Form of Government: Republic (currently under a military junta)
Area: 676 553 sq km
Population: 54 409 794 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 80.42 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 28° - 10° N; long. 92° - 101° E
Capital: Naypyidaw 1 160 242 inhab. (2014), urban agglomeration; Yangon=Rangoon 5 211 431 inhab. (2014), urban agglomeration
Currency: kyat (100 pyas)
Human development index: 0.583 (rank: 147)
Interim President: Myint Swe (USDP), since 1 February 2021
Prime Minister: Min Aung Hlaing, since 1 August 2021
House of Representatives (dissolved): seats based on the elections of 8 November 2020: NLD (National League for Democracy), 258; USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party), 26; others, 31; not assigned, 15; Military appointees, 110
Internet: www.csostat.gov.mm (Central Statistical Organization)
Member of ASEAN, UN, WTO
Myanmar (Burma)

International license plate code MYA
International dialling code 0095
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (required only if traveling from a country with risk of transmission, including travelers having transited more than 12 hours through the airport of a country with risk of transmission); malaria prophylaxis (recommended for some areas)
Electricity (Voltage) 230
Driving side rigth
Internet code .mm
GMT +6.30
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Yangon=Rangoon 27.5
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Yangon=Rangoon 25.5/27
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Yangon=Rangoon 4/8
Annual average precipitation (mm) Yangon=Rangoon 2625
Days of rainfall (annual average) Yangon=Rangoon 125

The legislative elections held on 8 November 2020 handed a landslide victory to the National League for Democracy (NLD), penalizing the party controlled by the military (USDP). Led by General Min Aung Hlaing, on 1 February 2021, they declared a state of emergency, dissolving the parliament and taking control of the country. Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD figures were arrested. A long series of civilian protests took place against the coup d’etat for several months, during which hundreds of people were killed by the army repression. The civilian protests were flanked by the armed actions of the People’s Defence Force, supported by some ethnic militia.
Geography.
Myanmar (Burma) is bordered by China to the north-east, Laos to the east, Thailand to the south-east and Bangladesh and India to the north-west. The Andaman Sea lies off its south-west coast and the Bay of Bengal off its west coast. It is mountainous in the west and flat in the centre. The east of the country is dominated by the massif of the Shan Plateau. The Tenasserim is the narrow coastal region in the south-west, facing the Mergui Archipelago. The main rivers are the Irrawaddy and the Salween.
The climate is tropical with an annual monsoon season.
Government
Formerly a British colony, it became an independent republic (the Union of Burma) on 4 January 1948. On 18 June 1989, it took the name of Myanmar. After the long dictatorship (1962-88) of General Ne Win, a new military junta seized power and called free elections for the new Assembly in 1990. The landslide victory of the National League for Democracy (NLD) resulted in a new military coup, which outlawed all political parties, suspended the Assembly and created a State Council to restore law and order (replaced in 1997 by the State Peace and Development Council), dissolved in 2012, when powers were formally passed to the civil authorities. In the 2015 elections, the NLD obtained a wide majority that allowed it to elect the president; Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the party and held under house arrest for many years (1989-95 and 2007-2010), became the Minister of Foreign Affairs and State Counsellor.
In 2008, a referendum was held to approve a new Constitution, leading to the dissolution of the Council of State and the institution of a Parliament, consisting of the House of Nationalities (168 members elected by direct suffrage and 56 chosen by the military) and the House of Representatives (330 elected and 110 chosen by the military), both of which serve for five years. Since 1948, guerrilla warfare has been conducted between numerous ethnic minorities (Kachin, Karen, Kokang, Mon, Palaung, Rakhine, Shan) in western and eastern states, reignited after the coup d’etat of 2021; fighting in the states of Kachin and Shan is recurrent (part of the latter is controlled by the United Party of the Wa State). In the western regions on the border with Bangladesh (Rakhine State), there is often violence by Buddhist nationalists against the Rohingya, a Muslim minority; in 2017, after an attack by ethnic Rohingya militiamen, there was a tough suppression by the military that led to many deaths and over 850 000 people fleeing to Bangladesh.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Air force | 3.7 | % | 2015 |
Army | 92.4 | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Homicides | 2.3 | per 100 000 pop. | 2016 |
Police personnel | 139.9 | per 100 000 pop. | 2015 |
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Yangon=Rangoon | 5 211 431 | inhab. | 2014 |
Mandalay | 1 225 546 | inhab. | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Yangon=Rangoon | 5 211 431 | inhab. | 2014 |
Mandalay | 1 225 546 | inhab. | 2014 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 17.397 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 8.215 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Burmese | 55.9 | % | 2000 |
other | 21.8 | % | 2000 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Buddhist | 89.9 | % | 2014 |
Christian | 6.3 | % | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Burmese (official) |
English |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 25.9 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 25.4 | % | 2020 |
Economy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 136.97 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 108.23 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 22 951 393 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 40.5 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 1.8 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 53.2 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 8 846 470 | M LCU | 2019 |
Revenues | 10 782 107 | M LCU | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 48.9 | % | 2019 |
industry | 16.1 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 23.091 | % | 2019 |
industry | 36.724 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 18 266.737 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 7 670.071 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
Primary sector.
The main crop is rice. In the drier regions of the north, and in hilly and mountainous areas other cereals are grown (maize, sorghum, wheat and millet), potatoes, sugar-cane and pulses. Opium poppies are cultivated in the mountains of the south-east (near the border with Laos and Thailand), fueling the drug trade. Livestock raising (especially cattle) is very important, and fishing is common along the coasts and in the channels of the Irrawaddy delta. The forests in the Tenasserim and in the states of Kachin and Shan are a source of prized timber (teak, bamboo and pyinkado). Extensive rubber plantations stretch along the coast of the Tenasserim.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 19.287 | % | 2018 |
forests | 44.614 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cereals, total | 28 681.784 | 1000 t | 2019 |
maize | 1 985.765 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 392.443 | 1000 t | 2019 |
potatoes | 485.823 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
garlic | 208.908 | 1000 t | 2019 |
onions, dry | 1 032.92 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 5 846.622 | 1000 t | 2019 |
chick peas | 499.438 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
castor oil seed | 13.051 | 1000 t | 2019 |
groundnuts | 1 615.715 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 530.832 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coffee | 8.769 | 1000 t | 2019 |
mustard seed | 39.64 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 11 846.176 | 1000 t | 2019 |
tobacco | 28.018 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 289.399 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
jute | 0.012 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 2 824.047 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cashew nuts | 2.043 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mangoes | 28$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
maize | 515.714 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
millet | 160.553 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 33.067 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
potatoes | 31.355 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
garlic | 28.28 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
onions, dry | 71.43 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 3 201.135 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
chick peas | 379.607 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
castor oil seed | 15.881 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
groundnuts | 1 108.664 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 48.902 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coffee | 12.772 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
mustard seed | 44.855 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 182.158 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
tobacco | 14.502 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 168.3 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
jute | 0.011 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cashew nuts | 2.244 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mangoes | 5$ | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
natural rubber | 264 943 | t | 2019 |
timber | 42 646 000 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 18 583.932 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 22 666.846 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
buffaloes | 4 082.914 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 21 603.718 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 1 309.307 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 10 940.257 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses and mules | 0.999 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
equines, total | 94.767 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 430 256 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 5.354 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
butter | 48.468 | 1000 t | 2018 |
cheese | 138.175 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 87 929.153 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 1 907 244.94 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
Secondary & tertiary sector.
Myanmar has fairly large reserves of crude oil, which is extracted on the islands off the coast and in the central part of the country (at Chauk, Lanywa, Myanaung, Taunggyi, Yenangyaung and Yenangyat). A 400-km pipeline links the oil wells to the refineries in Yangon area. There are important natural gas reserves on the west bank of the River Irrawaddy and in the Gulf of Martaban. A gas and an oil pipeline link the Bay of Bengal with Yunnan (China). Other minerals include lead (Namtu-Bawdwin), nickel (around Mogok), copper (around Monywa), zinc, tin, tungsten (in Mawchi in the state of Kayah and in Tenasserim), precious stones (jade, sapphire, ruby), gold and rare earths. There is a great deal of potential for hydroelectric power: indeed, a number of plants are found in Shan State. The food-processing industry includes rice dehusking plants and sugar refineries. There are textile factories at Thamaing, Myingyan and Yangon. Cement factories (especially in the Mandalay region), fertilizer factories, a lead foundry in Namtu and a steel mill in Yangon. The Central Bank of Myanmar is the country’s main bank
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coal | 317 | 1000 t | 2017 |
coal, total | 1 426.4 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
antimony | 6$ | 1000 t | 2020 |
copper | 153 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barite | 12.4 | 1000 t | 2019 |
bentonite | 0.6 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
dolomite | 0.9 | 1000 t | 2018 |
limestone | 4 929.8 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
gold | 1 600 | kg | 2018 |
jade | 16 397 000 | kg | 2018 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 12 807.5 | M kWh | 2019 |
- hydro | 11 988.9 | M kWh | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- hydro | 3 331 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
- thermal | 2 193 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 23 811.93 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 5 576.19 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
copper | 153 | 1000 t | 2018 |
gold, metal | 203.2 | kg | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bikes | 54 000 | no. | 2010 |
cars | 8 346 | no. | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
petrol | 378.7 | 1000 t | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
ammonia | 53$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
fertilizers | 1 169.5 | 1000 t | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cotton fabrics - m | 1.016 | M m | 2018 |
cotton yarn | 0.944 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 49.1 | 1000 t | 2011 |
coconut oil | 0.03 | 1000 t | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cigarettes | 4 554 | M units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemical pulp | 1.2 | 1000 t | 2017 |
other paper | 356 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 824 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 167.207 | M US$ | 2013 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 618 | M US$ | 2013 |
Trade
Principali esportazioni
(ml $ USA - 2008)
gas naturale 3 122, legname 908, ortaggi 723, abbigliamento e accessori 371, pesce e crostacei 293, semi oleaginosi 97, caucciù 90, riso e mais 80, calzature 61, pietre preziose e semipreziose 53
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
manufactures | 34.365 | % of goods exports | 2017 |
food products | 32.218 | % of goods exports | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Thailand | 3 377 | M US$ | 2007 |
India | 906 | M US$ | 2007 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
China | 1 981 | M US$ | 2007 |
Thailand | 1 318 | M US$ | 2007 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 214 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 4 364 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Civil aviation, km flown | 18 800 000 | km flown | 2004 |
Civil aviation, passengers carried | 3 701.7 | 1000 units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Broadband subscribers | 2.403 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
Computers | 9.2 | per 1000 pop. | 2008 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 10.67 | years | 2018 |
Graduates | 154 673 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 5 299 765 | units | 2018 |
Students, secondary level | 4 186 742 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Social protection spending | 4.553 | % of total expenses | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 1.2 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
Physicians | 0.3 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | 0.7 | % of adults | 2019 |
Malaria | 56 640 | cases | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.031 | % of GDP | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 30.3 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 68.357 | % | 2019 |