History of Myanmar in Timeline
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is the largest country in Mainland Southeast Asia, with a population of approximately 55 million. Located in northwest Southeast Asia, it shares borders with India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, and Thailand. The Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal border its south and southwest. Naypyidaw is the capital city, while Yangon is the largest city.
1914: Jehovah's Witnesses Arrive in 1914
Jehovah's Witnesses have been present since 1914 and have about 80 congregations around the country and a branch office in Yangon publishing in 16 languages.
1920: First Burmese silent film
In 1920, the first Burmese silent film, Myitta Ne Thuya (Love and Liquor), was released.
April 1937: Burma becomes a separate British colony
In April 1937, Burma became a separately administered colony of Britain, and Ba Maw became the first Prime Minister and Premier of Burma.
1940: Formation of Burma Independence Army
In 1940, Aung San formed the Burma Independence Army in Japan.
August 1942: Establishment of Burmese Executive Administration
In August 1942, the Japanese established a Burmese Executive Administration headed by Ba Maw.
1942: Burma Independence Army fought with Japanese
From 1942 the Burma National Army and the Arakan National Army fought with the Japanese.
1943: Arrival of Merrill's Marauders
In 1943, a similar American unit, Merrill's Marauders, followed the Chindits into the Burmese jungle.
1944: Allied offensives begin
Beginning in late 1944, allied troops launched a series of offensives that led to the end of Japanese rule in July 1945.
July 1945: End of Japanese rule
In July 1945, Allied troops brought an end to Japanese rule in Burma following a series of offensives that began in late 1944.
July 1947: Assassination of Aung San
In July 1947, Aung San and several cabinet members were assassinated by political rivals.
1947: Burma Independence Act
In 1947, the Burma Independence Act was signed.
1947: Constitution term
Though incorporated in the 1947 Constitution, successive military governments construed the use of the term 'federalism' as being anti-national, anti-unity and pro-disintegration.
January 1948: Myanmar declared independence
In January 1948, Myanmar declared independence under the Burma Independence Act 1947.
January 1948: Independence as the Union of Burma
On 4 January 1948, the nation became an independent republic named the Union of Burma, with Sao Shwe Thaik as its first president and U Nu as its first prime minister.
1948: Parliamentary Government Formed in 1948
In 1948, after a parliamentary government was formed, Prime Minister U Nu embarked upon a policy of nationalisation and the state was declared the owner of all of the land in Burma.
1948: Independence and Civil Wars
Since gaining independence in 1948, Myanmar has experienced constant civil wars, primarily driven by ethnic groups seeking autonomy in regions surrounding the Bamar central districts. These conflicts necessitate special travel permits for foreign journalists and visitors.
1951: Multi-party elections held
In 1951, multi-party elections were held.
1952: Multi-party elections held
In 1952, multi-party elections were held.
1956: Multi-party elections held
In 1956, multi-party elections were held.
1957: Myanmar joins IAEA
In 1957, Myanmar became a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
1958: Anglo-Burmese Emigration from 1958 Onwards
From 1958 onwards, the Anglo-Burmese left the country in steady streams, principally to Australia and the United Kingdom.
1960: Multi-party elections held
In 1960, multi-party elections were held.
1961: Southeast Asian Games hosted
In 1961, Myanmar hosted the Southeast Asian Games.
1961: U Thant elected Secretary-General of the United Nations
In 1961, U Thant was elected Secretary-General of the United Nations.
March 1962: Military coup led by General Ne Win
On 2 March 1962, the military led by General Ne Win took control of Burma through a coup d'état.
July 1962: Government broke up demonstrations at Rangoon University
On 7 July 1962, the government broke up demonstrations at Rangoon University, killing 15 students.
1962: Start of Repressive Military Regime
From 1962, the military regime in Myanmar began.
1962: Military coup d'état
In 1962, a coup d'état resulted in a military dictatorship under the Burma Socialist Programme Party.
1962: Military leadership stages a coup d'état
In 1962, the military leadership staged a coup d'état due to non-Burman ethnic groups pushing for autonomy or federalism.
1962: Coup D'état in 1962
The 1962 coup d'état was followed by an economic scheme called the Burmese Way to Socialism, a plan to nationalise all industries, with the exception of agriculture.
1962: Military Coup Headed by General Ne Win in 1962
The persecution of Burmese Indians, Burmese Chinese and other ethnic groups after the military coup headed by General Ne Win in 1962 led to the expulsion or emigration of 300,000 people.
1964: Nationalisation of Private Enterprise in 1964
In 1964, racial discrimination and the wholesale nationalisation of private enterprise took place.
1966: Collaboration with International Rice Research Institute Began in 1966
In 1966, collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute led to the release of modern rice varieties.
1969: Southeast Asian Games hosted
In 1969, Myanmar hosted the Southeast Asian Games.
1974: End of revolutionary council
Between 1962 and 1974, Myanmar was ruled by a revolutionary council headed by the general.
1974: New constitution and anti-government protests
In 1974, a new constitution was adopted, and the military violently suppressed anti-government protests at the funeral of U Thant.
1975: Student protests suppressed
In 1975, student protests were quickly suppressed by overwhelming force.
1976: Student protests suppressed
In 1976, student protests were quickly suppressed by overwhelming force.
1977: Student protests suppressed
In 1977, student protests were quickly suppressed by overwhelming force.
1978: King Dragon Operation in 1978
In 1978, 200,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh as a result of the King Dragon operation in Arakan.
1982: Rohingya Classified as Stateless
Since 1982, the Rohingya minority group has been classified as stateless Bengali Muslims from Bangladesh.
1982: Citizenship Law Denies Rohingya Citizenship
Since the enactment of a 1982 citizenship law, the Rohingya people have been denied Burmese citizenship.
1983: Fertility Rate of 4.7 in 1983
In 1983, the fertility rate was 4.7 children per woman.
1987: National Rice Production Reached 14 million tons in 1987
In 1987, national rice production reached 14 million tons.
1987: Myanmar Requests Least Developed Country Status in 1987
Myanmar asked for admittance to a least developed country status in 1987 to receive debt relief.
August 1988: 8888 Uprising
In August 1988, the 8888 Uprising occurred, resulting in a nominal transition to a multi-party system, though the military refused to cede power.
1988: Modern Rice Varieties Planted on Half of Ricelands by 1988
By 1988, modern varieties were planted on half of the country's ricelands, including 98 percent of the irrigated areas.
1988: Government control of film industry
Following the political events of 1988, the film industry has been increasingly controlled by the government.
1988: 8888 Uprising and coup d'état
In 1988, unrest over economic mismanagement and political oppression led to the 8888 Uprising, followed by a coup d'état by General Saw Maung.
1988: End of one-party rule
Until 1988, the country was ruled as a one-party system, with the general and other military officers resigning and ruling through the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP).
May 1989: Plans for People's Assembly elections finalized
In May 1989, the military government finalized plans for People's Assembly elections on 31 May 1989.
June 1989: Name Change
On 18 June 1989, SLORC changed the country's official English name from the "Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma" to the "Union of Myanmar".
1989: Official name change to Myanmar
In 1989, the military government officially changed the English translations of many names, including Burma becoming Myanmar.
May 1990: Free multiparty elections
In May 1990, the government held free multiparty elections for the first time in almost 30 years, which were won by the National League for Democracy (NLD).
1990: Maternal Mortality Rate in 1990
In 1990, the maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Myanmar was 662.
1990: 1990 General Election
Since the openly contested elections held in Myanmar on November 2015, this was the first time since the 1990 general election which was annulled.
1991: Additional Refugees Flee in 1991
250,000 more Rohingya left in 1991.
1992: General Than Shwe took over Chairmanship
In 1992 General Than Shwe took over the Chairmanship from General Saw Maung.
1992: Myanmar Signatory to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Pact
Since 1992, Myanmar has been one of the signatories of the nuclear non-proliferation pact.
1993: Roadmap to Discipline-flourishing Democracy
In 1993, the military-backed government introduced a "Roadmap to Discipline-flourishing Democracy," aimed at guiding the nation toward a more democratic system.
1995: New Forestry Law
Since the new forestry law went into effect in 1995, heavy logging has reduced forest area and wildlife habitat. Mangroves have also disappeared from the coast.
1996: National Rice Production Reached 19 million tons in 1996
In 1996, national rice production reached 19 million tons.
June 1997: Admission into ASEAN
On 23 June 1997, Myanmar was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
1997: Modern Rice Varieties Released by 1997
By 1997, 52 modern rice varieties were released helping to increase national rice production to 14 million tons in 1987 and 19 million tons in 1996.
1997: Establishment of SPDC
From 1997, the military junta continued to rule the nation as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
September 2000: Myanmar informs IAEA of reactor construction plans
In September 2000, the military junta informed the IAEA of its intention to construct a nuclear reactor.
2000: Official literacy rate
In 2000, Myanmar's official literacy rate was 90%, according to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics.
December 2001: Administrative Divisions
As of 31 December 2001, data was collected about the number of districts, townships, cities/towns, wards, village groups and villages in each division and state of Myanmar.
2001: Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board Issues Order in 2001
In 2001, the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board issued an order for local officials to protect tourists and limit "unnecessary contact" between foreigners and ordinary Burmese people.
2001: Fertility Rate of 2.4 in 2001
In 2001, the fertility rate was 2.4 children per woman.
November 2005: Move capital to Pyinmana
In November 2005, the military junta moved the national capital from Yangon to a site near Pyinmana.
2005: Evidence of "Burmisation" Published
In 2005, evidence gathered by a British researcher was published regarding the extermination or "Burmisation" of certain ethnic minorities in Myanmar.
2005: HIV Prevalence Rate in 2005
In 2005, the estimated adult HIV prevalence rate in Myanmar was 1.3% (200,000–570,000 people), according to UNAIDS.
2005: UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution on Myanmar
Until 2005, the United Nations General Assembly annually adopted a detailed resolution about the situation in Myanmar by consensus.
March 2006: Naypyidaw named capital
On 27 March 2006, the new capital was officially named Naypyidaw, meaning "city of the kings".
2006: UN General Assembly Passes Resolution Condemning Human Rights Violations in Myanmar
In 2006, a divided United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution strongly calling on the government of Myanmar to end its systematic violations of human rights.
2006: Burmese Refugees Resettled in the United States Since 2006
Since 2006, over 55,000 Burmese refugees have been resettled in the United States.
August 2007: Start of Saffron Revolution
In August 2007, an increase in the price of fuel led to the Saffron Revolution led by Buddhist monks.
September 2007: Crackdown on Saffron Revolution
On 26 September 2007, the government cracked down on the Saffron Revolution, with reports of barricades at the Shwedagon Pagoda and monks killed.
2007: Deaths of Burmese AIDS Patients in 2007
According to Doctors without Borders, 25,000 Burmese AIDS patients died in 2007, deaths that could largely have been prevented.
2007: Publication of graphic novel
In 2007, the graphic novel titled Chroniques Birmanes by Québécois author Guy Delisle was published.
2007: Muslims Flee to Bangladesh by 2007
More than 200,000 Muslims have fled to Bangladesh by 2007 to escape persecution.
May 2008: Cyclone Nargis
In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis caused extensive damage in the Irrawaddy Division, resulting in an estimated 200,000 deaths or missing persons.
May 2008: Constitution Approved in Referendum
In May 2008, Myanmar's army-drafted constitution was approved in a referendum. The results are considered suspect, with reports of widespread fraud and voter intimidation.
September 2008: New Constitution Drafted
In September 2008, Myanmar's military rulers drafted and published a new constitution, the country's third since independence, establishing a parliamentary system with a bicameral legislature.
November 2008: Tensions Rise Between Myanmar and Bangladesh
In November 2008, tensions arose between Myanmar and Bangladesh due to disputes over natural gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal.
2008: Jailing of Zarganar
In 2008, blogger Zarganar was sentenced to prison.
2008: Number of films for academy award consideration
In 2008, only 12 films were worthy of being considered for an Academy Award.
2008: Rice Production Estimated at 50 million tons in 2008
In 2008, rice production was estimated at 50 million tons.
2008: New Constitution Adopted
In 2008, the Myanmar government published a new draft national constitution and held a national referendum to adopt it. The new constitution provided for the election of a national assembly and ensured army control at all levels.
2008: Maternal Mortality Rate in 2008
In 2008, the maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Myanmar was 219.3.
August 2009: Conflict in Shan State
In early August 2009, a conflict broke out in Shan State in northern Myanmar, leading to Burmese civilians fleeing to Yunnan in China.
November 2009: UN General Assembly Condemns Human Rights Violations in Myanmar
In November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution strongly condemning the ongoing systematic violations of human rights in Myanmar.
2009: Burmese Refugees Living in Refugee Camps in 2009
As of 2009, 110,000 Burmese refugees were living in refugee camps in Thailand.
2009: Release of "Burma VJ"
In 2009, a documentary about Burmese videojournalists called Burma VJ was released.
2010: Religious Demographics in 2010 Pew Research Center Estimate
According to the 2010 estimates of the Pew Research Center, 7% of the population is Christian; 4% is Muslim; 1% follows traditional animistic beliefs; and 2% follow other religions, including Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism, and East Asian religions.
2010: General Election and Civilian Government Formation
In 2010, Myanmar held its first general election in twenty years, which was boycotted by the NLD. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party claimed victory amidst allegations of fraud, leading to the formation of a nominally civilian government with retired general Thein Sein as president.
2010: Myanmar Suspected of North Korean Assistance in Missile Facility Construction
In 2010, Myanmar was suspected of using North Korean construction teams to build a fortified surface-to-air missile facility, according to leaked diplomatic cables.
2010: General Election
In 2010, a general election was held which resulted in a nominally civilian government being installed.
2010: Nomination of Burma VJ for Academy Award
In 2010, the film Burma VJ was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards.
2010: Elections and Aung San Suu Kyi's Release
The 2010 elections resulted in a victory for the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, although the fairness of the elections was questioned. Following the elections, Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest.
2010: Maternal Mortality Rate in 2010
The 2010 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Myanmar is 240.
2010: Reforms following the 2010 elections
Though the country's foreign relations, particularly with Western nations, have historically been strained, the situation has markedly improved since the reforms following the 2010 elections.
2010: End of the Repressive Military Regime
Until 2010, the military regime in Myanmar was one of the world's most repressive and abusive regimes.
March 2011: Dissolution of SPDC
The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) was dissolved in March 2011.
August 2011: Myanmar Transitions to New Government
According to the Crisis Group, since Myanmar transitioned to a new government in August 2011, the country's human rights record has been improving.
September 2011: Banned Websites Unblocked
In September 2011, several banned websites, including YouTube, were unblocked in Myanmar.
September 2011: Foreign Minister Confirms Government's Intention to Release Prisoners
On 22 September 2011, Myanmar's Foreign Minister confirmed the government's intention to release prisoners in the near future.
September 2011: Premiere of "The Lady"
On September 12, 2011, "The Lady" had its world premiere at the 36th Toronto International Film Festival.
October 2011: Release of Zarganar
In October 2011, blogger Zarganar was released from prison.
November 2011: US Relaxed Curbs on Foreign Aid
In November 2011, the United States relaxed curbs on foreign aid to Myanmar.
December 2011: Hillary Clinton Visits Myanmar
In December 2011, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Myanmar, marking the first visit by a US Secretary of State in over fifty years. During her visit, she met with both President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
2011: Freedom House Report on Myanmar's Human Rights Abuses
In 2011, the Freedom in the World report by Freedom House noted that the military junta in Myanmar suppressed nearly all basic rights and committed human rights abuses with impunity.
2011: Dissolution of the military junta
In 2011, the military junta was officially dissolved following the 2010 general election, and a nominally civilian government was installed.
2011: Fertility Rate in 2011
Myanmar's fertility rate in 2011 was 2.23, slightly above the replacement level and low compared to Southeast Asian countries of similar economic standing.
2011: Start of Democratic Transition
Since the democratic transition began in 2011, there has been continuous violence.
January 2012: Resumption of Diplomatic Relations with US
On 13 January 2012, the United States announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with Myanmar.
April 2012: NLD Wins By-Elections
In April 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party participated in by-elections after laws barring them were abolished, winning 43 of the 45 available seats. These elections marked the first time international representatives were allowed to monitor the voting process in Myanmar.
May 2012: United States Eases Sanctions on Myanmar in May 2012
In May 2012, the United States began to lift its economic sanctions on Myanmar in response to reforms.
June 2012: Reports of Child Soldiers in Burmese Military
In June 2012, The Independent reported that children were being sold as conscripts into the Burmese military.
July 2012: Rohingya Not Included on Government's Ethnic Races List
As of July 2012, the Myanmar government does not include the Rohingya minority group on the government's list of more than 130 ethnic races.
August 2012: End of media censorship
On August 20, 2012, the Burmese government announced that it would stop censoring media before publication.
September 2012: Myanmar Armed Forces Release Child Soldiers
In September 2012, the Myanmar Armed Forces released 42 child soldiers.
October 2012: Ongoing Conflicts
In October 2012, Myanmar faced multiple ongoing conflicts, including the Kachin conflict, a civil war involving Rohingya Muslims, and clashes between various minority groups and the government in the eastern region. Additionally, al-Qaeda expressed intentions to become involved.
November 2012: Samantha Power Reports on Human Rights Abuses in Myanmar
In November 2012, Samantha Power reported that serious human rights abuses against civilians continued in several regions of Myanmar.
2012: Murder Rate
In 2012, Myanmar had a murder rate of 15.2 per 100,000 population, totaling 8,044 murders.
2012: Freedom in the World Report Notes Improvement
In 2012, the Freedom in the World report noted improvement in Myanmar, giving it a 6 for improvements in civil liberties and political rights.
2012: Removal of media censorship
In 2012, the government removed media censorship.
February 2013: United States Continues to Lift Sanctions Until February 2013
From May 2012 to February 2013, the United States continued to lift its economic sanctions on Myanmar.
March 2013: UN Envoy Reports on Renewed Unrest
In March 2013, a UN envoy reported that unrest had re-emerged between Myanmar's Buddhist and Muslim communities.
April 2013: Media liberalization reforms
In April 2013, international media reported the enactment of media liberalisation reforms and the commencement of privately owned newspapers publication.
May 2013: Thein Sein Visits the White House
In May 2013, Thein Sein became the first Myanmar president to visit the White House in 47 years, where President Barack Obama praised political and economic reforms and the cessation of tensions between Myanmar and the United States. The two governments agreed to sign a bilateral trade and investment framework agreement on 21 May 2013.
June 2013: World Economic Forum on East Asia
In June 2013, Myanmar hosted its first ever summit, the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2013. Held on 5–7 June, the summit was attended by 1,200 participants, including heads of state, ministers, and senior directors from around the world.
July 2013: Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Reports on Political Prisoners
In July 2013, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners indicated that there were approximately 100 political prisoners being held in Burmese prisons.
2013: Commercial Overland Routes Successfully Run Since 2013
At least one tourist company has successfully run commercial overland routes through various borders since 2013.
2013: Myanmar Improves Again in Freedom Ratings
In 2013, Myanmar improved yet again, receiving a score of 5 in civil liberties and 6 in political freedoms.
2013: GDP in 2013
In 2013, Myanmar's GDP (nominal) stood at US$56.7 billion and its GDP (PPP) at US$221.5 billion.
2013: President Declares Release of Political Prisoners
In 2013, the Myanmar president declared that all of his nation's political prisoners will be released by the end of the year.
2013: Southeast Asian Games
In December 2013, the Southeast Asian Games took place in Naypyidaw, Yangon, Mandalay and Ngwesaung Beach.
December 2014: Myanmar Sets Up First Stock Exchange
In December 2014, Myanmar set up its first stock exchange, the Yangon Stock Exchange.
2014: Buddhists Identified in the 2014 Myanmar Census
According to the 2014 Myanmar Census, 87.9% of the population identifies as Buddhists.
2014: Religious Demographics in 2014 Census
According to the 2014 census, 6.2% of the population identifies as Christian; 4.3% as Muslim; 0.8% as followers of tribal religions; 0.5% as Hindus; 0.2% as followers of other religions; and 0.1% follow no religion.
2014: Violence and Displacement in Rakhine State
In 2014, 280 people have been killed and 140,000 forced to flee from their homes in the Rakhine state.
2014: Myanmar Chaired the ASEAN Forum
In 2014, Myanmar chaired the ASEAN forum and hosted the summit.
2014: Myanmar to chair ASEAN
In 2014, Myanmar's international reputation improved, leading to ASEAN's approval of Myanmar's bid for the position of ASEAN chair.
2014: 2014 Myanmar Census Provisional Results
The provisional results of the 2014 Myanmar Census showed that the total population was 51,419,420.
February 2015: Kokang Offensive
In February 2015, armed conflict between ethnic Chinese rebels and the Myanmar Armed Forces led to the Kokang offensive. This conflict caused 40,000 to 50,000 civilians to seek refuge in China and sparked accusations against the Chinese government for aiding the rebels.
April 2015: World Bank Partnership
In April 2015, Myanmar and the World Bank established a full partnership aiming to improve access to electricity and basic services for six million people, and benefiting three million pregnant women and children through better health services. Funding and planning has allowed Myanmar to better prepare for the impacts of climate change.
November 2015: General Elections
On 8 November 2015, general elections were held in Myanmar. These were the first openly contested elections since the 1990 general election. The results gave the NLD an absolute majority of seats, ensuring their candidate would become president.
2015: Myanmar general election
In 2015, the Myanmar general election was held, leading to improved foreign relations and eased economic sanctions.
2015: USDP Suffers Defeat
In the 2020 parliamentary election, the USDP suffered a "humiliating" defeat - even worse than in 2015. Suu Kyi's NLD won the 2020 Myanmar general election on 8 November in a landslide.
2015: Opium Poppy Cultivation Declines Since 2015
Since 2015, opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar had been declining year-on-year.
February 2016: New Parliament Convenes
On 1 February 2016, the new parliament convened in Myanmar.
March 2016: Htin Kyaw Elected President
On 15 March 2016, Htin Kyaw was elected as the first non-military president of Myanmar since the 1962 military coup.
April 2016: Aung San Suu Kyi Assumes Role of State Counsellor
On 6 April 2016, Aung San Suu Kyi assumed the newly created role of state counsellor, akin to a prime minister, in Myanmar.
2016: Aung San Suu Kyi Accused of Failing to Protect Muslim Minority
In 2016, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi was accused of failing to protect Myanmar's Muslim minority.
2016: Environmental Performance Index
In 2016, Myanmar ranked poorly in the global Environmental Performance Index (EPI), placing 153 out of 180 countries, with particularly low scores in air quality, health impacts of environmental issues, and biodiversity and habitat.
2016: Networked Readiness Index ranking
In the 2016 NRI ranking, Myanmar ranked number 133 overall.
August 2017: Doctors Without Borders Treat Rohingya Refugee Females for Sexual Assault
Since August 2017, Doctors Without Borders have treated 113 Rohingya refugee females for sexual assault.
August 2017: Rohingya Genocide Since August 2017
Since August 2017, an estimated 23,000-43,700 Rohingya have been killed in the ongoing Rohingya genocide, and another 730,000 have fled to Bangladesh.
2017: Government Reports Trafficking Cases
In 2017, the Myanmar government reported 185 trafficking cases.
2017: Estimated Purchasing Power Adjusted GDP
In 2017, the estimated purchasing power adjusted GDP of Myanmar was US$327.629 billion according to the World Bank.
2019: US Assesses Myanmar's Non-Proliferation Treaty Compliance
As of 2019, the United States Bureau of Arms Control assessed that Myanmar is not in violation of its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
May 2020: Myanmar Authorities Report Asia's Largest Ever Drug Operation
In May 2020, Myanmar authorities reported Asia's largest ever drug operation in Shan State, seizing 193 million methamphetamine tablets, hundreds of kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, heroin, and large quantities of drug precursors.
2020: Military coup d'état
Following the 2020 Myanmar general election, the Burmese military seized power in a coup d'état.
2020: NLD Wins General Election
In the 2020 parliamentary election, Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD secured a landslide victory on 8 November. The military-affiliated USDP suffered a "humiliating" defeat.
January 2021: Suu Kyi to Retain State Counsellor Role
In January 2021, just before the new parliament was to be sworn in, the NLD announced that Suu Kyi would retain her State Counsellor role in the upcoming government.
February 2021: Conflict in Kachin State Threatens Mine Operations in February 2021
In February 2021, conflict in Kachin State threatened the operations of mines producing rare-earth elements.
February 2021: Military Deposes Civilian Government
In February 2021, the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi was deposed by the Tatmadaw, with the military declaring a one-year state of emergency. Myint Swe became the Acting President and power was handed to Min Aung Hlaing.
February 2021: Military Coup
In the early morning of 1 February 2021, the Tatmadaw, Myanmar's military, detained Suu Kyi and other members of the ruling party. The military handed power to military chief Min Aung Hlaing and declared a state of emergency for one year.
March 2021: Military Extends Martial Law and Violence Escalates
By 15 March 2021, the military leadership continued to extend martial law into more parts of Yangon, while security forces killed 38 people in a single day of violence.
May 2021: Formation of People's Defence Force
On 5 May 2021, the National Unity Government declared the formation of an armed wing named the People's Defence Force (PDF) to protect its supporters and as a step towards a Federal Union Army.
2021: Record Methamphetamine Seizures in 2021
In 2021, countries in East and Southeast Asia collectively witnessed sustained increases in seizures of methamphetamine over the last decade, totalling over 171 tons and a record of over 1 billion methamphetamine tablets.
2021: Military Takeover Leads to Poverty
In 2021, the military forces took over Myanmar.
2021: Increase in displaced persons
Since 2021, more than 600,000 people have been displaced across Myanmar due to the civil war post-coup.
2022: Opium Production Increases in 2022
In 2022, opium cultivation in Myanmar increased by 33% to 40,100 hectares, with an 88% increase in yield potential to 790 tonnes.
August 2023: UN Report on Cyber-Scam Industry
In August 2023, a U.N. report noted that at least 120,000 people in Myanmar were trapped in cyber-scam centers.
November 2024: ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrant for Min Aung Hlaing
In November 2024, the ICC prosecutor filed an arrest warrant application for Min Aung Hlaing for crimes against humanity against the Rohingya.
December 2024: Refugee and Internal Displacement Crisis
As of December 2024, according to the UNHCR, there are over 1.3 million people counted as refugees and asylum seekers, and 3.5 million people displaced internally.
2024: Ongoing Civil War
As of 2024, the civil war in Myanmar that started in May 2021 is ongoing.
2024: Global Innovation Index ranking
In 2024, Myanmar was ranked 125th in the Global Innovation Index.
January 2025: ASEAN Urges Myanmar Junta to Prioritize Ceasefire
In January 2025, ASEAN urged Myanmar's military government to prioritize a ceasefire, initiate dialogue, end hostilities, and allow humanitarian access, according to Reuters reporting.
