Kayin State is situated at the southern part of Myanmar. It is Located between latitudes 15° 43' north and 18° 48' north longitudes 96° 20' east and 98° 28' east. It is bounded on the north by Naypyitaw and Shan State, on the east by Kayah State and Thailand and on the west by Mon State and Bago Region. It includes 4 districts: Hpa-an, Myawaddy, Kawkareik, Hpapun Districts. It comprises of 7 Townships namely: Thandaung, Hpa-pun, Hlaingbwe, Hpa-an, Kawkareik, Myawaddy & Kyarinnseikgyi Townships. It has an area of about 30,382.76sq.km andelongated shape. Hpa-an township has 2901.02 sq km. Hpa-an is capital city of Kayin State. Mt. Zwegabin is the landmark of Kayin State.
2.1 Relief and Drainage
The main ranges running roughly from northwest to southeast are Ashay Yoma, Dawna Range and Taungpon Range. The rest of area is mostly lowland. Near Hpa-an lies the Zwekabin Hill which has a very unusual shape, but is attractive. Limestone caves are found in Kayin State. The tributaries of Thanlwin River are Yunsalin and Donthami on the right, Thaungyin and Gyaing on the left. Thanlwin River which enters the Gulf of Mottama.
2.2 Geology
Geologically, alluvium occupies in the Lower Thanlwin basin and surrounding lowlands. In the rest of area, limestone, outcrops of granite, gneiss are dominant features.
2.3 Climate
Kayin State has a hot and humid climate because of the mountain ranges that lie in its backdrop and its location, which is near the sea, in the tropics. The temperature of the hottest month in eastern mountain regions never falls below 22.2 °C (71.9 °F). Lowlands in the west and south of the state are located in the tropical monsoon climate. The lowest annual rainfall in the region is 3,000 millimetres (120 in) and the highest is 4,800 millimetres (190 in).
2.4 Soil
In Kayin State, soil vary from meadow and alluvial in the lowlands to lateritic, red brown forest soils and red earth and yellow earth in the undulating and highland areas.
Hpa-an Township covers partially weathered rocky mountain soil, mountain soils, forest soils, red brown forest soils, yellow brown lateritic soils, meadow alluvial soils and meadow soil.
2.5 Forest
Having a tropical monsoon climate, natural vegetation would be evergreen forest, deciduous forest, indaing forest and swamp forest. Upland in northern part of Thandaung and Hpapun Townships cover evergreen hill forest. Thaungyin Valley in east of Dawna Range has deciduous forest. Indaing forest can be found in laterite soils. Most of the forest is cleared for settlement and cultivation. Along the southern part of Donthami chaung and south eastern part of the township cover swamp forest.
3.1 Population
Since the 1973 Census, the population of Kayin State has increased from 858,429 to 1,055,359 in the 1983 census, 1,574,079 in the census of 2014 and ------- in 2018. This means the population of Kayin State has increased by about 49 percent between the 1983 and the 2014 census. The population of Kayin State ranks eleventh in size when compared with other states and regions in the country, only higher than Tanintharyi Region, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory and Chin State. The population of Kayin State is increased from 3.0 percent in 1983 to 3.1 percent in 2014. Hpa-an is the capital of Kayin State. Other towns are Kawkareik, Myawaddy Myawaddy, Kyarinseikkyi, Hlaingbwe, Hpapun and Thandaung.
3.2 Ethnicities and Religions
The inhabitants are Kayin ethnic group, Mon, Bamar, Pao and Shan. Kayin ethnic group consists of Kayin, Kayinbyu, Palegyi, Mon Kayin, Sagaw Kayin, Tahlaypwa, Paku, Bwe, Monnepwa, Mopwa, Po Kayin. The primary religions practiced in Kayin State are Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.
4.1 Tourism
Tourism is one of the main economies of Kayin State. In the year 2011, the tourist
arrivals in Kayin State were 482 foreigners whereas number of foreign tourist has abruptly increased by 4286 in 2012, 43219 in 2013, 53942 in 2014, 71172 in 2015, 159749 in 2016 and 225311 in 2017.
Most of the attractions are caves in Kayin State which are located in Hpa-an Township and the tourist can visit accessibility. The first famous thing to do is Mount Zwekabin and its peak is 723 m above sea level. It is a three hour hike to the summit where one can enjoy breathtaking views of Hpa-an and the breathtaking views of Hpa-an and the surrounding areas. There are many attractions in Kayin State but some are take permission to visit there such as Kyonhtaw and Prayjado Waterfalls in Hlaingbwe Township. The mountains can hike in Hpa-anare Mount Zwekabin, Hpa-pu and Kyarinn Hill. Some tourists interest in Karen culture who visit to Musali and Tharlarku Villages in Hpa-an Township.
4.2 Border Trade
Myawaddy border trading of Kayin State is one of the important Myanmar’s border trading. It is the main border crossing trade route between Thailand and Myanmar. According to Thailand’s Chamber of Commerce, the monthly trade between the two countries in 2015 through the Maesot to Myawaddy crossing was worth over 3 billion baht (about 90 million US dollar).
4.3 Agriculture
Kayin State is a farming state. In 21017, there are over 460,000 acres of paddy fields and 260,000 acres of rubber tree plantations in Kayin State. There is over 9000 acres of coffeeland in Thandaung area. There is trying to implement new farming technology to improve its agriculture sector.
4.4 Industry
The industries consist of cement mill near Myaingalay, hydel power plant at Hpapun, rice mills, saw mills in towns, small coffee plant and tea plant at Thantaung. Cottage industries are Kayin textile-weaving, mat-making, basket-making and etc.
4.5 Education
Major universities in Kayin state include Hpa-an University, Computer University, Hpa-an and Technological University, Hpa-an.
Table (2) Number of Basic Education Schools, Teachers and Students within Kayin State (2016-2017)
| 2016-2017 | Primary | Middle | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schools | 1139 | 78 | 31 |
| Teachers | 3400 | 1200 | 400 |
| Students | 148,000 | 47,000 | 12,000 |
Source: Township Education Office, Hpa-an Township
4.6 Healthcare
Medical and health facilities are provided by setting up hospital, dispensaries and health centres in each township, and a general hospital with specialist services at Hpa-an.
4.7 Transportation
The Thanlwin Bridge at Hpa-an, Gyaing Bridge near Zarthabyin and Kyondo, Attaran Bridge near Mawlamyine provide easy access between Kayin State and Mon State. Myanmar-Thai Friendship Bridge across Thaungyin River between Myawaddy, Kayin State, Myanmar and Maesot, Tak District, Thailand was built on October 20, 1994 and opened on August 15, 1997. The bridge lies between Bangkok-Maesot-Myawaddy-Hpa-an-Yangon Highway, which is also a part of Asian Highway.
Kayin State is served by Hpapun Airport and Hpa-an Airport but none of those currently use for public transportation. In 2015, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $100 million loan to improve a 66.4 kilometer section of road connecting the towns of Eindu and Kawkareik in Kayin state.
