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Aung San Suu Kyi Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth19 June 1945

Age78 Years

BirthplaceRangoon, British Burma (now Yangon)

ProfessionPolitician, Diplomat, and Author

NationalityBurmese

Marital statusWidow

SpouseLate Michael Aris

FamilyFather - Aung San; Mother - Khin Kyi; Children - Son Alex, Daughter Kim

Aung San Suu Kyi Biography

Burmese politician, diplomat and author Aung San Suu Kyi rose to prominence as the leader of the National League for Democracy and a decades-long figure in

Early life and background
Aung San Suu Kyi was born on 19 June 1945 in Rangoon, British Burma (now Yangon). She is the daughter of Aung San, a leading figure in Burma’s independence movement, and Khin Kyi, who later served as a diplomat. Raised in Yangon and with periods of education abroad, Suu Kyi attended Basic Education High School No. 1 Dagon in Yangon before studying at the University of Delhi and later at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. She also studied at SOAS, University of London. Her given name reflects family connections: elements of her name come from her father, paternal grandmother and mother.

Career
Suu Kyi entered politics in 1988 amid nationwide unrest. Later that year she co-founded the National League for Democracy (NLD) and became the party’s general secretary. The NLD swept the 1990 general election, but the ruling military did not transfer power, and Suu Kyi spent long periods confined under house arrest beginning in 1989.

Over the following decades she alternated between political activity and periods of detention. International recognition came during these years: she received the Sakharov Prize in 1991 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize the same year. Other honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented to her in 2000.

After her release from house arrest in November 2010, Suu Kyi formally entered parliamentary politics. She registered to contest a seat in a 2012 by-election, won a seat for Kawhmu Township in April 2012, and took her oath and assumed office the following month. Her party won the majority of contested seats that year, and she became Leader of the Opposition in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. In 2016 the new government created the post of State Counsellor, and she was appointed to that role on 1 April 2016. In the administration that followed, she also took on responsibilities related to the President’s Office and held ministerial oversight for foreign affairs, electric power and energy, and education.

On 1 February 2021 Suu Kyi was detained after a military coup. Subsequent legal proceedings in Myanmar resulted in multiple convictions and sentences across a range of charges, and she was moved between prison and house arrest during 2021–2023. In July 2023 she was reported to have been released from prison and placed under house arrest at a government building in Nay Pyi Taw.

Public profile
Aung San Suu Kyi is commonly known by the honorific Daw, a Burmese term of respect for an older or venerated woman. She has been referred to by nicknames such as Daw Suu and Amay Suu. Her public image has combined long-standing advocacy for democratic reform with international acclaim; she is also a published author and has served as a diplomat and politician.

Her family life includes marriage to historian Michael Aris, who predeceased her; they were married from 1972 until his death. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. Her father, Aung San, who played a central role in Burma’s independence, was assassinated in July 1947. Suu Kyi’s mother, Khin Kyi, served in diplomatic roles, including as ambassador to India.

Suu Kyi’s listed personal interests include traveling, reading, cooking, yoga and an interest in modern art. She has also been associated with Theravada Buddhism.

Latest updates
Suu Kyi’s legal situation has been the subject of numerous developments since the 2021 coup. Reports in 2021 and 2022 record convictions on charges including incitement, violations of COVID-19 restrictions, illegal importation of communications equipment, charges under an official secrets law, and corruption-related counts. In mid-2022 reports indicated she was transferred to solitary confinement in a prison in Naypyidaw in connection with corruption allegations. In July 2023 she was reported to have been moved from prison to house arrest at a government compound in Nay Pyi Taw.

Physical stats and personal details
Publicly available profiles list Suu Kyi’s height as approximately 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) and weight around 62 kg (137 lb). She is described as having salt-and-pepper hair and black eyes. Her religion is listed as Theravada Buddhist. Her hometown and birthplace are given as Rangoon (Yangon), and she is identified as Burmese by nationality.

Honors and recognition
Suu Kyi’s international awards include the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and the Sakharov Prize. She has received other recognitions such as the United States’ Presidential Medal of Freedom. These honors reflect her long-standing profile as a leading voice for democratic change in Myanmar.
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Recent Work

State Counsellor of Myanmar

Appointed to the role created for her by the President in 2016, with ministerial oversight in multiple areas

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. Co-founded the National League for Democracy in 1988
  2. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991
  3. Won a parliamentary seat in 2012 and became Leader of the Opposition
  4. Appointed State Counsellor in 2016
  5. Detained following the 2021 military coup
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Aung San Suu Kyi born?

19 June 1945

What is Aung San Suu Kyi known for?

Politician, Diplomat, and Author

What is Aung San Suu Kyi’s marital status?

Widow

Who is Aung San Suu Kyi married to?

Late Michael Aris