Myanmar
Common law
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Myanmar's laws come from the English common law of British rule, with Buddhist customary law (the Dhammathats) still applied in family matters. Since the 2021 military takeover, the 2008 Constitution and the courts' normal workings have been disrupted, so this profile describes only the long-standing structure.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Where the law comes from
- Statutes, many dating from British rule, such as the Contract Act and the Penal Code
- English common-law style case law
- Buddhist customary law (Dhammathats) for family matters of Buddhists, and personal laws of other communities
- The 2008 Constitution, whose operation has been disrupted since 2021; check current developments
The main courts
- The Supreme Court of the Union at the top
- High courts of the regions and states
- District and township courts
Becoming a lawyer
A law degree and a licence as an advocate, issued through the Bar Council.
What may surprise you
- Much of the basic law dates from British India, like the laws of India and Pakistan.
- Family law for Buddhists follows ancient Buddhist legal texts.
- The country's institutions have been under severe strain since 2021, so check current developments.
Related systems
How this country is classified
The University of Ottawa’s JuriGlobe database lists Myanmar as: Common law, Customary. It names the systems in order of importance.
The map colours a country by the first-named system, and shows both civil-law and common-law countries as “mixed”. It is a simplification, and real systems are rarely pure.
Other countries in the same family
Sources
Sources last reviewed: October 2026.
TheLawToKnow Tools’s Legal Families Atlas is an educational overview. It simplifies on purpose, and it is not legal advice. For a real legal question about Myanmar, consult a lawyer qualified there. Report a mistake.
