Burmese (Bamar) DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Myanmar · Southeast Asia
The Bamar are the largest people of Myanmar, and their language, Burmese, belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family; the kingdom of Pagan, whose plain of temples still stands, unified the Irrawaddy valley from the 11th century. Myanmar sits between South Asia, China and mainland Southeast Asia, and the Burmese average carries all three: in our model, 56.2% East Asian, 25.6% Southeast Asian Neolithic farmer and 18.2% South Asian hunter-gatherer related. That South Asian-related share is the largest among the mainland Southeast Asian pages of our atlas, higher than in the Thai average (10.5%), which fits Myanmar's land border with India and Bangladesh. The closest modern averages lean west accordingly: another Bamar sample (0.0162), then the Riang, Rakhine and Tripuri samples from Myanmar, Tripura and Bangladesh, and the Garo. The closest ancient group, a Late Neolithic to Bronze Age population from Oakaie in central Myanmar, is at a moderate 0.0664, which suggests that much of today's mix formed later.
- Ancient components in our model: East Asian 56.2%, Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers 25.6%, South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) 18.2%
- Closest modern population in our data: Bamar, distance 0.0162
- Closest ancient group in our data: Myanmar LNBA Oakaie, distance 0.0664
Where does Burmese (Bamar) DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Burmese (Bamar) individuals sampled in Myanmar, listed in the G25 sheet as "Burmese" and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Burmese (Bamar) average
The ancient make-up of the Burmese (Bamar) average is led by East Asian (56.2%), followed by Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers (25.6%) and South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) (18.2%). The East Asian component reflects ancestry most common today in East Asia. The Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers share (25.6%) reflects the Neolithic farmers of mainland Southeast Asia.
The fit is acceptable (fit distance 0.034): treat the proportions as a good approximation rather than exact values. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Closest modern populations to Burmese (Bamar)
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Burmese (Bamar) average is Bamar, at a distance of 0.016 (very close). Next come Riang at 0.019 and Rakhine (Myanmar) at 0.021. By the tenth closest (Kuki) the distance grows to 0.055, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bamar | 0.0162 | Very close |
| 2 | Riang | 0.0192 | Very close |
| 3 | Rakhine (Myanmar) | 0.0213 | Very close |
| 4 | Tripuri | 0.0218 | Very close |
| 5 | Tripuri (Jamatia) | 0.0250 | Close |
| 6 | Garo | 0.0269 | Close |
| 7 | Mon | 0.0466 | Close |
| 8 | Hmar | 0.0530 | Moderate |
| 9 | Mizo | 0.0538 | Moderate |
| 10 | Kuki | 0.0548 | Moderate |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Burmese (Bamar)
Among ancient genomes, the closest match to the modern Burmese (Bamar) average is Myanmar LNBA Oakaie (Late Neolithic to Bronze Age), at 0.066, followed by China Chongqing MN Daxi Daxi and Tibet IA Zhangcun. That is only a moderate match: part of the modern profile was already present then, but later movements of people added substantial layers. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Myanmar LNBA Oakaie | Late Neolithic to Bronze Age | 0.0664 |
| 2 | China Chongqing MN Daxi Daxi | Middle Neolithic | 0.0691 |
| 3 | Tibet IA Zhangcun | Iron Age | 0.0723 |
| 4 | Nepal IA Suila | Iron Age | 0.0735 |
| 5 | Tibet Pre-IA Gebusailu (LNBA) | Iron Age | 0.0790 |
| 6 | Thailand IA Log Coffin | Iron Age | 0.0802 |
| 7 | Tibet IA Sangdalongguo | Iron Age | 0.0822 |
| 8 | Tibet IA Piyangjiweng | Iron Age | 0.0826 |
| 9 | Tibet IA Gebusailu | Iron Age | 0.0851 |
| 10 | Tibet IA Laga | Iron Age | 0.0857 |
Ancient DNA from Myanmar
Our ancient DNA database holds 3 individuals excavated in present-day Myanmar, dated from about 1,000 BC to 950 BC. The most frequent mtDNA haplogroups among them are D4 (1) and R (1). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Burmese (Bamar) population.
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 3 from Myanmar.
Compare yourself with Burmese (Bamar)
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Burmese (Bamar) average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Burmese (Bamar) and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
Keep in mind that a population average is a statistical summary of a limited number of sampled individuals. Real people inside any group vary, some carry more of one ancestry and some less, and no genetic profile decides who is or is not Burmese (Bamar). Use these numbers as a map of deep ancestry, not as a label.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Burmese (Bamar) average. For your own DNA, Advanced Ancestry Report (16€) gives a full ancestry breakdown with no regional focus, in a personal PDF report.
Comprehensive DNA analysis comparing your genetics to over 2,000 modern reference populations.
More populations from Southeast Asia
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Burmese (Bamar)?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Burmese (Bamar) average is about 56.2% East Asian, 25.6% Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers and 18.2% South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy). These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Burmese (Bamar)?
In the G25 data, the closest modern populations to the Burmese (Bamar) average are Bamar, Riang and Rakhine (Myanmar). The closest ancient matches are Myanmar LNBA Oakaie, China Chongqing MN Daxi Daxi and Tibet IA Zhangcun.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Burmese (Bamar)?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Burmese (Bamar) average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Burmese (Bamar) ancestry?
None of our regional reports is built for Burmese (Bamar) ancestry, so the full Advanced Ancestry Report (no regional focus) is the better choice. The DNA Mega-Analysis adds Neanderthal %, traits and closest ancient populations. The free Report Finder checks every report against your own DNA first.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.