Myanmar, the land of pagodas, longyis and monks

မြန်မာ

Myanmar is located between India and Bangladesh in the west and Thailand / Laos in the east; in the northeast it borders with China. Around 51 million people live in Myanmar which was formerly called Burma. In any aspect, it is a very diverse country that consists of many ethnic groups, dialects and religious affiliations.

Map of Myanmar

Population

Until 1989 Myanmar was called Burma, derived from the largest population group, the Burmese. Behind Indonesia, it is the second largest country in Southeast Asia with a size twice as large as Germany. The Burmese represent two parts of the population and are related to the Tibetans. The Shans, located in Myanmar’s north next to Thailand and in the east of the country have their origins in Thailand. The Karen, the Rohingyas, Mon and Kachin also represent significant parts of the population.

Religion

Also, the religious affiliations are widely scattered in Myanmar. The Burmese are mainly Buddhists, while many of the Karen form a Christian minority. Four percent are Muslims who live mainly in Rakhine State. Natural religions are also widespread in the north of the country. Therefore, many religions clash in the very diverse country of Myanmar.

Sources
  • www.liportal.de/myanmar/