Quick answerNaypyidaw is the capital of Myanmar, with 1,160,242 people inside the city limits in 2014. It is best known for the Planned capital city, the Uppatasanti Pagoda and the Parliament complex. Its official language is Burmese, and its currency is the Myanmar kyat.
Naypyidaw is the capital of Myanmar, with about 1.16 million people in the Union Territory (1,160,242 in the 2014 census). It is an entirely planned city built in the 2000s in central Myanmar, home to the parliament, the Uppatasanti Pagoda and famously wide, quiet highways.
Key facts
| Country | Myanmar |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,160,242 (2014) |
| Elevation | 115 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Yangon |
| Language | Burmese |
| Currency | Myanmar kyat (MMK, K) |
| Coordinates | 19.7475° N, 96.115° E |
Overview
Naypyidaw, officially romanised as Nay Pyi Taw, is the capital and third-largest city of Myanmar, at the centre of the Naypyidaw Union Territory. The Union Territory had 1,160,242 residents in the 2014 census, and the city sits 115 metres above sea level, about 320 kilometres north of Yangon. It is unusual among Myanmar's cities in that it is an entirely planned city and not part of any state or region.
The city, previously known only as Pyinmana District, officially replaced Yangon as the administrative capital on 6 November 2005, and its official name was revealed to the public on Armed Forces Day, 27 March 2006. As the seat of government it is the site of the Assembly of the Union, the Supreme Court, the Presidential Palace, the official residences of the Cabinet and the headquarters of government ministries. Its landmarks include the Uppatasanti Pagoda, a replica of the Shwedagon, and the Water Fountain Garden.
Today Naypyidaw is notable for its unusual combination of large size and very low population density, with wide multi-lane highways that carry little traffic. It has hosted the ASEAN Summit, the BIMSTEC Summit and the Southeast Asian Games, and it remains the political capital even as Yangon stays the country's commercial centre.
What Naypyidaw is known for
- Planned capital city
- Uppatasanti Pagoda
- Parliament complex
- Water Fountain Garden
- Wide empty highways
- National Museum
Landmarks
- Uppatasanti Pagoda
- Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Parliament)
- Naypyidaw Water Fountain Garden
- National Museum of Myanmar (Naypyidaw)
- Presidential Palace
- Gem Museum
- Myoma Market
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Naypyidaw?
About 1.16 million people live in the Naypyidaw Union Territory (1,160,242 in the 2014 census). The built-up capital district itself is much smaller: the city article's infobox cites 358,679 people from citypopulation.de, without a clear year, so the Union Territory census figure is the citable one. That makes Naypyidaw the third-largest city in Myanmar.
What is Naypyidaw famous for?
Naypyidaw is famous as Myanmar's planned capital, built from scratch in the 2000s in central Myanmar, and for the Uppatasanti Pagoda, a replica of Yangon's Shwedagon. It is also known for its very wide, mostly empty highways, its huge parliament complex and its Water Fountain Garden.
Where is Naypyidaw located?
Naypyidaw is in central Myanmar, about 320 kilometres north of Yangon, at the centre of the Naypyidaw Union Territory. It is the capital of Myanmar and sits 115 metres above sea level. Its coordinates are 19.75° N, 96.12° E, and its time zone is Myanmar Standard Time.
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Keep exploring
- Myanmar — the country Naypyidaw is in
- Yangon — another city in Myanmar
- Mandalay — another city in Myanmar
- Bago — another city in Myanmar
- All cities in Myanmar
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Naypyidaw
- Wikipedia — Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory
- The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory report (UNFPA)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.