2012 Edition

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 September 1988, the military deposed NE WIN and established a new ruling junta. 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 garnering 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 a senior-level dialogue with ASSK, re-registering the NLD as a political party, enabling party members, including ASSK, to contest parliamentary by-elections on 1 April 2012, the release of many (but not all) political prisoners, preliminary peace agreements with some armed ethnic groups, a reduction in media censorship, and an increasingly open debate in the Parliament.

Area

676,578 sq km 653,508 sq km 23,070 sq km

total

676,578 sq km

water

23,070 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

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

Elevation extremes

Andaman Sea 0 m Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m

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

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 none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

33.23 cu km/yr (1%/1%/98%) 658 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

658 cu m/yr (2000)

total

33.23 cu km/yr (1%/1%/98%)

Geographic coordinates

22 00 N, 98 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

Irrigated land

22,500 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

5,876 km Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

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

14.92% 1.31% 83.77% (2005)

arable land

14.92%

other

83.77% (2005)

permanent crops

1.31%

Location

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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

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, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower

Terrain

central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Total renewable water resources

1,045.6 cu km (1999)

Age structure

27.1% (male 7,534,762/ female 7,250,582) 67.8% (male 18,385,523/ female 18,627,115) 5.1% (male 1,213,487/ female 1,573,181) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

27.1% (male 7,534,762/ female 7,250,582)

15-64 years

67.8% (male 18,385,523/ female 18,627,115)

65 years and over

5.1% (male 1,213,487/ female 1,573,181) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

19.11 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

29.6% (2003)

Death rate

8.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

2% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

18,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

240,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate

47.74 deaths/1,000 live births 54.51 deaths/1,000 live births 40.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

40.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

47.74 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Burmese (official) minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Life expectancy at birth

65.24 years 62.91 years 67.71 years (2012 est.)

female

67.71 years (2012 est.)

total population

65.24 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 89.9% 93.9% 86.4% (2006 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

86.4% (2006 est.)

male

93.9%

total population

89.9%

Major cities - population

RANGOON (capital) 4.259 million; Mandalay 1.009 million; Nay Pyi Taw 992,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever and malaria leptospirosis rabies highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

animal contact disease

rabies

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria

water contact disease

leptospirosis

Maternal mortality rate

200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

27.2 years 26.7 years 27.8 years (2012 est.)

female

27.8 years (2012 est.)

male

26.7 years

total

27.2 years

Nationality

Burmese (singular and plural) Burmese

adjective

Burmese

noun

Burmese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.457 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

54,584,650 (July 2012 est.) 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

Population growth rate

1.07% (2012 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 86% of population rural: 79% of population total: 81% of population urban: 14% of population rural: 21% of population total: 19% of population

rural

21% of population

total

19% of population

urban

14% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years (2007)

total

9 years (2007)

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.77 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.77 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.23 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

34% of total population (2010) 2.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

34% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne) Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Taninthayi, Yangon Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine (Arakan), Shan Nay Pyi Taw

regions

Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Taninthayi, Yangon

states

Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine (Arakan), Shan

union territory

Nay Pyi Taw

Capital

Rangoon (Yangon) 16 48 N, 96 09 E UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital

geographic coordinates

16 48 N, 96 09 E

name

Rangoon (Yangon)

time difference

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

Constitution

approved by referendum 29 May 2008; reformed by a series of acts in 2011

Country name

Union of Burma Burma Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar) Myanma Naingngandaw Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; the US Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Derek J. MITCHELL 110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon Box B, APO AP 96546 [95] (1) 536-509, 535-756, 538-038 [95] (1) 650-306

chief of mission

Ambassador Derek J. MITCHELL

embassy

110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon

FAX

[95] (1) 650-306

mailing address

Box B, APO AP 96546

telephone

[95] (1) 536-509, 535-756, 538-038

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador THAN SWE 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 332-3344 [1] (202) 332-4351 none; Burma has a Mission to the UN in New York

chancery

2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador THAN SWE

consulate(s) general

none; Burma has a Mission to the UN in New York

FAX

[1] (202) 332-4351

telephone

[1] (202) 332-3344

Executive branch

President THEIN SEIN (since 4 February 2011); Vice President SAI MOUK KHAM (since 3 February 2011); Vice President NYAN HTUN (since 15 August 2012) President THEIN SEIN (since 4 February 2011) cabinet is appointed by the president and confirmed by the parliament 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)

cabinet

cabinet is appointed by the president and confirmed by the parliament

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)

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)

head of government

President THEIN SEIN (since 4 February 2011)

Flag description

design consists of three equal horizontal stripes of yellow (top), green, and red; centered on the green band is a large white five-pointed star that partially overlaps onto the adjacent colored stripes; the design revives the triband colors used by Burma from 1943-45, during the Japanese occupation

Government type

nominally civilian parliamentary government took power in March 2011

Independence

4 January 1948 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law (as introduced in codifications designed for colonial India) and customary law

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) last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in December 2015) 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

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

elections

last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in December 2015)

National anthem

"Kaba Ma Kyei" (Till the End of the World, Myanmar) SAYA TIN adopted 1948; Burma is among a handful of non-European nations that have anthems rooted in indigenous traditions; the beginning portion of the anthem is a traditional Burmese anthem before transitioning into a Western-style orchestrated work

lyrics/music

SAYA TIN

name

"Kaba Ma Kyei" (Till the End of the World, Myanmar)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

chinthe (mythical lion)

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

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) 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 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

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

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$2.234 billion $4.414 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$4.414 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$2.234 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9.95% (31 December 2010 est.) 12% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13% (31 December 2012 est.) 16.33% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$891.2 million (2012 est.) $96.1 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$5.448 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $5.804 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Economy - overview

Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government controls, inefficient economic policies, corruption, and rural poverty. Despite Burma's emergence as a natural gas exporter, socio-economic conditions have deteriorated under the mismanagement of the previous regime. Approximately 32% of the population lives in poverty and Burma is the poorest country in Southeast Asia. The business climate is widely perceived as opaque, corrupt, and highly inefficient. Wealth from country's ample natural resources is concentrated in the hands of an elite group of military leaders and business associates. In 2010-11, the transfer of state assets - especially real estate - to military families under the guise of a privatization policy further widened the gap between the economic elite and the public. The economy suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat, fiscal deficits, lack of commercial credit further distorted by a non-market interest rate regime, unpredictable inflation, unreliable economic data, and an inability to reconcile national accounts. Burma's poor investment climate - including weak rule of law - hampers the inflow of foreign investment; 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. Private banks still operate under tight domestic and international restrictions, limiting the private sector's access to credit. During the past decade the United States, the European Union, and Canada had imposed financial and economic sanctions on Burma. US sanctions prohibited most financial transactions with Burmese entities, imposed travel bans on senior Burmese military and civilian leaders and others connected to the ruling regime, and banned imports of Burmese products. These sanctions affected the country's fledgling garment industry, isolated the struggling banking sector, and raised the costs of doing business with Burmese companies, particularly firms tied to Burmese regime leaders. Many of these sanctions are being lifted, in response to the new liberalization that is taking place in Burma. Remittances from overseas Burmese workers - who had provided significant financial support for their families - have driven the Ministry of Finance to license domestic banks to carry out overseas operations. In 2011 the government took initial steps toward reforming and opening up the economy by lowering export taxes, easing restrictions on its financial sector, and reaching out to international organizations for assistance. 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.

Exchange rates

kyats (MMK) per US dollar - 867.6 (2012 est.) 815 (2011 est.) 5.58 (2010 est.) 1,055 (2009) 1,205 (2008)

Exports

$8.529 billion (2012 est.) $8.196 billion (2011 est.) 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)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

38.8% 19.3% 41.8% (2012 est.)

agriculture

38.8%

industry

19.3%

services

41.8% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,400 (2012 est.) $1,300 (2011 est.) $1,300 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.2% (2012 est.) 5.5% (2011 est.) 5.3% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$54.05 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$89.23 billion (2012 est.) $84.02 billion (2011 est.) $79.67 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.8% 32.4% (1998)

highest 10%

32.4% (1998)

lowest 10%

2.8%

Imports

$7.137 billion (2012 est.) $5.982 billion (2011 est.) 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)

Industrial production growth rate

4.3% (2010 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.1% (2012 est.) 5% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

16.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

33.41 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

70% 7% 23% (2001 est.)

agriculture

70%

industry

7%

services

23% (2001 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

32.7% (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.107 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $3.931 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.178 trillion (31 December 2011 est.) $1.68 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$15.66 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $11.83 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$9.965 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $8.652 billion (31 December 2011 est.) this number reflects the vastly overvalued official exchange rate of 5.38 kyat per dollar in 2007; at the unofficial black market rate of 1,305 kyat per dollar for 2007, the stock of kyats would equal only US$2.465 billion and Burma's velocity of money (the number of times money turns over in the course of a year) would be six, in line with the velocity of money for other countries in the region; in January-February 2011, the unofficial black market rate averaged 890 kyat per dollar

Taxes and other revenues

4.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.4% (2012 est.) 5.5% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

12.8 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

880 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

20,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

50 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

3.794 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

67.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

32.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.86 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

5.708 billion kWh (2009 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 - production

12.1 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

40,620 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

12,730 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

16,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

government controls all domestic broadcast media; 2 state-controlled TV stations with 1 of the stations controlled by the armed forces; 2 pay-TV stations are joint state-private ventures; access to satellite TV is limited; 1 state-controlled domestic radio station and 6 FM stations that are joint state-private ventures; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in parts of Burma; the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), BBC Burmese service, and the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) use shortwave to send broadcasts into Burma; VOA, RFA, and DVB produce daily TV news programs that are transmitted by satellite to audiences in Burma (2009)

Internet country code

.mm

Internet hosts

1,055 (2012)

Internet users

110,000 (2009)

Telephone system

meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government system barely capable of providing basic service; mobile-cellular phone system is grossly underdeveloped 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)

domestic

system barely capable of providing basic service; mobile-cellular phone system is grossly underdeveloped

general assessment

meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

521,100 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.244 million (2011)

Airports

74 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

12

2,438 to 3,047 m

11

over 3,047 m

12

total

36

under 914 m

1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

23 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

10

over 3,047 m

1

total

38

under 914 m

23 (2012)

Heliports

9 (2012)

Merchant marine

cargo 22, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 2 (Germany 1, Japan 1) 3 (Panama 3) (2010)

foreign-owned

2 (Germany 1, Japan 1)

registered in other countries

3 (Panama 3) (2010)

total

29

Pipelines

gas 3,046 km; oil 551 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe

Railways

5,031 km 5,031 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

total

5,031 km

Roadways

34,377 km (includes 358 km of expressways) (2010)

total

34,377 km (includes 358 km of expressways) (2010)

Waterways

12,800 km (2011)

Manpower available for military service

14,747,845 14,710,871 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

14,710,871 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

14,747,845

Manpower fit for military service

10,451,515 11,181,537 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

11,181,537 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

10,451,515

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

522,478 506,388 (2010 est.)

female

506,388 (2010 est.)

male

522,478

Military branches

Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) (2011)

Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)

Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) (2011)

Military expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

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 extended to 5 years in an officially declared emergency; forced conscription of children, although officially prohibited, reportedly continues; on 27 June 2012, the regime signed a Joint Action Plan on prevention of child recruitment (2012)

Disputes - international

over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries; the Naf river on the border with Bangladesh serves as a smuggling and illegal transit route; Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 29,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Arakan State, living as refugees in Cox's Bazar; Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border with Bangladesh in 2010; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Burmese forces attempting to dig in to the largely autonomous Shan State to rout local militias tied to the drug trade, prompts local residents to periodically flee into neighboring Yunnan Province in China; fencing along the India-Burma international border at Manipur's Moreh town is in progress to check illegal drug trafficking and movement of militants; 140,000 mostly Karen refugees fleeing civil strife, political upheaval and economic stagnation in Burma live in remote camps in Thailand near the border

Illicit drugs

world's third largest producer of illicit opium with an estimated production in 2009 of 250 metric tons, a decrease of 27%, and poppy cultivation in 2009 totaled 17,000 hectares, a 24% decrease from 2008; production in the United Wa State Army's areas of greatest control remains low; Shan state is the source of 94.5% of Burma's poppy cultivation; 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 (2008)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

more than 450,000 (government offensives against armed ethnic minority groups near its borders with China and Thailand) (2012)

IDPs

more than 450,000 (government offensives against armed ethnic minority groups near its borders with China and Thailand) (2012)

Trafficking in persons

Burma is a source country for women, children, and men trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; Burmese women and children are trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for commercial sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and forced labor; Burmese children are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Thailand as hawkers and beggars; women are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Malaysia and China; some trafficking victims transit Burma from Bangladesh to Malaysia and from China to Thailand; Burma's internal trafficking remains the most serious concern occurring primarily from villages to urban centers and economic hubs for labor in industrial zones, agricultural estates, and commercial sexual exploitation; the Burmese military continues to engage in the unlawful conscription of child soldiers, and continues to be the main perpetrator of forced labor inside Burma; a small number of foreign pedophiles occasionally exploit Burmese children in the country Tier 3 - the driving factors behind Burma's significant trafficking problem are the regime's gross economic mismanagement and human rights abuses, the military's continued widespread use of forced and child labor, and the recruitment of child soldiers; although the government of Burma has taken some steps to address cross-border sex trafficking, it has not demonstrated serious and sustained efforts to clamp down on military and local authorities who are themselves deriving economic benefit from forced labor practices (2010)

current situation

Burma is a source country for women, children, and men trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; Burmese women and children are trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for commercial sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and forced labor; Burmese children are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Thailand as hawkers and beggars; women are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Malaysia and China; some trafficking victims transit Burma from Bangladesh to Malaysia and from China to Thailand; Burma's internal trafficking remains the most serious concern occurring primarily from villages to urban centers and economic hubs for labor in industrial zones, agricultural estates, and commercial sexual exploitation; the Burmese military continues to engage in the unlawful conscription of child soldiers, and continues to be the main perpetrator of forced labor inside Burma; a small number of foreign pedophiles occasionally exploit Burmese children in the country

tier rating

Tier 3 - the driving factors behind Burma's significant trafficking problem are the regime's gross economic mismanagement and human rights abuses, the military's continued widespread use of forced and child labor, and the recruitment of child soldiers; although the government of Burma has taken some steps to address cross-border sex trafficking, it has not demonstrated serious and sustained efforts to clamp down on military and local authorities who are themselves deriving economic benefit from forced labor practices (2010)