Burma Population: 55,167,330
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| Background | |
| Various ethnic Burmese and ethnic minority city-states or kingdoms occupied the present borders through the 19th century. Over a period of 62 years (1824-1886), Britain conquered Burma and incorporated the country into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; in 1948, Burma attained independence from the Commonwealth. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. In response to widespread civil unrest, NE WIN resigned in 1988, but within months the military crushed student-led protests and took power. Multiparty legislative elections in 1990 resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory. Instead of handing over power, the junta placed NLD leader (and Nobel Peace Prize recipient) AUNG SAN SUU KYI (ASSK) under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, 2000 to 2002, and from May 2003 to November 2010. In late September 2007, the ruling junta brutally suppressed protests over increased fuel prices led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations. In early May 2008, Burma was struck by Cyclone Nargis, which left over 138,000 dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless. Despite this tragedy, the junta proceeded with its May constitutional referendum, the first vote in Burma since 1990. Parliamentary elections held in November 2010, considered flawed by many in the international community, saw the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party garner over 75% of the seats. Parliament convened in January 2011 and selected former Prime Minister THEIN SEIN as president. Although the vast majority of national-level appointees named by THEIN SEIN are former or current military officers, the government has initiated a series of political and economic reforms leading to a substantial opening of the long-isolated country. These reforms have included allowing ASSK to contest parliamentary by-elections on 1 April 2012, releasing hundreds of political prisoners, reaching preliminary peace agreements with 10 of the 11 major armed ethnic groups, enacting laws that provide better protections for basic human rights, and gradually reducing restrictions on freedom of the press, association, and civil society. At least due in part to these reforms, ASSK now serves as an elected Member of Parliament and chair of the Committee for Rule of Law and Tranquility. Most political parties have begun building their institutions in preparation for the next round of general elections in 2015. The country is preparing to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014. |
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| Geography | |
| Strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes | |
| Location: | Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand |
| Geographic coordinates: | 22 00 N, 98 00 E |
| Area: | total: 676,578 sq km land: 653,508 sq km water: 23,070 sq km Size comparison: slightly smaller than Texas |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 5,876 km border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km |
| Coastline: | 1,930 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
| Climate: | tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April) |
| Terrain: | central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower |
| Land use: | arable land: 14.92% permanent crops: 1.31% other: 83.77% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 22,500 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts |
| Current Environment Issues: | deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| People | |
| Population: | 55,167,330 (July 2013 est.) note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 26.7% (male 7,514,233/female 7,227,893) 15-24 years: 18.6% (male 5,183,653/female 5,060,385) 25-54 years: 42.8% (male 11,724,297/female 11,879,420) 55-64 years: 6.7% (male 1,754,397/female 1,963,051) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 1,244,758/female 1,615,243) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 27.2 years male: 26.7 years female: 27.8 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.07% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 19.11 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 47.74 deaths/1,000 live births male: 54.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 65.24 years male: 62.91 years female: 67.71 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.21 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.6% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 240,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 18,000 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Burmese (singular and plural) adjective: Burmese |
| Ethnic groups: | Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5% |
| Religions: | Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2% |
| Languages: | Burmese (official) note: minority ethnic groups have their own languages |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.9% male: 93.9% female: 86.4% (2006 est.) |
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| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Union of Burma conventional short form: Burma local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar) local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma note: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma as well as the current parliamentary government have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; the US Government has not adopted the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw |
| Government type: | parliamentary government took power in March 2011 |
| Capital: | name: Rangoon (Yangon) geographic coordinates: 16 48 N, 96 09 E time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital |
| Administrative divisions: | 7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne) regions: Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Taninthayi, Yangon states: Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine (Arakan), Shan union territory: Nay Pyi Taw |
| Independence: | 4 January 1948 (from the UK) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947) |
| Constitution: | approved by referendum 29 May 2008; reformed by a series of acts in 2011 |
| Legal system: | mixed legal system of English common law (as introduced in codifications designed for colonial India) and customary law |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President THEIN SEIN (since 4 February 2011); Vice President SAI MOUK KHAM (since 3 February 2011); Vice President NYAN HTUN (since 15 August 2012) head of government: President THEIN SEIN (since 4 February 2011) cabinet: cabinet is appointed by the president and confirmed by the parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: THEIN SEIN elected president by the parliament from among three vice presidents; the upper house, the lower house, and military members of the parliament each nominate one vice president (president serves a five-year term) |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral, consists of the House of Nationalities [Amyotha Hluttaw] (224 seats, 168 directly elected and 56 appointed by the military; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives [Pythu Hluttaw] (440 seats, 330 directly elected and 110 appointed by the military; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in December 2015) election results: House of Nationalities - percent of vote by party - USDP 74.8%, others (NUP, SNDP, RNDP, NDF, AMRDP) 25.2%; seats by party - USDP 129, others 39; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - USDP 79.6%, others (NUP, SNDP, RNDP, NDF, AMRDP) 20.4%; seats by party - USDP 259, others 71 |
| Judicial branch: | remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not independent of the executive; the 2011 constitution calls for a Supreme Court, a Courts-Martial, and a Constitutional Tribunal of the Union |
| Political parties and leaders: | All Mon Region Democracy Party or AMRDP [NAING NGWE THEIN]; National Democratic Force or NDF [KHIN MAUNG SWE, Dr.THAN NYEIN]; National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SAN SUU KYI]; National Unity Party or NUP [TUN YE]; Rakhine Nationalities Development Party or RNDP [Dr. AYE MG]; Shan Nationalities Democratic Party [SAI AIKE PAUNG]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]; Union Solidarity and Development Party or USDP [SHWE MANN, HTAY OO]; numerous smaller parties |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Thai border: Ethnic Nationalities Council or ENC; Federation of Trade Unions-Burma or FTUB (exile trade union and labor advocates); National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB (self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government in exile); National Council-Union of Burma or NCUB (exile coalition of opposition groups); United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) Inside Burma: Kachin Independence Organization or KIO; Karen National Union or KNU; Karenni National People's Party or KNPP; United Wa State Army or UWSA; 88 Generation Students (pro-democracy movement); several other Chin, Karen, Mon, and Shan factions note: freedom of expression has been highly restricted in Burma; the restrictions are being relaxed by the government; political groups, other than parties approved by the government, are limited in number |
| International organization participation: | ADB, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador THAN SWE chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-3344 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4351 consulate(s) general: none; Burma has a Mission to the UN in New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Derek J. MITCHELL embassy: 110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546 telephone: [95] (1) 536-509, 535-756, 538-038 FAX: [95] (1) 511-069 |
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| Economy | |
| Burma is a resource-rich country but still suffers from pervasive government controls, inefficient economic policies, corruption, and rural poverty. Burma is the poorest country in Southeast Asia; approximately 32% of the population lives in poverty. Corruption is prevalent and significant resources are concentrated in the extractive industries are concentrated in a few hands. The Burmese government has initiated notable economic reforms. In October 2011, 11 private banks were allowed to trade foreign currency. On April 2, 2012, Burma's multiple exchange rates were abolished and the Central Bank of Myanmar established a managed float of the Burmese kyat. In November 2012, President THEIN SEIN signed a new Foreign Investment Law. Despite these reforms, the Burmese government has not yet embarked on broad-based macro-economic reforms or addressed key impediments to economic development such as Burma's opaque revenue collection system. Key benchmarks of economic progress would include steps to ensure the independence of the Central Bank, provide budget allocation for social services, and enact laws to protect intellectual and real property. In recent years, foreign investors have shied away from nearly every sector except for natural gas, power generation, timber, and mining. The exploitation of natural resources does not benefit the population at large. The most productive sectors will continue to be in extractive industries - especially oil and gas, mining, and timber - with the latter two causing significant environmental degradation. Other areas, such as manufacturing, tourism, and services, struggle in the face of poor infrastructure, unpredictable trade policies, undeveloped human resources (the result of neglected health and education systems), endemic corruption, and inadequate access to capital for investment. The US initially imposed sanctions on Burma in response to the 1988 military crackdown and the regime's refusal to honor the democratic opposition National League for Democray's 1990 landslide election victory under the leadership of AUNG SAN SUU KYI. In 2003, the US moved from broad-based to more targeted sanctions. In July 2012, as a result of reforms undertaken by President THEIN SEIN and his nominally civilian government, the US broadly eased restrictions on new investment in and the export of financial services to Burma. In November 2012, the US eased the import bank on Burmese products to the US with the exception of jadeite and rubies. Although the Burmese government has good economic relations with its neighbors, significant improvements in economic governance, the business climate, and the political situation are needed to promote serious foreign investment. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $89.23 billion (2012 est.) $84.02 billion (2011 est.) $79.67 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $54.05 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 6.2% (2012 est.) 5.5% (2011 est.) 5.3% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,400 (2012 est.) $1,300 (2011 est.) $1,300 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 38.8% industry: 19.3% services: 41.8% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 33.41 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 70% industry: 7% services: 23% (2001) |
| Unemployment rate: | 5.4% (2012 est.) 5.5% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 32.7% (2007 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.4% (1998) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (2012 est.) 5% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 16.3% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $2.234 billion expenditures: $4.414 billion (2012 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; fish and fish products; hardwood |
| Industries: | agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments, jade and gems |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 4.3% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 5.708 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 3.794 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 12.1 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 3.29 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 8.81 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$891.2 million (2012 est.) $96.1 million (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $8.529 billion (2012 est.) $8.196 billion (2011 est.) note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh |
| Exports - commodities: | natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing, jade and gems |
| Exports - partners: | Thailand 36.7%, China 18.8%, India 14.1%, Japan 6.6% (2011) |
| Imports: | $7.137 billion (2012 est.) $5.982 billion (2011 est.) note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India |
| Imports - commodities: | fabric, petroleum products, fertilizer, plastics, machinery, transport equipment; cement, construction materials, crude oil; food products, edible oil |
| Imports - partners: | China 38.8%, Thailand 22.6%, Singapore 9.7%, South Korea 5.4%, Malaysia 4.5%, Japan 4.1% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $4.107 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $3.931 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $5.448 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $5.804 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | kyats (MMK) per US dollar - 867.6 (2012 est.) 815 (2011 est.) 5.58 (2010 est.) 1,055 (2009) 1,205 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 April - 31 March |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 521,100 (2011) country comparison to the world: 96 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 1.244 million (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government domestic: system barely capable of providing basic service; mobile-cellular phone system is grossly underdeveloped international: country code - 95; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .mm |
| Internet hosts: | 1,055 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 110,000 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 74 (2012) country comparison to the world: 73 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 36 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 under 914 m: 1 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 38 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 23 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 9 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | gas 3,046 km; oil 551 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 5,031 km narrow gauge: 5,031 km 1.000-m gauge (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 34,377 km (includes 358 km of expressways) (2010) |
| Waterways: | 12,800 km (2011) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 29 by type: cargo 22, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, Japan 1) registered in other countries: 3 (Panama 3) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) (2013) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for compulsory military service; service obligation 2 years; male (ages 18-45) and female (ages 18-35) professionals (including doctors, engineers, mechanics) serve up to 3 years; service terms may be stretched to 5 years in an officially declared emergency; Burma signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 15 August 1991; on 27 June 2012, the regime signed a Joint Action Plan on prevention of child recruitment; in February 2013, the military formed a new task force to address force child conscription (2013) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 14,747,845 females age 16-49: 14,710,871 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 10,451,515 females age 16-49: 11,181,537 (2010 est.) |
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