The Irrawaddy
Independent Myanmar news outlet with bilingual coverage.
The Irrawaddy at a glance
The Irrawaddy is a news & media website and one of the most visited sites in Myanmar, currently ranked #1 in the country. It was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Myanmar / Thailand. Today The Irrawaddy is owned by Irrawaddy Publishing Group. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 12 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through advertising, donations and grants, syndication. Its closest rivals include rfa.org, mizzima.com, bbc.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 11.3 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 11.6 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 12 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 12.7 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct37%
- Organic search34%
- Social18%
- News aggregators8%
- Email3%
Audience & demographics
- Men55%
- Women45%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
- Age 25-3422%
The audience is concentrated in Myanmar, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Myanmar86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 3.6 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- Myanmar
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| the irrawaddy | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| breaking news | Top 10 | High | — |
| today's headlines | Top 10 | High | — |
| live coverage | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Myanmar web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 79% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading news & media apps in Myanmar
Company information
- Website
- irrawaddy.com
- Sector
- News & Media
- Owner
- Irrawaddy Publishing Group
- Owner type
- Independent media organisation
- Founded
- 1993
- Headquarters
- Myanmar / Thailand
- Ownership
- Irrawaddy Publishing Group controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Languages
- Burmese, English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- Not publicly disclosed
- Ownership
- Independent media organisation
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
The Irrawaddy operates a news and media publisher focused on Myanmar. Independent Myanmar news outlet with bilingual coverage. Revenue comes mainly from advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Advertising
- Donations and grants
- Syndication
International presence
- Primary market
- Myanmar
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Myanmar)
- #1 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading news & media site in Myanmar
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| rfa.org | ≈ 7.2 million / month | #2 class competitor | — |
| mizzima.com | ≈ 5.4 million / month | #3 class competitor | — |
| bbc.com | ≈ 3.6 million / month | #4 class competitor | — |
What is The Irrawaddy?
The Irrawaddy (irrawaddy.com) is a news and media publisher serving users in Myanmar. Independent Myanmar news outlet with bilingual coverage. It ranks #1 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the news & media category.
Who owns The Irrawaddy?
The site is operated by Irrawaddy Publishing Group. The company was established in 1993 and is headquartered in Myanmar / Thailand.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place The Irrawaddy at roughly 12 million visits per month, about 0.4 million per day. Around 79% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 3.1 pages per visit with an average session of 3 min.
How The Irrawaddy makes money
Revenue comes primarily from advertising, alongside donations and grants, syndication.
Competitors in Myanmar
Its closest rivals include rfa.org, mizzima.com, bbc.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1993
The Irrawaddy is founded in Myanmar / Thailand.
- Growth phase
Expands its news & media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #1 among the most visited websites in Myanmar.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Broad daily news coverage with national reach
- Fast breaking-news publishing
- Free access to most articles
- Strong presence in search and social
Cons
- Heavy advertising load on article pages
- Editorial line criticised by parts of the audience
- Clickbait headlines on high-traffic sections
- Paywall limits on premium content
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns The Irrawaddy?
The Irrawaddy is operated by Irrawaddy Publishing Group. Independent media organisation structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is The Irrawaddy headquartered?
The Irrawaddy is headquartered in Myanmar / Thailand.
When was The Irrawaddy founded?
The Irrawaddy was founded in 1993.
What is The Irrawaddy's revenue?
The Irrawaddy does not publish standalone revenue; income comes from advertising, donations and grants, syndication.
Who are The Irrawaddy's competitors?
Main competitors in Myanmar include rfa.org, mizzima.com, bbc.com.
How does The Irrawaddy make money?
Mainly advertising, donations and grants, syndication.
Is The Irrawaddy publicly traded?
No — The Irrawaddy is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Irrawaddy Publishing Group.
How many visitors does The Irrawaddy get?
Third-party estimates place The Irrawaddy at roughly 12 million visits per month, mostly from Myanmar, with 79% mobile traffic.
Is The Irrawaddy safe?
The Irrawaddy is an established news & media site founded in 1993 and ranked #1 in Myanmar; use the official domain irrawaddy.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsirrawaddy.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageMyanmar and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos