Pathein, formerly known as Bassein, is the capital and largest city of the Ayeyarwady Region in Myanmar. It is situated within Pathein Township on the banks of the Pathein River, which serves as a western branch of the Irrawaddy River. The city is located approximately 190 km (120 mi) west of Yangon.
As of 2019, the city had a population of 172,923. While it was historically part of the Mon kingdoms, there are currently few ethnic Mon residents in the area. The majority of the population is of Bamar ethnicity, with significant communities of Karen, Indian, Rakhine, and Chinese people.