Introduction
Background
Burma was a province of British India until 1937 and then a self-governing colony until independence in 1948. The military traditionally has been heavily involved in domestic politics and the national economy and ran the country for five decades following a military coup in 1962. A brief period of reform saw the election of a civilian government in 2015, but the military overthrew it in 2021. The country has been mired in an insurgency against the military junta since 2021.
Geography
Area
total: 676,578 sq km
land: 653,508 sq km
water: 23,070 sq km
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)
Natural resources
petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower, arable land
People and Society
Population
57,970,293 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
Burman (Bamar) 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%
Languages
Burmese (official)
Religions
Buddhist 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2014 est.)
Population growth rate
0.73% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
military regime
Capital
name: Rangoon (aka Yangon, continues to be recognized as the primary Burmese capital by the US Government); Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital
Executive branch
chief of state: Prime Minister, State Administration Council Chair, Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 1 August 2021); note - the military took over the government on 1 February 2021 and declared a state of emergency
head of government: Prime Minister, State Administration Council Chair, Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 1 August 2021)
Legislative branch
description: dissolved 1 February 2021; previously bicameral Assembly of the Union or Pyidaungsu consists of:
House of Nationalities or Amyotha Hluttaw, (224 seats; 168 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed and 56 appointed by the military; members serve 5-year terms)
House of Representatives or Pyithu Hluttaw, (440 seats, currently 433; 330 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 110 appointed by the military; members serve 5-year terms); note - on 1 February 2021, the military dissolved the Assembly of the Union and was replaced by the State Administration Council
Economy
Economic overview
prior to COVID-19 and the February 2021 military coup, massive declines in poverty, rapid economic growth, and improving social welfare; underdevelopment, climate change, and unequal investment threaten progress and sustainability planning; since coup, foreign assistance has ceased from most funding sources
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$216.948 billion (2021 est.)
$264.29 billion (2020 est.)
$256.16 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$4,000 (2021 est.)
$4,900 (2020 est.)
$4,800 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
rice, sugar cane, beans, vegetables, milk, maize, poultry, groundnuts, fruit, plantains
Industries
agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments; jade and gems
Remittances
2.85% of GDP (2020 est.)
3.72% of GDP (2019 est.)
3.98% of GDP (2018 est.)
Exports
$20.4 billion (2021 est.)
$17.523 billion (2019 est.)
$15.728 billion (2018 est.)
Exports - partners
China 34%, Thailand 14%, Germany 6%, Japan 5%, United States 5% (2021)
Exports - commodities
natural gas, clothing products, dried legumes, precious stones, yttrium, scandium, rice, corn (2021)
Imports
$23.1 billion (2021 est.)
$17.356 billion (2019 est.)
$18.664 billion (2018 est.)
Imports - partners
China 43%, Thailand 15%, Singapore 12%, Indonesia 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, fabrics, motorcycles, packaged medicines (2019)
Exchange rates
kyats (MMK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
1,381.619 (2020 est.)
1,518.255 (2019 est.)
1,429.808 (2018 est.)
1,360.359 (2017 est.)
1,234.87 (2016 est.)
Page last updated: Tuesday, December 26, 2023
