughter may take the mother’s family name. The full name should always be used in all contexts. Naming in general is rather flexible in Burma, and care needs to be taken in storing and using Burmese names in databases.
Tables of names can be acquired: given names , surnames/family names , family name prefixes , forms of address , job titles
Note: This section last updated 7th April 2023
Myanmar addresses are written in the format:
Contact Name number[ ]Thoroughfare {Township name} SETTLEMENT[ ]postal code
For example:
A comma may be added after the settlement name , and the region or state may be written on the line below the postal code line.
Though Myanmar has postal codes, they are rarely used.
Addresses not written in a local language will be written in English.
A table containing information about the relevant position of elements within address blocks can be acquired
For addresses in English, this is written PO Box.
Note: This section last updated 8th April 2023
Myanmar changed postal code systems in late 2022, from a code consisting of 5 digits to one of 7 digits. The first two digits represent the division/state, and they range between 01 and 18. The next two digits indicates the municipality/town/township and the final three digits indicate the quarter or village tract.
Metadata containing postal code formatting rules, exceptions and regular expressions can be acquired
The initial digits fall in the ranges 010-011, 016-017, 020-023, 026-027, 030, 036-037, 040-042, 046, 050-052, 056, 060-062, 066-067, 070-071, 076-077, 080-081, 086-087, 090-096, 100-105, 106-107, 110-114, 116, 120-121, 126, 130, 136-137, 140-141, 146, 150, 160-162, 166-167, 170-171, 176, 180-181, 186
\A[010-011,016-017,020-023,026-027,030,036-037,040-042,046,050-052,056,060-062,066-067,070-071,076-077,080-081,086-087,090-096,100-105,106-107,110-114, 116,120-121,126,130,136-137,140-141,146,150,160-162,166-167,170-171,176,180-181,186]\d{4,4}\Z
Note: This section last updated 9th April 2023
Refer to Exonyms in Myanmar for full lists of place names in Myanmar in other languages.
Alternate place name forms/postal code tables can be acquired at http://www.grcdi.nl/settlements.htm
Other language place name data can be acquired at http://www.grcdi.nl/otherlanguageplace.htm
Note: This section last updated 28th August 2021
Myanmar has 7 regions (yin-mya, singular - yin, shown below with an asterisk), 7 states (pyine-mya, singular - pyine), a union territory (pranytaungcu.nai-mre) (#), a self-administered zone (kuiypuing-uphkyuphkwang.ra.desa) and 5 self-administered divisions (kuiypuing-uphkyuphkwang.ra.tuing). The self-administered zone and divisions are not shown below.
State/Division |
Postal code range |
100-102, 106-107 | |
Bago * |
080-081, 086-087, 180-181, 186 |
030, 036-037 | |
010-011, 016-017 | |
090-096 | |
130, 136-137 | |
Magway * |
040-042, 046 |
Mandalay * |
050-052, 056 |
120-121, 126 | |
150 | |
070-071, 076-077 | |
Sagaing * |
020-023, 026-027 |
060-062, 066-067, 160-162, 166-167, 170-171, 176 | |
140-141, 146 | |
Yangon * (Rangoon) |
110-114, 116 |
Note: This section last updated 25th August 2015
Myanmar area codes have 1 or 2 digits when called from abroad. Fixed geographic numbers have a total length of between 6 and 9 digits. Mobile numbers have the area code 9 and a length of between 7 and 10 digits
Every effort is made to keep this resource updated. If you find any errors, or have any questions or requests, please don't hesitate to contact the author.
All information copyright Graham Rhind 2024. Any information used should be acknowledged and referenced.