# Sittwe

> city in Myanmar

**Wikidata**: [Q738748](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q738748)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sittwe)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sittwe

## Summary
Sittwe is the capital city of Rakhine State (historically known as Arkan) in Myanmar, located on the Bay of Bengal. It serves as a major port and administrative center for the region, with a documented history appearing in numerous international encyclopedias under various transliterations of its name.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Sittwe
- **Alternative Names:** Akyab, Akjab, 實兌, 石兌, 阿恰布, Ситтуэй, Акьяб, 아키아ブ
- **Location:** Sittwe Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar
- **Geographic Coordinates:** 20.144444444444° N, 92.896944444444° E
- **Elevation:** 5 meters above sea level
- **Timezone:** UTC+06:30
- **Administrative Role:** Capital of Rakhine State (Arkan)
- **Population (2014):** 100,748 (determined via demographic balance, preferred figure)
- **Population (2006):** 181,000
- **Primary Classification:** City, large human settlement, big city, town in Myanmar
- **Historical Documentation:** Featured in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947), Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, The Nuttall Encyclopædia, Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition (as "Akyab"), Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921), and The New International Encyclopædia.
- **Multilingual Presence:** Wikipedia articles exist in at least 40 languages, including Burmese (my), English (en), Chinese (zh), Russian (ru), and Arabic (ar).
- **Key Identifiers:** Geonames ID 1295765; VIAF ID 235690929; GND ID 4754266-4; OpenStreetMap Node ID 26576213.

## FAQs
**What are the different names for Sittwe?**
Sittwe is historically and internationally known by several transliterations, including Akyab and Akjab. It is also referred to in various scripts and languages, such as 實兌/石兌 (Chinese), Акияб (Russian), and 아키아브 (Korean). The name "Akyab" was commonly used in older Western sources.

**What is the population of Sittwe?**
Official figures vary by source and year. The 2014 census, using a demographic balance determination method, records a population of 100,748. An earlier 2006 estimate placed the population at 181,000. The 2014 figure is considered the preferred, more precise value.

**Where is Sittwe located and what is its administrative role?**
Sittwe is situated in Sittwe Township within Rakhine State, Myanmar, at coordinates 20.1444°N, 92.8969°E on the Bay of Bengal. It serves as the state capital, a role referenced in structured data as the capital of "Arkan" (the historical name for Rakhine State).

**What timezone does Sittwe observe?**
Sittwe operates on Myanmar Standard Time, which is UTC+06:30. This is a unique half-hour offset timezone.

**What historical encyclopedias document Sittwe?**
Sittwe (often under the name Akyab) is documented in several major historical reference works. These include the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947), the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (in two separate entries), The Nuttall Encyclopædia, the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921), and The New International Encyclopædia.

## Why It Matters
Sittwe is a strategically significant port city and the administrative heart of Rakhine State, a region with a complex history and geopolitical importance on Myanmar's western coast. Its position on the Bay of Bengal has made it a historic trading hub and a focal point for regional commerce, cultural exchange, and, in recent decades, humanitarian and political attention. The city's documentation across a wide spectrum of international encyclopedias—from Russian and British to American sources—underscores its long-standing recognition as a notable urban center in Southeast Asia. Its role as a state capital makes it a central node for governance, infrastructure, and services for the diverse Rakhine population.

## Notable For
*   **Regional Capital:** It is the definitive administrative capital of Rakhine State (Arkan).
*   **Historical Port Name:** Widely known internationally for decades by the name "Akyab," particularly in older English-language sources.
*   **Multilingual Documentation:** Its presence in encyclopedias spanning Russian, British, American, and other traditions highlights its historical global recognition.
*   **Precise Geodata:** Has accurately defined coordinates (20.1444°N, 92.8969°E) and a recorded elevation of just 5 meters, indicating its low-lying coastal nature.
*   **Dual Population Records:** Possesses two distinct, well-sourced population figures from 2006 and 2014, reflecting different estimation methodologies over time.
*   **Unique Timezone:** Resides in the Myanmar Standard Time zone (UTC+06:30), a rare half-hour offset.
*   **Extensive Alias Set:** Has the most diverse set of recorded aliases among major Myanmar cities, including Chinese, Russian, Korean, and historical English variants.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Sittwe is a coastal city located at precise geographic coordinates of 20.144444444444 degrees north latitude and 92.896944444444 degrees east longitude. Its elevation is recorded as 5 meters above sea level, confirming its position on a low-lying shoreline. The city functions as the primary urban center for Sittwe Township. It operates within the Myanmar Standard Time zone, which is UTC+06:30, a timezone not commonly shared by neighboring countries.

### Administrative Status
Sittwe holds the definitive administrative status as the capital of Rakhine State. In structured data, this relationship is explicitly stated as `capital_of: Arkan`, using the historical exonym for the state. It is `located_in` the administrative territorial entity of Sittwe Township, Myanmar. Its classification is multi-faceted: it is an `instance_of` a city, a big city, and a town within Myanmar.

### Demographics
The city's population is documented with two distinct figures from different years and sources. An estimate from 2006 cites a population of 181,000. The more recent and preferred figure comes from a 2014 determination, which used a `demographic balance` method to calculate a population of 100,748. This discrepancy highlights different census or estimation approaches over time.

### Linguistic and Cultural Names
The entity has a rich set of aliases reflecting its historical and regional significance. The primary historical English name is **Akyab**, with a minor variant **Akjab**. It is recorded in multiple scripts: Chinese (實兌, 石兌, 阿恰布), Russian (Ситтуэй, Акьяб), and Korean (아키아브). The modern standard name is **Sittwe**.

### Historical Documentation and Encyclopedic Presence
Sittwe (predominantly as "Akyab") has been consistently documented in major international encyclopedic and dictionary projects across the 19th and 20th centuries. These sources serve as key historical references:
*   **Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947)**
*   **Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary** (with two separate entries)
*   **The Nuttall Encyclopædia** (using the spelling "Ak′yab")
*   **Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition** (entry: "1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Akyab")
*   **Collier's New Encyclopedia, 1921** (entry: "Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Akyab")
*   **The New International Encyclopædia** (entry: "The New International Encyclopædia/Akyab")

This widespread inclusion underscores the city's established importance as a geographic and urban entity in global reference works long before the digital age.

### External Identifiers and Linked Data
Sittwe is extensively cross-referenced in global authority files and linked data repositories, confirming its established identity:
*   **Geonames:** ID `1295765`
*   **Virtual International Authority File (VIAF):** ID `235690929`
*   **German National Library (GND):** ID `4754266-4`
*   **OpenStreetMap:** Node ID `26576213`
*   **Freebase:** ID `/m/05ql8_`
*   **Who's On First:** ID `1141909329`
*   **Great Russian Encyclopedia Online (2017):** ID `3666889` (using the Russian name "СИТУЭ")
*   **Encyclopædia Britannica Online:** ID `place/Sittwe`
*   **National Library of France (BnF):** ID `15214217n`
*   **Library and Archives Canada:** ID `ncf12012249`
*   **Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana:** ID `sittwe` (and former scheme ID `0063017`)
*   **Online PWN Encyclopedia:** ID `3975622`
*   **BBC Things:** ID `bafcc2d7-3746-467f-830c-63af4acd8bb4`
*   **Quora Topic:** ID `Sittwe-1`
*   **Google Play Store:** ID `Sittwe`

### Wikimedia and Wikipedia Context
The city has a robust presence across Wikimedia projects. Its primary Wikipedia article title is **"Sittwe"**. The `sitelink_count` of 47 indicates it is linked from numerous other Wikimedia pages. It has a dedicated `commons_category: Sittwe` for media files and a `page_banner` image. The `wikipedia_languages` list shows active articles in 40+ languages, including Burmese (my), English (en), and major world languages, demonstrating broad global coverage. The `topic's_main_category` is `Category:Sittwe`.

### Image and Media References
Two key media files are directly associated:
1.  A primary image: `https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sittwe,_Burma.JPG` (referenced from Wikimedia Commons).
2.  A locator map: `https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Myanmar_Location_Sittwe.png`.
3.  A page banner image: `https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sittwe,_foreshore_(cropped).JPG`.

### Wikidata and Academic Source References
All structured properties are backed by references to authoritative sources (`P143` = `Q328` for Wikimedia Commons, `P248` = various IDs for specific publications or databases). For example, the population figure from 2014 references `Q8449` (likely a national statistics office), while the 2006 figure references `Q8447`. The elevation measurement references `Q830106` (Geonames) with a retrieval date of 2017-07-09. The `freebase_id` reference specifies a publication date of 2013-10-28. The `canadiana_name_authority_id` and `bibliothèque_nationale_de_france_id` entries share a common reference (`Q54919`) with a retrieval date of 2024-05-05 and a linked `viaf_id`.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. GeoNames
4. BBC Things
5. Quora