[6] For centuries, Thanlyin was the most important port city in Lower Myanmar until the mid-18th century when King Alaungpaya chose to enlarge a small village across the river near the great Shwedagon Pagoda named Dagon.

Many future Burmese political figures such as Aung San, U Nu, U Thant and Ne Win were all one-time Rangoon University students.

After Myanmar gained independence from the United Kingdom in January 1948, the Hanthawaddy Province was renamed Pegu (Bago) Division, with Yangon as its capital.

The division is also home to a large number of South Asians (mainly Indians) and Burmese Chinese.

[15] Minority religious communities include Christians (3.2%), Muslims (4.7%), and Hindus (1%) who collectively comprise the remainder of Yangon Region's population.

[15] According to the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee’s 2016 statistics, 88,442 Buddhist monks were registered in Yangon Region, comprising 16.5% of Myanmar's total Sangha membership, which includes both novice samanera and fully-ordained bhikkhu.

According to the government's official statistics for FY 2010–2011, the size of the economy of Yangon Region was 8.93 trillion kyat, or 23% of the national GDP.

[17] Greater Yangon is Lower Myanmar's main trading hub for all kinds of merchandise – from basic food stuffs to used cars.

Bayinnaung Market is the largest wholesale center in the country for rice, beans and pulses, and other agricultural commodities.

At least 14 light industrial zones ring Yangon,[18] employing thousands of workers.

Other important crops include jute, pulses, rubber, sugarcane, and groundnut.

Twante Canal, which links Yangon to Ayeyarwady Region, is also widely used for both transport and commerce.

Private schools, which cost at least $8,000 a year in tuition per student, are strictly the preserve of the elite.

The military government spends anywhere from 0.5% to 3% of the country's GDP on health care, consistently ranking among the lowest in the world.

[24][25] Although health care is nominally free, in reality, patients have to pay for medicine and treatment, even in public clinics and hospitals.