Quick answerYangon is the largest city of Myanmar, with 5,160,512 people inside the city limits in 2014. The wider metropolitan area had about 7.4 million people in 2014. It is best known for the Shwedagon Pagoda, the Sule Pagoda and the Colonial-era buildings. Its official language is Burmese, and its currency is the Myanmar kyat.
Yangon is Myanmar's largest city, with about 5.2 million people (5,160,512 in the 2014 census). It stands on the Yangon River in the south and is the country's main commercial centre, home to the gold-plated Shwedagon Pagoda.
Key facts
| Country | Myanmar |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 5,160,512 (2014) |
| Population (metro) | 7,360,703 (2014) · Yangon Region, 2014 census |
| Time zone | Asia/Yangon |
| Language | Burmese |
| Currency | Myanmar kyat (MMK, K) |
| Coordinates | 16.795° N, 96.16° E |
Overview
Yangon, also romanised as Rangoon, is the capital of Yangon Region and the largest city in Myanmar, on the Yangon River in the south of the country. The city had 5,160,512 residents in the 2014 census, while the Yangon Region held 7,360,703 people. It was the national capital until 2005, when the government moved to the purpose-built capital of Naypyidaw.
Yangon was founded as Dagon in the 11th century and grew into a major port under British rule in the 19th century, when it became the capital of British Burma. Its landmarks include the Shwedagon Pagoda, the gold-plated stupa that is Myanmar's most sacred Buddhist site, the Sule Pagoda in the city centre, the Bogyoke Aung San Market, and Kandawgyi Lake. The city has the largest number of colonial-era buildings in Southeast Asia, and its old commercial core is remarkably intact.
Today Yangon is Myanmar's most populous city and its most important commercial centre, home to the country's main port, its stock exchange and Yangon International Airport. It is known for its street food, its markets and its mix of golden pagodas and faded colonial buildings.
What Yangon is known for
- Shwedagon Pagoda
- Sule Pagoda
- Colonial-era buildings
- Bogyoke Aung San Market
- Kandawgyi Lake
- Street food
Landmarks
- Shwedagon Pagoda
- Sule Pagoda
- Bogyoke Aung San Market
- Kandawgyi Lake
- Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple
- National Museum of Myanmar
- Yangon City Hall
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Yangon?
About 5.2 million people live in Yangon (5,160,512 in the 2014 census). The wider Yangon Region had about 7.4 million people. That makes Yangon the largest city in Myanmar and its most important commercial centre.
What is Yangon famous for?
Yangon is famous for the Shwedagon Pagoda, the gold-plated stupa that is Myanmar's most sacred Buddhist site, and for the Sule Pagoda in the city centre. It is also known for having the largest number of colonial-era buildings in Southeast Asia, for the Bogyoke Aung San Market and for Kandawgyi Lake.
Where is Yangon located?
Yangon is in southern Myanmar, on the Yangon River near the Andaman Sea coast, about 30 kilometres inland. It is the capital of Yangon Region and was the national capital until 2005, when the government moved to Naypyidaw. Its coordinates are 16.80° N, 96.16° E, and its time zone is Myanmar Standard Time.
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Keep exploring
- Myanmar — the country Yangon is in
- Mandalay — another city in Myanmar
- Naypyidaw — another city in Myanmar
- Bago — another city in Myanmar
- All cities in Myanmar
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Yangon
- The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census, Yangon Region report (via Wikipedia — Administrative divisions of Myanmar)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.