Who are Burma's minority groups?

18 November 2010 Last updated at 10:16 GMT  

 

More than 40% of people living in Burma belong to one of the military-ruled nation's different minority groups. The government recognises eight distinct ethnic groups, with dozens of sub-groups, but refuses to acknowledge others

As the country holds its first elections in 20 years, the BBC profiles some of the main minority groups. Click on each image to find out more.

Update 28 October 2011: The map on this story has been updated to include a section on the Rakhine people. We have also changed the text to make a distinction between ethnic groups and minority groups.

source: BBC