Rakhine State

Rakhine State
ရခိုင်ပြည်နယ်
Arakan State
Myanma transcription(s)
 • RakhineRakhai Pray Nay
 • Burmesera.hkuing: prany nai
Lawkananda Pagoda, Sittwe
Temples in Mrauk U
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Location of Rakhine State in Myanmar (Burma)
Coordinates: 19°30′N 94°0′E / 19.500°N 94.000°E / 19.500; 94.000
Country Myanmar
RegionLower
Control80–90% under Arakan Army
Before becoming StateArakan Division
renamed as Arakan State3 January 1974
renamed as Rakhine State18 June 1989
CapitalSittwe
Government
 • Chief MinisterU Htein Lin
 • CabinetRakhine State Government
 • LegislatureRakhine State Hluttaw
 • JudiciaryRakhine State High Court
Area
 • Total
36,778.0 km2 (14,200.1 sq mi)
 • Rank8th
Highest elevation
(Kema Taung)
1,851 m (6,073 ft)
Population
 (2014)
 • Total
3,188,807
 • Rank8th
 • Density86.7042/km2 (224.563/sq mi)
Demographics
 • EthnicitiesArakanese (Rakhine), Bamars (Burmese), Chin, Kamein, Bengalis, Mro, Khami, That, Daingnet (Chakmas), Maramagyi and others
 • Religions
(2024 estimate)
Time zoneUTC+06:30 (MMT)
ISO 3166 codeMM-16
HDI (2017)0.520
low · 13th
Websiterakhinestate.gov.mm

Rakhine State (/rəˈkn/ rə-KYN; Burmese: ရခိုင်ပြည်နယ်, MLCTS: ra.hkuing pranynai, pronounced [jəkʰàiɰ̃ pjìnɛ̀]; Rakhine pronunciation: [ɹəkʰàiɰ̃ pɹènè]), formerly known as Arakan State, is a state in Myanmar (Burma). Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State to the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region to the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west and the Chattogram Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. The north–south Arakan Mountains or Rakhine Yoma separate Rakhine State from central Myanmar. Off the coast of Rakhine State there are some fairly large islands such as Ramree, Cheduba and Myingun. Rakhine State has an area of 36,762 square kilometres (14,194 sq mi) and its capital is Sittwe (formerly known as Akyab).

As of November 2025, the Arakan Army which is the armed wing of the ethnic Rakhine, maintains de facto control over approximately 90 percent of the state, including 14 of its 17 townships.