Burmese people

People who are citizens of Myanmar (Burma)

This article is about citizens of Myanmar. For the ethnic majority of Myanmar, see Bamar people.

For information on the population of Myanmar, see Demographics of Myanmar.

Ethnic group

Myanmar people (Burmese people)

မြန်မာလူမျိုး

Total population
c. 53,450,740
Regions with significant populations
Myanmar
c. 51 million (2014)
Thailand| 1,418,472 (2014)[1]
China| 351,248 (2020)[2]
Malaysia| 303,996 (2014)[1]
Saudi Arabia| 268,000 (2020)[3]
United States| 244,046 (2022)[4]
Singapore| 200,000 (2017)[5]
Japan| 134,574 (2024)[6][7]
Australia| 59,774 (2021)[8]
Taiwan| 40,000 (2017)[9]
France| 10,000-15,000 (2010)[1]
South Korea| 14,592 (2014)[1]
Canada| 13,850 (2016)[10]
United Kingdom| 8,543 (2011) [11]
Norway| 4,307 (2022)[12]
Denmark| 2,666 (2022)[13]
New Zealand| 2,187 (2013)[14]
Finland| 2,154 (2021)[15]
Sweden| 2,069 (2021)[16]
Netherlands| 1,683 (2022)[17]
Germany| 1,402 (2013)[citation needed]
France| 1,000[18]
Brazil| 377 (2024)[19]
Russia| 6[citation needed]-1,000[20]
Languages
Languages of Myanmar, including Burmese, Shan, Karenic languages, Rakhine, Kachin, Mon, Kuki-Chin languages, and Burmese English
Religion
Predominantly Theravada Buddhism and Burmese folk religion, Nat (spirit)/Animism
Minority

* Christianity
* Islam
* Hinduism

Burmese people or the Myanmar people (Burmese: မြန်မာလူမျိုး) are citizens from Myanmar (Burma), irrespective of their ethnic or religious background. Myanmar is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual country. The Burmese government officially recognises 135 ethnic groups, who are grouped into eight 'national races,' namely the Bamar (Burmans), Shan, Karen, Rakhine (Arakanese), Mon, Kachin, Chin, and Kayah (Karenni).[21] Many ethnic and ethnoreligious communities exist outside these defined groupings, such as the Burmese Chinese and Panthay, Burmese Indians, Anglo-Burmese, and Gurkhas.

The 2014 Myanmar Census enumerated 51,486,253 persons.[22] There is also a substantial Burmese diaspora, the majority of whom have settled in neighbouring Asian countries.[1] Refugees and asylum seekers from Myanmar make up one of the world's five largest refugee populations.[23][24]

## Terminology

[edit]

The term "Burmese people" is often used to refer to all citizens of Myanmar, regardless of their ethnic background. Myanmar is a multi-ethnic country, with over 100 recognized ethnic groups, the term "Burmese" is sometimes associated specifically with the Bamar (Burman) ethnic group, which is the largest group, comprising around 68% of the population. According to the government of Myanmar, the term Burmese people refers to all the recognized people of Myanmar, encompassing citizens from various ethnicities, such as the Shan, Karen, Rakhine, and others.[25]

The distinction between "Burmese" and "Bamar" is crucial, as the term "Bamar" is often used to describe the majority ethnic group, while "Burmese" is a broader term that refers to the citizens of the country.[26] The term "Myanmarese" is also used to avoid confusion or exclusion of non-Bamar ethnic groups.

## Concept of taing-yin-tha

[edit]

Further information: Ethnicity in Myanmar

An ethnolinguistic map of Myanmar from 1972

Similar to the concepts of pribumi in Indonesia and bumiputera in Malaysia, Burmese society categorises indigenous peoples who had historically lived in what is now modern-day Myanmar as taing-yin-tha (တိုင်းရင်းသား),[27] which is typically translated as 'national race' or 'indigenous race.' Taing-yin-tha literally means 'those who form the basis of the state' or 'offspring of a region.'[28][29]

The Burmese government officially recognizes officially 135 taing-yin-tha ethnic groups (တိုင်းရင်းသားလူမျိုး) as "original inhabitants" who lived in Myanmar before the first British annexation of Lower Burma in 1824.[21] These 'ethnic' designations have been challenged and disputed for being exclusionary and arbitrary legacies of colonialism, which "reified and rigidified ethnic identities", inevitably sowing political and economic divisions along ethnic lines.[21][30] In the pre-colonial era, cultural identities were fluid and dynamic, defined on the basis of patron–client relationships, religions, and regions.[21][30]

Ethnic identity in Myanmar has been significantly shaped by colonialism and decolonisation. During the early colonial era, the term taing-yin-tha was not politically salient.[27] In the 1950s, the term was used to promote solidarity among indigenous peoples.[28] In the 1960s, the term had evolved in meaning, acquiring a more prescriptive definition, specifically referencing the country's eight 'national races', i.e., the Bamar (Burmans), Shan, Karen, Rakhine (Arakanese), Mon, Kachin, Chin, and Kayah (Karenni).[28] Following the 1962 Burmese coup d'état, this term began to acquire political saliency, central to the Burmese military's nation-building programme, which closely linked indigenous heritage with rights to Burmese citizenship.[31]

In the 1980s, the government formally categorised ethnolinguistic groups into 135 subcategories within the construct of the eight national races, an idea which was further propagated by the military junta following the 1988 coup and has remained the official framework for categorising the country's diverse communities.[29] Myanmar's seven states are named after each of the national races, with the exception of the Bamar, who have traditionally lived in the country's seven regions (formerly called divisions).[32]

## Burmese diaspora

[edit]

Main article: Burmese diaspora

The Burmese diaspora refers to families and individuals who have migrated to other parts of the world from Myanmar. Myanmar has experienced significant waves of population displacement, due to decades of internal conflict, poverty, and political persecution,[33] often triggered by political events like the 1962 Burmese coup d'état, the 8888 Uprising and ensuing 1988 coup d'état, and most recently, the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.[34][35] The diaspora is broadly categorised into 3 groups: religious minorities and ethnic groups who have fled conflict areas, elites seeking more politically stable environments, and others seeking improved educational and economic opportunities.[33] In 2021, 1.2 million refugees and asylum seekers were from Myanmar, making them the world's fifth largest refugee population, behind Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and South Sudan.[23][24]

The diaspora in neighbouring Asian countries generally work in unskilled labour sectors (e.g., agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, etc.) while increasing numbers of white collar workers have resettled in the Western world.[33] The significant brain drain of entrepreneurs, professionals and intellectuals resulting from continued decline in Myanmar's sociopolitical environment have had significant ramifications on the country's economic development, particularly in terms of human capital.[36] The recent military coup in 2021 has resulted in the exodus of repatriates of Burmese nationality (e.g., professionals, executives and investors) as well as expatriates alike, impacting the country's emerging start-up scene.[37]

Thailand is the most popular destination for Burmese migrants; two million Burmese people live in Thailand.[33] According to the 2014 Census, 70% of overseas Burmese reside in neighboring Thailand, followed by Malaysia, China, and Singapore.[1] Overseas Burmese also live in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Japan, and South Korea. Following the 1962 Burmese coup d'état, between 1963 and 1970, 155,000 Burmese Indians were repatriated to India and resettled by the Indian government in 'Burma Colonies' in cities like Chennai, Tiruchirappalli and Madurai.[38] Outside of Asia, there is also a significant diaspora in the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

Since the outbreak of Myanmar civil war in 2021, Japan has take a large role by taking Burmese refugees. The Burmese population in Japan went from 37,000 in 2021 to 56,000 in 2022 and is by June 2023 about 69,000. Myanmar was the first country that Japan has taken large numbers of refugees due to its long relations. Japan also has a "Little Yangon" in Tokyo at Takadanobaba area.[39][40]

## Genetics

[edit]

Myanmar sits at the confluence of East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Genetic analyses of Myanmar's population has indicated that Myanmar's haplogroup distribution shows a typical Southeast Asian pattern, but also Northeast Asian and Indian influences.[41] One study found that the Bamar and Karen, although both speak related Tibeto-Burman languages, are genetically disparate, with the Bamar showing extraordinary degrees of genetic diversity and the Karen displaying greater degrees of genetic isolation.[41] Another study of basal lineages suggests that Myanmar was likely one of the differentiation centers of early modern humans.[42] There is also observed genetic divergence within genetic populations, with the Bamar, Rakhine, and Karen showing closer affinity with Tai-Kadai and Hmong-Mien populations in Southeast Asia, and the Naga and Chin showing closer genetic ties with Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman populations in northeast India.[42]

## See also

[edit]

* Myanmar portal

* List of ethnic groups in Myanmar
* Migration period of ancient Burma
* Myanmar nationality law
* Burmese diaspora
* Demographics of Myanmar
* Languages of Myanmar
* Culture of Myanmar

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f "The Union Report – Census Report Volume 2". The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census. Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population. May 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
2. ^ "谁是"外籍居民"第一省？你绝对想不到". 26 June 2022.
3. ^ ""Immigrant and Emigrant Populations by Country of Origin and Destination". migrationpolicy.org". February 10, 2014.
4. ^ "ASIAN ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ONE OR MORE OTHER RACES, AND WITH ONE OR MORE ASIAN CATEGORIES FOR SELECTED GROUPS". United States Census Bureau. United States Department of Commerce. 2022. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
5. ^ Ma, Alex (2017-01-17). "Labor Migration from Myanmar: Remittances, Reforms, and Challenges". Migration Policy. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
6. ^ "Japan to let Myanmar students and interns stay after visas expire". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
7. ^ 令和6年12月末現在における在留外国人数について
8. ^ "Cultural diversity: Census, 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics". 12 January 2022.
9. ^ "Taiwan's 'Little Burma'". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
10. ^ "Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity Highlight Tables – Ethnic Origin, both sexes, age (Total), Canada, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data". 25 October 2017.
11. ^ "The South-East Asia Diaspora in the UK" (PDF). Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 2011.
12. ^ "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents by immigration category, country background and percentages of the population (M) 2010–2022". Statistics Norway. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
13. ^ "Population at the first day of the quarter". Statistics Denmark. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
14. ^ Statistics New Zealand. "Burmese New Zealanders".
15. ^ "Origin and background country according to age group and sex by region, 1990-2021". Statistics Finland. Archived from the original on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
16. ^ "Befolkning efter födelseland och ursprungsland, 31 december 2021, totalt". Statistikmyndigheten (in Swedish). 23 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
17. ^ "Bevolking; geslacht, leeftijd, generatie en migratieachtergrond, 1 januari". Statline (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-10-01.
18. ^ https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/immigrant-and-emigrant-populations-country-origin-and-destination
19. ^ Immigrants in Brazil (2024, in Portuguese)
20. ^ https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/immigrant-and-emigrant-populations-country-origin-and-destination
21. ^ a b c d Thawnghmung, Ardeth Maung (2022-04-20). ""National Races" in Myanmar". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Asian History. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190277727.013.656. ISBN 978-0-19-027772-7. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
22. ^ "The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census: Highlights of the Main Results" (PDF). Ministry of Immigration and Population. May 2015.
23. ^ a b "UNHCR - Refugee Statistics". UNHCR. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
24. ^ a b "Myanmar situation". Global Focus. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
25. ^ "Identity Crisis: Ethnicity and Conflict in Myanmar | Crisis Group". www.crisisgroup.org. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
26. ^ "Myanmar (Burmese) - Do's and Don'ts". Cultural Atlas. 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
27. ^ a b Cheesman, Nick (2017-05-27). "How in Myanmar "National Races" Came to Surpass Citizenship and Exclude Rohingya". Journal of Contemporary Asia. 47 (3): 461–483\. doi:10.1080/00472336.2017.1297476. ISSN 0047-2336. S2CID 151373278.
28. ^ a b c Nishikawa, Yukiko (2022-03-07). International Norms and Local Politics in Myanmar. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-54588-3.
29. ^ a b "Identity Crisis: Ethnicity and Conflict in Myanmar". International Crisis Group. 2020-08-28.
30. ^ a b Clarke, Sarah L; Seng Aung Sein Myint; Zabra Yu Siwa (2019-05-31). "Re-examining Ethnic Identity in Myanmar" (PDF). Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies.
31. ^ Solomon, Richard (2017-05-15). "Myanmar's 'national races' trump citizenship". East Asia Forum. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
32. ^ Selth, Andrew (2020-12-10). Interpreting Myanmar: A Decade of Analysis. ANU Press. ISBN 978-1-76046-405-9.
33. ^ a b c d "Diaspora Organizations and their Humanitarian Response in Myanmar - Myanmar". ReliefWeb. 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
34. ^ "Myanmar; Brain Drain Again? - Issue 32". Myanmar Peace Monitor. December 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
35. ^ "Young People Clamour to Leave Myanmar in Giant Brain Drain". The Irrawaddy. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
36. ^ MAUNG, MYA (1992). "Damage to Human Capital and the Economic Future of Burma". The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs. 16 (1): 81–97\. ISSN 1046-1868. JSTOR 45290076.
37. ^ Caillaud, Romain (2022). "Myanmar's Economy in 2021: The Unravelling of a Decade of Reforms". Southeast Asian Affairs.
38. ^ Nainar, Nahla (2021-02-24). "How the Tamil link with Burma has endured down the years". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
39. ^ "How refugees from Myanmar are getting head start in Saitama". asahi.com. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
40. ^ "Tokyo's "Little Yangon" a legacy of culture, freedom and hope". english.kyodonews.net. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
41. ^ a b Summerer, Monika; Horst, Jürgen; Erhart, Gertraud; Weißensteiner, Hansi; Schönherr, Sebastian; Pacher, Dominic; Forer, Lukas; Horst, David; Manhart, Angelika; Horst, Basil; Sanguansermsri, Torpong; Kloss-Brandstätter, Anita (2014-01-28). "Large-scale mitochondrial DNA analysis in Southeast Asia reveals evolutionary effects of cultural isolation in the multi-ethnic population of Myanmar". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 14 (1): 17. Bibcode:2014BMCEE..14...17S. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-14-17. ISSN 1471-2148. PMC 3913319. PMID 24467713.
42. ^ a b Li, Yu-Chun; Wang, Hua-Wei; Tian, Jiao-Yang; Liu, Li-Na; Yang, Li-Qin; Zhu, Chun-Ling; Wu, Shi-Fang; Kong, Qing-Peng; Zhang, Ya-Ping (2015-03-26). "Ancient inland human dispersals from Myanmar into interior East Asia since the Late Pleistocene". Scientific Reports. 5 (1): 9473. Bibcode:2015NatSR...5E9473L. doi:10.1038/srep09473. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 4379912. PMID 25826227.

* v
* t
* e

Ethnic groups in Myanmar

Burmese people

Kachin (12)|

* Jingpaw
* Dalaung
* Gauri
* Hkahku
* Duleng
* Maru (Lawgore)
* Hpon
* Lashi (La Chit)
* Atsi
* Lisu
* Rawang
* Taron
* Ngochang

Kayah (9)|

* Geba Karen
* Gheko
* Karenni
* Ka-Yun (Kayan; Padaung)
* Manu Manaw
* Pale
* Yin Baw
* Yin Talai
* Zayein

Kayin (Karen) (11)|

* Pa-Le-Chi
* Mon Kayin (Sarpyu)
* S'gaw
* Ta-Hlay-Pwa
* Paku
* Bwe
* Monpwa
* Monnepwa
* Shu (Pwo)

Chin (53)|

* Anu
* Anun
* Asho
* Bre (Ka-Yaw)
* Cumtu
* Daai (Yindu)
* Dim
* Eik-swair
* Gunte (Lyente)
* Guite
* Hualngo
* Kaung Saing Chin
* Kaungso
* Kebar
* Khawno
* Kwangli (Sim)
* Kwelshin
* Kwe Myi
* Lai (Haka Chin)
* Laizao
* Lawhtu
* Laymyo
* Lhinbu
* Lyente
* Magun
* Malin
* Marma
* Matu
* Meithei (Kathe)
* Mgan
* Mi-er
* Lusayy
* Mro-Khimi people
* Naga
* Ngawn
* Oo-Pu
* Panun
* Rongtu
* Saing Zan
* Saline
* Senthang
* Tangkhul
* Tapong
* Tay-Zan
* Thado
* Tiddim (Hai-Dim)
* Torr (Tawr)
* Yin Gog
* Zahau
* Zahnyet (Zanniat)
* Sizang
* Zophei
* Zotung
* Zou

Bamar (Burman) (9)|

* Dawei
* Beik
* Yaw
* Yabein
* Kadu (Kado)
* Ganan
* Hpon
* Mong Wong

Mon (1)|

* Mon

Rakhine
(Arakanese) (7)|

* Kamein (Kaman)
* Khami
* Daingnet
* Maramagyi
* Miram (Mara)
* Mru (Taung Mro)
* Thet

Shan (33)|

* Danaw (Danau)
* Danu
* Intha
* Pa-O
* Khamti Shan
* Khmu (Khamu)
* Kwi
* Kokang
* Lahu
* Palaung
* Shan Gale
* Shan Gyi
* Tai-Loi
* Tai Nua
* Tai-Lon
* Tai-Lay
* Taishon
* Taungyo
* Wa (Va)
* Yao
* Yin Kya
* Yin Net
* Yun
* Man Zi
* Pyin
* Eng
* Son
* Kaw (Akha-E-Kaw)
* Maw Shan
* Maingtha
* Hkun (Khün)

Others / Unrecognised|

* Anglo-Burmese
* Chinese
* Panthay
* Bayingyi
* Gurkha
* Mizo
* Indian
* Tamils
* Rohingya
* Malay
* Pakistani
* Taungtha

* v
* t
* e

Myanmar articles

Myanmar is also known as Burma

History|

* Prehistory
* Waithali kingdom
* Pyu city-states
* Thaton kingdom
* Pagan kingdom
* Launggyet dynasty
* Myinsaing kingdom
* Pinya kingdom
* Sagaing kingdom
* Kingdom of Ava
* Prome kingdom
* Hanthawaddy kingdom
* Kingdom of Mrauk U
* Toungoo dynasty
* First Toungoo Empire
* Restored Hanthawaddy kingdom
* Konbaung dynasty
* Shan States
* Karenni States
* British rule
* Japanese occupation
* Union of Burma
* Socialist Republic
* 8888 Uprising
* State Peace and Development Council
* 2007 protests
* 2011–2015 political reforms
* 2021 coup
* Protests
* Civil war

Geography|

* Borders
* Cities
* Climate
* Deforestation
* Ecoregions
* Islands
* Lakes
* Mountains
* Protected areas
* Rivers
* Wildlife
* Earthquakes
* Volcanoes

Politics|

* Administrative divisions
* Constitution
* Corruption
* Elections
* Foreign relations
* Human rights
* LGBT
* Women's rights
* Conflict
* Law enforcement
* Military
* military rule
* commander-in-chief
* Parliament
* State Administration Council
* Political parties
* President
* list
* Prime Minister
* list

Economy|

* Agriculture
* Central bank
* Opium production
* Telecommunications
* Myanmar kyat (currency)
* Tourism
* Transportation
* Units of measurement

Society|

* Crime
* Demographics
* Education
* Environmental issues
* Ethnic groups
* Health
* Human trafficking
* Languages
* Religion
* Women
* Prostitution
* Sex trafficking

Culture|

* Art
* Anthem
* State Seal
* Capitals
* Calendar
* Zodiac
* Censorship
* Cinema
* Clothing
* Cuisine
* Dance
* Etymology
* Festivals
* Flag
* Folklore
* Literature
* Media
* Music
* National symbols
* Public holidays
* Sports
* Traditional
* Tattooing
* Twelve Auspicious Rites
* Weddings

* Category
* Commons
* Portal
* Outline of Myanmar

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Israel

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