According to the 2008 Constitution, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar constitutes seven regions, seven states and one union territory. The constitution also mentions one self-administered division and five self-administered zones which are parts of some of the states and regions. In addition to these constitutional administrative subdivisions, there are also special regions which are extraconstitutional autonomous territories controlled by ethnic armed groups and recognized by the central government after the cease-fire agreements of 1989 and 1990s.

Structural hierarchy

Union levelThe Republic of the UnionFirst levelUnion TerritoryStateRegionSecond levelDistrictCitySpecial RegionSelf-Administered DivisionSelf-Administered ZoneDistrictThird levelTownshipTownshipSubtownshipLocal levelWardVillage TractTownVillageWard

The regions were called divisions prior to August 2010, and four of them are named after their capital city, the exceptions being Sagaing Region, Ayeyarwady Region and Tanintharyi Region. The regions can be described as ethnically predominantly Burman (Bamar), while the states are dominated by ethnic minorities.

Regions and states are made up of districts, as well as self-administered zones and self-administered divisions if they exist. The self-administered divisions are also constituted by districts. The districts and the self-administered zones consist of townships that include towns, wards and village tracts. Village tracts are groups of adjacent villages.

Yangon Region has the largest population and is the most densely populated. The smallest population is Kayah State. In terms of land area, Shan State is the largest and Naypyidaw Union Territory is the smallest.

The self-administered division (SAD) exists at an administrative level half-a-step below that of states, regions and the union territory, and the self-administrative zones (SAZ) exists at the district level. Nevertheless, the constitution stated that both SAD and SAZs are of equal status. The self-administered areas were formed by statutes on territory controlled by Myanmar's ethnic armed organisations.

Within the hierarchy, the most significant unit of local governance below the first level is the township which form the a consistent set of administrative units across the country. Often, local governance will go directly from the township to the ward. Most of the country do not have separate town offices. For example, in 2015, only 7 of the 27 townships of Ayeyarwady Region had a town office at all.

According to the constitution, townships are made up of wards, towns and village tracts. Village tracts are made up of villages and towns include wards. In some areas, wards directly constitute townships without a town and the constitution also acknowledge them.

Additionally, some townships are divided into Subtownships (), which are semi-official parts of a township administered separately, often revolving around a town separate from the township's principal town. Many reports will use subtownships, especially more established subtownships used by the main townships themselves.

The extraconstitutional cities of Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw are defined by development laws. The power to determine and expand the boundaries of each city lies in its city development committee. The territory of each city contains multiple districts. In the cities of Yangon and Mandalay, township development committees acts as subordinates of the city development committee, without a committee for the district level. From 2013 to 2018, there were district development committees between Yangon City Development Committee and township development committees.

System of administration

The administrative structure of the states, regions and self-administering bodies is outlined in the new constitution adopted in 2008.

Regions, States and Union Territories

FlagNameBurmeseCapitalISORegionPop.(2024)Area(km2)Density(per km2) Ayeyarwady Region Pathein Lower 5,546,415 35,031.9 158.3 Bago Region Bago MM-02 Lower 4,453,687 39,404.5 113.02 Chin State Hakha MM-14 Upper 373,023 36,018.9 10.4 Kachin State Myitkyina MM-11 Upper 2,153,483 89,041.9 24.2 Kayah State Loikaw MM-12 Upper 296,901 11,731.5 25.3 Kayin State Hpa-an MM-13 Lower 1,502,774 30,382.8 49.5 Magway Region Magwe MM-03 Upper 4,077,653 44,820.6 91.0 Mandalay Region Mandalay MM-04 Upper 6,323,554 30,888.1 204.7 Mon State Mawlamyine MM-15 Lower 2,054,393 12,296.6 149.0 Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory Nay Pyi Taw MM-18 Upper 1,129,322 7,057.1 160.0 Rakhine State Sittwe MM-16 Lower 2,526,792 36,778.1 68.7 Sagaing Region Monywa MM-01 Upper 5,977,292 93,702.5 63.8 Shan State Taunggyi MM-17 Upper 6,412,501 155,801.5 41.2 Tanintharyi Region Dawei MM-05 Lower 1,399,965 43,344.9 32.3 Yangon Region Yangon MM-06 Lower 7,369,989 10,276.7 717.2

Executive authority is held in each state or region by a Regional or State Government consisting of a Chief Minister, other ministers and an Advocate General. The President appoints the Chief Minister from a list of qualified candidates in the regional or state legislature; the legislature must approve this choice unless it is proven that the candidate does not meet constitutional qualifications. Since 4 March 2026, the Region or State minister responsible for development affairs is appointed as the mayor for the capital of the respective Region or State.

Legislative authority resides with the State Hluttaw or Region Hluttaw made up of elected civilian members and representatives of the Defence Services (Tatmadaw military). Both divisions are considered equivalent, the only distinction being that states have large ethnic minority populations and regions are mostly populated by the national majority Burmans / Bamar.

Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory

The constitution states that Nay Pyi Taw shall be a Union Territory under the direct administration of the President. Day-to-day functions would be carried out on the President's behalf by the Nay Pyi Taw Council led by a Chairperson. The Chairperson and members of the Nay Pyi Taw Council are appointed by the President, and membership includes civilians and representatives of the Defence Services (Tatmadaw military).

Self-Administered Division and Self-Administered Zones

Self-Administered Division and Self-Administered Zones are subdivisions of some of the states and regions. The self-administered division is above the district level while self-administered zones are equivalent to the administrative level of districts. Each of them is administered by a Leading Body consisting of at least ten members and includes State or Regional Hluttaw members elected from the Zones or Divisions and other members nominated by the Defence Services (Tatmadaw military). The Leading Body has both executive and legislative powers. A Chairperson is head of each Leading Body. Self-Administered Division FlagEnglish nameBurmese nameCapitalDistrictsTownshipsPopulationWithin Shan State:1. Wa Self-Administered Division Hopang MetmanHopangHopang, Mongmao, Panwai, 558,000MetmanNahpan, Metman, Pangsang (Pankham) Self-Administered Zones FlagEnglish nameBurmese nameCapitalTownshipsPopulationWithin Sagaing Region: 1. Naga Self-Administered Zone LaheLeshi, Lehe, Namyun116,828Within Shan State:2. Danu Self-Administered Zone PindayaYwangan, Pindaya161,8353. Kokang Self-Administered Zone LaukkaiKonkyan, Laukkai123,7334. Pa Laung Self-Administered Zone NamhsanNamhsan, Manton110,8055. Pa'O Self-Administered Zone HopongHopong, Hshihseng, Pinlaung380,427

Special Regions

Special Regions refer to areas not under the direct control of the central government but co-administered by some (not all) of the ethnic armed organisations under ceasefire agreements. The status of Special Region was first given to the splinter groups emerged from the collapse of the Communist Party of Burma in 1989 and later given also to some other groups through the 1990s under the SLORC/SPDC military government.

Kachin State Kachin State Special Region 1 (New Democratic Army – Kachin, 1989-2024) covering Chipwi District Kachin State Special Region 2 (Kachin Independence Organisation, 1994-2011) Shan State Shan State Special Region 1 (Kokang, 1989–present, overlaps with Kokang SAZ) Shan State Special Region 2 (Wa State, 1989–present, overlaps with Wa SAD) Shan State Special Region 3 (Shan State Progress Party, 1989–present) Shan State Special Region 4 (National Democratic Alliance Army, 1989–present) Shan State Special Region 5 (Kachin Defense Army, 1991 - 2023) Shan State Special Region 6 (Pa-O National Organisation, 1991–present, overlaps with Pa'O SAZ) Shan State Special Region 7 (Palaung State Liberation Army), 1991 - 2009, overlaps with Palaung SAZ Kayah State Kayah State Special Region 1 (Kayan National Guard, 1992–present) Kayah State Special Region 2 (Karenni National People's Liberation Front, 1994–present) Kayah State Special Region 3 (Kayan New Land Party, 1994–present)

The special regions in Shan State are often further distinguished by cardinal direction, such as Eastern Shan State Special Region 4 or Wa Special Region 2.

Districts and Townships

Districts are generally the second-order divisions of Myanmar and are often named after a population center within the district of the same name. Shan State has the highest numbers of normal districts; it also has plus Self-Administered Zones and the districts under the Self-Administered Division. Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, Tanintharyi and Mon State have the least with just 4 districts. The District's role is more supervisory as the 330 townships are the basic administrative unit of local governance and are the only type of administrative division that covers the entirety of Myanmar. Historically, districts were abolished in 1972 and reestablished in 1992; townships were directly under states and divisions in 1972–1988 and township zones acted as districts in 1988–1992. A District is led by a District Administrator and a Township is administered by a Township Administrator. Both are appointed civil servants through the General Administration Department (GAD) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). The Minister of Home Affairs is to be appointed by the military according to the 2008 constitution. The 2008 Constitution of Myanmar defined 75 districts. In April 2022, 46 additional districts were formed by MOHA bringing the total up to 121 districts.

Most local governance services are offered at the Township level; few services are offered at the District level. The Township Administrator is the key focal point for most interactions with the government and the Township Administrator serves as a representative of the State or Region government and executes functions on behalf of the State or Region. All Township governments are staffed by 34 GAD civil servants regardless of population, although larger townships may have several Township committees that coordinate with the Township and report to the District. Townships historically were the second-order subdivisions during the period between the abolishment of districts and subdistricts in 1972 and the establishment of township zones in 1988.

In some cases, the rural portions of the township centred on a different town may be administered semi-independently as sub-townships. Subtownships exist for many but not all townships. They can be created for many reasons including, townships with large areas, townships with a large natural barrier or townships with a lopsided population distribution. These subtownships are not mentioned in the 2008 Constitution but has officially been existing in the General Administration Department's structure since 2011. Subtownships are useful to the Township administration and national ministries for data collection and administrative ease.

Cities and Development Committees