# Thein Sein

_Former President and Prime Minister of Myanmar_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/thein-sein
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Thein Sein (Burmese: သိန်းစိန်; IPA: [θéɪɰ̃ sèɪɰ̃]; born 20 April 1945) is a Burmese politician and retired army general who served as the eighth president of Myanmar from 2011 to 2016. He previously served as 11th prime minister from 2007 to 2010, and was considered by many in and outside Myanmar as a reformist leader in the post-junta government.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 20 April 1945 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12149#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Kyonku ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12149#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Myanmar ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12149#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; military personnel; military officer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12149#P106))
- **Political party:** Union Solidarity and Development Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12149#P102))
- **Education:** Defence Services Academy ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12149#P69))
- **Spouse:** Khin Khin Win ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12149#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Myanmar (30 March 2011 – 30 March 2016); Prime Minister of Myanmar (24 October 2007 – 30 March 2011) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12149#P39))
- **Awards:** honorary doctor of the Northwest A&F University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12149#P166))

## About

His government undertook a series of political reforms including some deregulation of the country's censored media, releasing many political prisoners and halting the country's controversial large Chinese-led hydro-power project. The developments that followed included Myanmar's appointment to chair ASEAN in 2014, improved relations with the United States, the release of Aung San Suu Kyi – his 2015 general election rival – from house arrest, and the reinstatement of major opposition party National League for Democracy (NLD) in the by-election held on 1 April 2012.

## Questions

**When was Thein Sein born?**  
Thein Sein was born on 20 April 1945 in Kyonku.

**What positions has Thein Sein held?**  
Positions held by Thein Sein include: President of Myanmar (2011–2016); Prime Minister of Myanmar (2007–2011).

**Where did Thein Sein study?**  
Thein Sein was educated at Defence Services Academy.

## Related

- [Ne Win](https://diginpl.com/people/ne-win)
- [Win Maung](https://diginpl.com/people/win-maung)
- [Maung Maung](https://diginpl.com/people/maung-maung)
- [Min Aung Hlaing](https://diginpl.com/people/min-aung-hlaing)
- [Ba U](https://diginpl.com/people/ba-u)
- [Sao Shwe Thaik](https://diginpl.com/people/sao-shwe-thaik)
- [Than Shwe](https://diginpl.com/people/than-shwe)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Thein Sein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thein_Sein) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q12149](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12149) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Thein Sein.jpg by Government of Thailand (CC BY 2.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thein_Sein.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Thein Sein, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Thein Sein.jpg — Government of Thailand, CC BY 2.0.

## Cite this page

"Thein Sein". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/thein-sein. Retrieved 6 November 2026.