Place codes (Pcodes)

Pcode is an abbreviated term for “Place code”; this is similar to a zip code or postal code, and is a part of a humanitarian and development data management system providing unique reference codes to around 71,000 locations across Myanmar. The MIMU maintains the P-codes for Myanmar based on information collected from a variety of sources, including but not limited to humanitarian and development organizations. Without a system for organizing such data it is almost impossible for data from more than one source to be combined.

The Pcodes enable information providers and users to exchange, link and map available information from a wide variety of sources, including data from the different assessments and surveys done by researchers, UN agencies, donors, local and international NGOs working in Myanmar. Using the P-code system, organizations can continue to generate data for their own purposes while making this available in a format that others can easily make use of.

Specific Pcodes are provided for Union Territory, States/Regions, Districts, Townships, Towns, Wards, Village Tracts and Villages in Myanmar.An additional set of Pcodes has been developed for IDP camp locations (Camp Codes) to facilitate sharing of information gathered from these locations. Each Pcode includes the names by which the settlement is commonly known, an English transliteration of the name based on a standardized system, and locational data using GPS coordinates to enable accurate mapping of each village for programme planning, coordination and also identification of village locations in the event of crises requiring humanitarian support.

Common problems identified through the Pcode system:

  • Villages missing from the Pcode list– this may occur with villages in hard-to-reach areas, or where village location has changed.The MIMU registers new Pcodes as soon as the required information is available to verify the existence and location of the village.The map, “Current Status of Village Mapping across Myanmar”, provides an overview of the Townships with lower levels of village mapping
  • Lack of GPS coordinates- currently just 79% of the villages with Pcodes can be mapped.  The MIMU continues to seek accurate GPS coordinates for the remaining villages with the support of the GIS Working Group, agencies and Government departments
  • Villages known by different names– this tends to happen in areas where different languages are used. The Pcode listing of the MIMU allows for inclusion of an alternative name by which the village is commonly known
  • Different Administrative structure– this may occur in area of different administrative structure applied especially in Wa and Kokang Self-Administered area. 

Myanmar Admin Structure

 

As of December 2019, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is constituted of 14 States and Regions plus 1 Union Territory, 75 districts, 330 townships, 469 towns, 3470 Wards, 13,590 village tracts and 63,214 villages. In line with the Constitution (2008), there are also 6 Self-Administered Zones/Divisions which include 18 of the 330 townships across the country. There are some differences in the administrative definitions of townships, towns, village tracts and villages, between the Government and Self-administered Zones/Divisions.

How to use Pcodes

 

Pcodes resolve the issue of what we call a place, taking into consideration spelling, different languages and scripts, and duplication. The Pcode system standardizes referencing of places across all actors in Myanmar. Standards in spatial data agreed by all stakeholders provides a single unified system for referring to locations, allowing for free exchange of data between those using the Pcodes.

In most cases, Pcodes can be easily integrated into an organization’s system. The MIMU’s Pcoder software can link individual agencies’/departments’ own coding systems to the P-code system which his then added as an extra column in the existing database and/or spreadsheet. The MIMU can also provide orientation in the Pcode system, and training in how to take GPS coordinates to complete the mapping of village locations across the country.  Please contact us if you need technical support to gather Pcode information or to add Pcodes to your existing data.

How to generate a new Pcode or correct existing Pcode information

The MIMU revises Pcodes based on updates from various sources including the Government Gazette, information from surveys and field work by agencies, Government departments and others. 

1)    New Pcodes are issued where the village is missing from the Pcode listing – this requires certain information to be provided (State/Region name, Township name, Village Tract name, Village name, approx. village population, approx. number of households in the village, GPS coordinates).

2)    Pcodes are revised where corrections are received and verified. This includes the addition or GPS coordinates, addition of alternative names by which the village may be commonly known, and other updates.

To inform the MIMU of revisions or additions to the Pcode listing, please complete the Pcode Submission and Correction Form and return it to us at [email protected]

P-Coder

 

Pcoder is a tool using with Microsoft Excel which can help you for matching place names (Township/Village Tract/Village) and inserting Place codes automatically according to the MIMU’s Place Names and Codes.

MIMU Pcoder and Guidlines

Title Format Size Uploaded
MIMU_PCoder_9.5.zip zip
33.34 MB 27-Feb-2024
MIMU Pcoder Guildeline_12Mar2021_Eng.pdf pdf
539.23 KB 15-Mar-2021
MIMU Pcoder Guildeline_12Mar2021_MMR.pdf pdf
636.07 KB 15-Mar-2021