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States and Divisions

There are Seven States and Seven Divisions States | Kachin State | Kayah State | Chin State | Rakhine State | Shan State | Mon State | Kayin State   Divisions | Ayeyarwady   Division | Bago Division | Magway Division | Mandalay   Division | Sagaing Division | Tanintharyi   Division | Yangon Division

Magway Division

Magway Division (also spelt Magwe) is a division located in central Myanmar between north latitude 18° 50' and 22° 47' and east longitude between 93° 47' and 95° 55'. It is bordered by Sagaing Division is to its north, Mandalay Division to its east, Bago Division to its south and Rakhine State and Chin State to its west. Magway Division is the largest of Myanmar's seven divisions, with an area of 17,305 sq miles.
 

Demographics

The population of Magway Division is 4,200,000. Over 95% the people are Bamar, with very small minorities of Chin, Rakhine, Kayin, Shan and others. Approximately 98% of the population is Buddhist.
 

Organisation

Magway Division is made up of the districts Magway, Minbu, Thayet, Pakokku and Gangaw with 25 townships and 1,696 ward village-tracts. The capital is the city of Magway (1994 population estimated at 300,000). Other major towns are Pakokku and Minbu.
 

Economy

The principal product of Magway Division is petroleum. Magway Division produces most of the oil and natural gas of Myanmar. Other industries include cement, cotton weaving, and tobacco, iron and bronze. Magway Division produces a large quantity of edible oil as well a petroleum, it is also known as the “oil pot of Myanmar.”

Agriculture is also important. The major crops are sesamum and groundnut. Other crops grown are rice, millet, maize, sunflower, bean and pulses, tobacco, toddy, chili, onion, and potato. Famous products of Magway Division include: Thanaka (Limonia acidissima) and Phangar (Chebulic myorobalan) fruit.

Magway has almost no tourist industry.
 

History

Fossils of the early primates over 40 million years old were excavated in the Pondaung and Ponnya areas in Magway Division, leading the government to proclaim that “Myanmar is the birthplace of humanity in the world". The most famous leader of Burma Bodgyoke Aung San, is from Magway Division, Nate Mauk Township. One of the most famous pagodas Mya Tha Lwan is also situated in Magway.

The history of Magway Division mirrors that of the other divisions of central Myanmar.