Myanmar explained to kids

Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is a country located in Southeast Asia. Myanmar is bordered by India and Bangladesh to its west, Thailand and Laos to its east, and China to its north and northeast. With a size of 676,578 square kilometers, Myanmar is the largest of the mainland Southeast Asian states. As of 2017, the population of Myanmar was over 53 million. The capital city of Myanmar is Naypyidaw, and the largest city and former capital is Yangon. Myanmar is a country of great cultural diversity. The majority of the population is Bamar (Burman), but there are over 100 other ethnic groups, each with its own language and culture. The country has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Paleolithic period. The first recorded kingdom in Myanmar was that of the Mon, who established their capital at Thaton in the 9th century CE. In the 11th century, the Bamar founded the Pagan Kingdom, which went on to become one of the largest empires in Southeast Asian history. Myanmar was colonized by the British in the 19th century, and became an independent nation in 1948. Since then, the country has been through a period of political and economic upheaval. In 2017, Myanmar began a process of political and economic reform, which has led to significant changes in the country. Myanmar is now a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is working to improve its relations with the rest of the world.