2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne)

divisions

Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon

states

Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Shan State

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 6,335,236/female 6,181,216) 15-64 years: 68.5% (male 16,011,723/female 16,449,626) 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 1,035,853/female 1,368,979) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fish and fish products

Airports

85 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1

total

21

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 18

total

64

under 914 m

32 (2006)

Area

land

657,740 sq km

total

678,500 sq km

water

20,760 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Background

Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and subsequently transferred to house arrest, where she remains virtually incommunicado. In February 2006, the junta extended her detention for another year. Her supporters, as well as all those who promote democracy and improved human rights, are routinely harassed or jailed. Geography Burma

Birth rate

17.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$947.3 million; including capital expenditures of NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$494.1 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

16 47 N, 96 10 E

name

Rangoon (Yangon)

note

Nay Pyi Taw is administrative capital

time difference

UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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)

Coastline

1,930 km

Constitution

3 January 1974; suspended since 18 September 1988; national convention convened in 1993 to draft a new constitution but collapsed in 1996; reconvened in 2004 but does not include participation of democratic opposition

Country name

conventional long form

Union of Burma

conventional short form

Burma

former

Socialist Republic of the Union of 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

note

since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decision was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the US Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw

Currency (code)

kyat (MMK)

Currency code

MMK

Current account balance

$1.247 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

9.83 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$7.162 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Shari VILLAROSA

embassy

581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)

mailing address

Box B, APO AP 96546

telephone

[95] (1) 379-880, 379-881

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MYINT LWIN

telephone

[1] (202) 332-3344

Disputes - international

over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups with substantial numbers of kin beyond its borders; despite continuing border committee talks, significant differences remain with Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; ethnic Karens flee into Thailand to escape fighting between Karen rebels and Burmese troops; in 2005 Thailand sheltered about 121,000 Burmese refugees; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmese hydroelectric dam on the Salween River near the border; environmentalists in Burma and Thailand continue to voice concern over China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province; India seeks cooperation from Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists from hiding in remote Burmese uplands

Economic aid - recipient

$127 million (2001 est.)

Economy - overview

Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government controls, inefficient economic policies, and rural poverty. The junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the economy after decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism," but those efforts stalled, and some of the liberalization measures were rescinded. Lacking monetary or fiscal stability, the economy suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including inflation, multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat, and a distorted interest rate regime. Most overseas development assistance ceased after the junta began to suppress the democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently refused to honor the results of the 1990 legislative elections. In response to the government of Burma's attack in May 2003 on AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her convoy, the US imposed new economic sanctions against Burma - including a ban on imports of Burmese products and a ban on provision of financial services by US persons. A poor investment climate further slowed the inflow of foreign exchange. The most productive sectors will continue to be in extractive industries, especially oil and gas, mining, and timber. Other areas, such as manufacturing and services, are struggling with inadequate infrastructure, unpredictable import/export policies, deteriorating health and education systems, and corruption. A major banking crisis in 2003 shuttered the country's 20 private banks and disrupted the economy. As of 2006, the largest private banks operate under tight restrictions limiting the private sector's access to formal credit. Official statistics are inaccurate. Published statistics on foreign trade are greatly understated because of the size of the black market and unofficial border trade - often estimated to be as large as the official economy. Burma's trade with Thailand, China, and India is rising. Though the Burmese government has good economic relations with its neighbors, better investment and business climates and an improved political situation are needed to promote foreign investment, exports, and tourism.

Electricity - consumption

5.869 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

6.31 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

44.5%

hydro

43.4%

nuclear

0%

other

12.1% (2002)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m

lowest point

Andaman Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease

Environment - international 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

Ethnic groups

Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%

Exchange rates

kyats per US dollar - 1,310 (2006), 5.761 (2005), 5.7459 (2004), 6.0764 (2003), 6.5734 (2002), note, these are official exchange rates; unofficial exchange rates ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar, and by year-end 2005, the unofficial exchange rate was 1,075 kyat/US dollar

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet is overseen by SPDC; military junta, so named 15 November 1997, assumed power 18 September 1988 under name State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)

chief of state

Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)

elections

none

head of government

Prime Minister, Gen SOE WIN (since 19 October 2004)

Exports

$5.289 billion f.o.b.

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 (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice

Exports - partners

Thailand 43.8%, India 12.1%, China 6.7%, Japan 5% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 332-4351

[95] (1) 256-018

consulate(s) general

New York

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Burma

Flag description

red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing, 14 white five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the seven administrative divisions and seven states Economy Burma

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

54.7%

industry

10.6%

services

34.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.6% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.845 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$83.84 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

22 00 N, 98 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes People Burma

Government type

military junta

Heliports

1 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

20,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

330,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

32.4% (1998)

lowest 10%

2.8%

IDPs

540,000 (government offensives against ethnic insurgent groups near the eastern borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen, Karenni, Shan, Tavoyan, and Mon) (2006)

Illicit drugs

remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium (estimated production in 2004 - 292 metric tons, down 40% from 2003 due to eradication efforts and drought; cultivation in 2004 - 30,900 hectares, a 34% decline from 2003); lack of government will to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption; currently under Financial Action Task Force countermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequate money-laundering controls (2005) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$2.049 billion f.o.b.

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 (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

fabric, petroleum products, plastics, machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, crude oil; food products

Imports - partners

China 28.8%, Thailand 21.8%, Singapore 18.4%, Malaysia 7.6% (2005)

Independence

4 January 1948 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; cement; natural gas

Infant mortality rate

female

50.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

72.68 deaths/1,000 live births

total

61.85 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

21.4% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.mm

Internet hosts

42 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1

note

as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only for the government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)

Internet users

78,000 (2005) Transportation Burma

Investment (gross fixed)

11.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

18,700 sq km (2003)

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

Labor force

28.49 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

70%

industry

7%

services

23% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

total

5,876 km

Land use

arable land

14.92%

other

83.77% (2005)

permanent crops

1.31%

Languages

Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Legal system

has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government), other 60

elections

last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never allowed by junta to convene

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.03 years (2006 est.)

male

58.07 years

total population

60.97 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

81.4% (2002) Government Burma

male

89.2%

total population

85.3%

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

note

highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

12,469,771 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

12,268,850

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

8,543,705 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

7,946,701

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females

455,689 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

469,841

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

27.6 years (2006 est.)

male

26.4 years

total

27 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 8, cargo 20, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned

9 (Germany 5, Japan 4) (2006)

total

34 ships (1000 GRT or over) 402,699 GRT/620,642 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$39 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.1% (FY97) Transnational Issues Burma

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes (2004)

Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)

Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)

Nationality

adjective

Burmese

noun

Burmese (singular and plural)

Natural gas - consumption

2.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

7.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

10.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts

Natural resources

petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

37,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

3,356 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports

49,230 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - production

18,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

less than 1 billion bbl (2005)

Pipelines

gas 2,224 km; oil 558 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP (pro-regime) [TUN YE]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]; and other smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Ethnic Nationalities Council or ENC (based in Thailand); 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 parallel government in exile); Kachin Independence Organization or KIO; Karen National Union or KNU; Karenni National People's Party or KNPP; National Council-Union of Burma or NCUB (exile coalition of opposition groups); several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-regime, a social and political mass-member organization) [HTAY OO, general secretary]; 88 Generation Students (pro-democracy movement) [MIN KO]

Population

47,382,633

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 and death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

25% (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.81% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe Military Burma

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1 (2004)

Radios

4.2 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

total

3,955 km

Religions

Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$932 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

3,200 km

total

27,000 km

unpaved

23,800 km (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

barely meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government; international service is fair

international

country code - 95; satellite earth station - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean), and ShinSat

Telephones - main lines in use

476,200 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

183,400 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

2 (2004)

Televisions

320,000 (2000)

Terrain

central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Total fertility rate

1.98 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Burma is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for sexual exploitation, domestic service, and forced commercial labor; a significant number of victims are economic migrants who wind up in forced or bonded labor and forced prostitution; to a lesser extent, Burma is a country of transit and destination for women trafficked from China for sexual exploitation; internal trafficking of persons occurs primarily for labor in industrial zones and agricultural estates; internal trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation occurs from villages to urban centers and other areas; the military junta's economic mismanagement, human rights abuses, and policy of using forced labor are driving factors behind Burma's large trafficking problem

tier rating

Tier 3 - Burma does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so

Unemployment rate

10.2% (2006 est.)

Waterways

12,800 km (2005)