2019 Edition

Background

Various ethnic Burman and ethnic minority city-states or kingdoms occupied the present borders through the 19th century, and several minority ethnic groups continue to maintain independent armies and control territory within the country today, in opposition to the central government. Over a period of 62 years (1824-1886), Britain conquered Burma and incorporated all the groups within 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, following major battles on its territory during World War II, Burma attained independence from the British 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. Since independence, successive Burmese governments have fought on-and-off conflicts with armed ethnic groups seeking autonomy in the country’s mountainous border regions. 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 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient) AUNG SAN SUU KYI 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 an unknown number of people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations - popularly referred to as the Saffron Revolution. In early May 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck Burma, 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. The 2008 constitution reserves 25% of its seats to the military. Legislative elections held in November 2010, which the NLD boycotted and many in the international community considered flawed, saw the successor ruling junta's mass organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Party garner over 75% of the contested seats. The national legislature 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 were former or current military officers, the government initiated a series of political and economic reforms leading to a substantial opening of the long-isolated country. These reforms included releasing hundreds of political prisoners, signing a nationwide cease-fire with several of the country's ethnic armed groups, pursuing legal reform, and gradually reducing restrictions on freedom of the press, association, and civil society. At least due in part to these reforms, AUNG SAN SUU KYI was elected to the national legislature in April 2012 and became chair of the Committee for Rule of Law and Tranquility. Burma served as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2014. In a flawed but largely credible national legislative election in November 2015 featuring more than 90 political parties, the NLD again won a landslide victory. Using its overwhelming majority in both houses of parliament, the NLD elected HTIN KYAW, AUNG SAN SUU KYI’s confidant and long-time NLD supporter, as president. The new legislature created the position of State Counsellor, according AUNG SAN SUU KYI a formal role in the government and making her the de facto head of state. Burma's first credibly elected civilian government after more than five decades of military dictatorship was sworn into office on 30 March 2016. In March 2018, upon HTIN KYAW’s resignation, parliament selected WIN MYINT, another long-time ally of AUNG SAN SUU KYI’s, as president. Attacks in October 2016 and August 2017 on security forces in northern Rakhine State by members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a Rohingya militant group, resulted in military crackdowns on the Rohingya population that reportedly caused thousands of deaths and human rights abuses. Following the August 2017 violence, over 740,000 Rohingya fled to neighboring Bangladesh as refugees. In November 2017, the US Department of State determined that the August 2017 violence constituted ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas. The UN has called for Burma to allow access to a Fact Finding Mission to investigate reports of human rights violations and abuses and to work with Bangladesh to facilitate repatriation of Rohingya refugees, and in September 2018 the International Criminal Court (ICC) determined it had jurisdiction to investigate reported human rights abuses against Rohingyas. Burma has rejected charges of ethnic cleansing and genocide, and has chosen not to work with the UN Fact Finding Mission or the ICC. In March 2018, President HTIN KYAW announced his voluntary retirement; NLD parliamentarian WIN MYINT was named by the parliament as his successor. In February 2019, the NLD announced it would establish a parliamentary committee to examine options for constitutional reform ahead of national the elections planned for 2020.

Area

Land

653,508 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

Highest Point

Gamlang Razi 5,870 m

Lowest Point

Andaman Sea/Bay of Bengal 0 m

Mean Elevation

702 m

Environment Current Issues

deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease; rapid depletion of the country's natural resources

Environment International Agreements

Party To

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

Signed But Not Ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic Coordinates

22 00 N, 98 00 E

Geography Note

strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes; the north-south flowing Irrawaddy River is the country's largest and most important commercial waterway

Irrigated Land

22,950 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Bangladesh 271 km, China 2129 km, India 1468 km, Laos 238 km, Thailand 2416 km

Total

6,522 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

19.2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

16.5% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

2.2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

0.5% (2011 est.)

Forest

48.2% (2011 est.)

Other

32.6% (2011 est.)

Location

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

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

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, arable land

Population Distribution

population concentrated along coastal areas and in general proximity to the shores of the Irrawaddy River; the extreme north is relatively underpopulated

Terrain

central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Age Structure

0 14 Years

26.56% (male 7,556,848 /female 7,216,374)

15 24 Years

17.51% (male 4,900,092 /female 4,837,726)

25 54 Years

42.51% (male 11,577,883 /female 12,068,190)

55 64 Years

7.75% (male 2,011,057 /female 2,301,983)

65 Years And Over

5.67% (male 1,373,892 /female 1,778,461) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

17.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

18.5% (2016)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

52.2% (2015/16)

Current Health Expenditure

5.1% (2016)

Death Rate

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

8 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

12.6 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

49.7 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

41.7 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

74.4% of population

Improved Total

80.6% of population

Improved Urban

92.7% of population

Unimproved Rural

25.6% of population

Unimproved Total

19.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

7.3% of population

Education Expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

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

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

0.8% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

7,800 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

240,000 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

31.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

37.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

34.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Burmese (official)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

70.3 years

Male

67 years

Total Population

68.6 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

71.8% (2016)

Male

80%

Total Population

75.6%

Major Infectious Diseases

Animal Contact Diseases

rabies (2019)

Degree Of Risk

very high (2019)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2019)

Vectorborne Diseases

dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis (2019)

Major Urban Areas Population

5.244 million RANGOON (Yangon) (capital), 1.406 million Mandalay (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

250 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

29.4 years

Male

27.7 years

Total

28.5 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

25 years (2015/16 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Burmese

Noun

Burmese (singular and plural)

Net Migration Rate

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

5.8% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.86 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

55,622,506 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.89% (2018 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2014 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

73.9% of population (2012 est.)

Improved Total

77.4% of population (2012 est.)

Improved Urban

84.3% of population (2012 est.)

Unimproved Rural

26.1% of population (2012 est.)

Unimproved Total

22.6% of population (2012 est.)

Unimproved Urban

15.7% of population (2012 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

10 years (2017)

Male

10 years

Total

10 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.05 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.01 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.96 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.87 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.77 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.97 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.13 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

4.8% (2017 est.)

Male

3.3%

Total

4%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

1.74% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

30.9% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing), 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne), 1 union territoryregions: Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy), Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon (Rangoon); states: Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan; union territory: Nay Pyi Taw

Capital

Geographic Coordinates

16 48 N, 96 09 E

Name

Rangoon (Yangon); note - Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital

Time Difference

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

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

both parents must be citizens of Burma

Dual Citizenship Recognized

no

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

none

Constitution

Amendments

proposals require at least 20% approval by the Assembly of the Union membership; passage of amendments to sections of the constitution on basic principles, government structure, branches of government, state emergencies, and amendment procedures requires 75% approval by the Assembly and approval in a referendum by absolute majority of registered voters; passage of amendments to other sections requires only 75% Assembly approval; amended 2015 (2018)

History

previous 1947, 1974 (suspended until 2008); latest drafted 9 April 2008, approved by referendum 29 May 2008

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Union of Burma

Conventional Short Form

Burma

Etymology

both "Burma" and "Myanmar" derive from the name of the majority Burman (Bamar) ethnic group

Former

Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, Union of Myanmar

Local Long Form

Pyidaungzu Thammada Myanma Naingngandaw (translated as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar)

Local Short Form

Myanma Naingngandaw

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Scot MARCIEL (since 27 April 2016)

Embassy

110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon

Fax

[95] (1) 511-069

Mailing Address

Box B, APO AP 96546

Telephone

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

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador AUNG LYNN (since 16 September 2016)

Consulate's General

Los Angeles, New York

Fax

[1] (202) 332-4351

Telephone

[1] (202) 332-3344

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Cabinet appointments shared by the president and the commander-in-chief

Chief Of State

President WIN MYINT (since 30 March 2018); Vice Presidents MYINT SWE (since 16 March 2016) and HENRY VAN THIO (since 30 March 2016); note - President HTIN KYAW (since 30 March 2016) resigned on 21 March 2018; the president is both chief of state and head of government

Election Results

WIN MYINT elected president; Assembly of the Union vote - WIN MYINT (NLD) 403, MYINT SWE (USDP) 211, HENRY VAN THIO (NLD) 18, 4 votes canceled (636 votes cast)

Elections Appointments

president indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the full Assembly of the Union from among 3 vice-presidential candidates nominated by the Presidential Electoral College (consists of members of the lower and upper houses and military members); the other 2 candidates become vice-presidents (president elected for a 5-year term); election last held on 28 March 2018 (next to be held in 2020)

Head Of Government

President WIN MYINT (since 30 March 2018); Vice Presidents MYINT SWE (since 16 March 2016) and HENRY VAN THIO (since 30 March 2016

State Counsellor

State Counselor AUNG SAN SUU KYI (since 6 April 2016); she concurrently serves as minister of foreign affairs and minister for the office of the president

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

parliamentary republic

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, EITI (candidate country), 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

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Supreme Court of the Union (consists of the chief justice and 7-11 judges)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

chief justice and judges nominated by the president, with approval of the Lower House, and appointed by the president; judges normally serve until mandatory retirement at age 70

Subordinate Courts

High Courts of the Region; High Courts of the State; Court of the Self-Administered Division; Court of the Self-Administered Zone; district and township courts; special courts (for juvenile, municipal, and traffic offenses); courts martial

Legal System

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

Legislative Branch

Description

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)

Election Results

House of Nationalities - percent of vote by party - NLD 60.3%, USDP 4.9%, ANP 4.5%, SNLD 1.3%, other 4%, military appointees 25%; seats by party - NLD 135, USDP 11, ANP 10, SNLD 3, TNP 2, ZCD 2, other 3, independent 2, military appointees 56; composition - men 201, women 23, percent of women 10.3% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NLD 58%, USDP 6.8%, ANP 2.7%, SNLD 2.7%, military 25%, other 4.8%; seats by party - NLD 255, USDP 30, ANP 12, SNLD 12, PNO 3, TNP 3, LNDP 2, ZCD 2, other 3, independent 1, canceled due to insurgence 7, military appointees 110; composition - men 392, women 41, percent of women 9.5%

Elections

House of Nationalities - last held on 8 November 2015 (next to be held in 2020) House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2015 (next to be held in 2020)

National Anthem

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); national colors: yellow, green, red, white

Political Parties And Leaders

All Mon Region Democracy Party or AMRDP Arakan National Party or ANP (formed from the 2013 merger of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party and the Arakan League for Democracy) National Democratic Force or NDF [KHIN MAUNG SWE] National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SAN SUU KYI] National Unity Party or NUP [THAN TIN] Pa-O National Organization or PNO [AUNG KHAM HTI] People's Party [KO KO GYI] Shan Nationalities Democratic Party or SNDP [SAI AIK PAUNG] Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [KHUN HTUN OO] Ta'ang National Party or TNP [AIK MONE] Union Solidarity and Development Party or USDP [THAN HTAY] Zomi Congress for Democracy or ZCD [PU CIN SIAN THANG] numerous smaller parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

11.23 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

9.108 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2009

12%

31 December 2010

9.95%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

13%

31 December 2017

13%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$2.475 billion

2017

-$2.9 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$8.2 billion

31 December 2017

$6.594 billion

Economy Overview

Since Burma began the transition to a civilian-led government in 2011, the country initiated economic reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment and reintegrating into the global economy. Burma established a managed float of the Burmese kyat in 2012, granted the Central Bank operational independence in July 2013, enacted a new anti-corruption law in September 2013, and granted licenses to 13 foreign banks in 2014-16. State Counsellor AUNG SAN SUU KYI and the ruling National League for Democracy, who took power in March 2016, have sought to improve Burma’s investment climate following the US sanctions lift in October 2016 and reinstatement of Generalized System of Preferences trade benefits in November 2016. In October 2016, Burma passed a foreign investment law that consolidates investment regulations and eases rules on foreign ownership of businesses.Burma’s economic growth rate recovered from a low growth under 6% in 2011 but has been volatile between 6% and 7.2% during the past few years. Burma’s abundant natural resources and young labor force have the potential to attract foreign investment in the energy, garment, information technology, and food and beverage sectors. The government is focusing on accelerating agricultural productivity and land reforms, modernizing and opening the financial sector, and developing transportation and electricity infrastructure. The government has also taken steps to improve transparency in the mining and oil sectors through publication of reports under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2016 and 2018.Despite these improvements, living standards have not improved for the majority of the people residing in rural areas. Burma remains one of the poorest countries in Asia – approximately 26% of the country’s 51 million people live in poverty. The isolationist policies and economic mismanagement of previous governments have left Burma with poor infrastructure, endemic corruption, underdeveloped human resources, and inadequate access to capital, which will require a major commitment to reverse. The Burmese Government has been slow to address impediments to economic development such as unclear land rights, a restrictive trade licensing system, an opaque revenue collection system, and an antiquated banking system.

Exchange Rates

2013

984.35

2014

1,162.62

2015

1,234.87

2016

1,234.87

2017

1,361.9

Currency

kyats (MMK) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$9.085 billion

2017

$9.832 billion

Exports Commodities

natural gas; wood products; pulses and beans; fish; rice; clothing; minerals, including jade and gems

Exports Partners

China 36.5%, Thailand 21.8%, Japan 6.6%, Singapore 6.4%, India 5.9% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

21.4% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

13.8% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

59.2% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-28.6% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

33.5% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

1.5% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

24.1% (2017 est.)

Industry

35.6% (2017 est.)

Services

40.3% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$67.28 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$5,600

2016

$5,900

2017

$6,300

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$291.5 billion

2016

$308.7 billion

2017

$329.8 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

7%

2016

5.9%

2017

6.8%

Gross National Saving

2015

18.1% of GDP

2016

17.6% of GDP

2017

17.7% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

32.4% (1998)

Lowest 10

2.8%

Imports

2016

$12.81 billion

2017

$15.78 billion

Imports Commodities

fabric; petroleum products; fertilizer; plastics; machinery; transport equipment; cement, construction materials; food products‘ edible oil

Imports Partners

China 31.4%, Singapore 15%, Thailand 11.1%, Saudi Arabia 7.5%, Malaysia 6.2%, Japan 6%, India 5.5%, Indonesia 4.5% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

8.9% (2017 est.)

Industries

agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments; jade and gems

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

6.8%

2017

4%

Labor Force

22.3 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

70%

Industry

7%

Services

23% (2001 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

25.6% (2016 est.)

Public Debt

2016

35.7% of GDP

2017

33.6% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$4.63 billion

31 December 2017

$4.924 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$15.84 billion

31 December 2017

$18.78 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$23.08 billion

31 December 2017

$28.24 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$15.84 billion

31 December 2017

$18.78 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

13.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

4%

2017

4%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

27.01 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

1,824 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

11,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

139 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

39.8% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

57% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

89.5% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

14.93 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

39% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

61% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

5.205 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

17.32 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

4.502 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

14.07 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

18.41 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

637.1 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

123,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

102,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

13,330 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

less than 1 (2017 est.)

Total

404,932

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 9 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, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and Radio Australia use shortwave to broadcast in Burma; VOA, RFA, and DVB produce daily TV news programs that are transmitted by satellite to audiences in Burma; in March 2017, the government granted licenses to 5 private broadcasters, allowing them digital free-to-air TV channels to be operated in partnership with government-owned Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) and will rely upon MRTV’s transmission infrastructure (2019)

Internet Country Code

.mm

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

25.1% (July 2016 est.)

Total

14,264,308

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line is less than 1 per 100, while mobile-cellular is 87 per 100 and shows great potential for the future (2018)

General Assessment

remains one of the last underdeveloped telecoms markets in Asia; the mobile market has experienced rapid growth from 2013 to 2017, in 2014 foreign competition was allowed to compete in the market (2018)

International

country code - 95; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, SeaMeWe-5, AAE-1 and Singapore-Myanmar optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

1 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

556,112

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

87 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

47,951,228

Airports

64 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

12 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

11 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

12 (2017)

Total

36 (2017)

Under 914 M

1 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

4 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

10 (2013)

Over 3 047 M

1 (2013)

Total

28 (2013)

Under 914 M

13 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

XY (2016)

Heliports

11 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

bulk carrier 1, general cargo 41, oil tanker 5, other 48 (2018)

Total

95

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

3,365,967 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

2,029,139 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

45 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

11 (2015)

Pipelines

3739 km gas, 1321 km oil (2017)

Ports And Terminals

Major Seaport S

Mawlamyine (Moulmein), Sittwe

River Port S

Rangoon (Yangon) (Rangoon River)

Railways

Narrow Gauge

5,031 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Total

5,031 km (2008)

Roadways

Paved

34,700 km (2013)

Total

157,000 km (2013)

Unpaved

122,300 km (2013)

Waterways

12,800 km (2011)

Military And Security Forces

Burmese Defense Service (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

3.58% of GDP

2015

4.08% of GDP

2016

3.74% of GDP

2017

3.24% of GDP

2018

2.93% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for voluntary military service; no conscription (a 2010 law reintroducing conscription has not yet entered into force); 2-year service obligation; 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 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 forced child conscription; since that time, approximately 880 children have been released from military service (2015)

Disputes International

over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries; Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 912,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Rakhine 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; over 100,000 mostly Karen refugees and asylum seekers fleeing civil strife, political upheaval, and economic stagnation in Burma were living in remote camps in Thailand near the border as of May 2017

Illicit Drugs

world's second largest producer of illicit opium with an estimated poppy cultivation totaling 41,000 hectares in 2017, a decrease of 25% from the last survey in 2015; Shan state is the source of 91% 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; Burma is one of the world’s largest producers of amphetamine-type stimulants, which are trafficked throughout the region, as far afield as Australia and New Zealand

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

Idps

401,000 (government offensives against armed ethnic minority groups near its borders with China and Thailand, natural disasters, forced land evictions) (2018)

Stateless Persons

495,939 (2018); note - Rohingya Muslims, living predominantly in Rakhine State, are Burma's main group of stateless people; the Burmese Government does not recognize the Rohingya as a "national race" and stripped them of their citizenship under the 1982 Citizenship Law, categorizing them as "non-nationals" or "foreign residents"; under the Rakhine State Action Plan drafted in October 2014, the Rohingya must demonstrate their family has lived in Burma for at least 60 years to qualify for a lesser naturalized citizenship and the classification of Bengali or be put in detention camps and face deportation; native-born but non-indigenous people, such as Indians, are also stateless; the Burmese Government does not grant citizenship to children born outside of the country to Burmese parents who left the country illegally or fled persecution, such as those born in Thailand; the number of stateless persons has decreased dramatically since late 2017 because hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since 25 August 2017 to escape violence

Trafficking In Persons

Current Situation

Burma is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and for women and children subjected to sex trafficking; Burmese adult and child labor migrants travel to East Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, and the US, where men are forced to work in the fishing, manufacturing, forestry, and construction industries and women and girls are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude, or forced labor in the garment sector; some Burmese economic migrants and Rohingya asylum seekers have become forced laborers on Thai fishing boats; some military personnel and armed ethnic groups unlawfully conscript child soldiers or coerce adults and children into forced labor; domestically, adults and children from ethnic areas are vulnerable to forced labor on plantations and in mines, while children may also be subject to forced prostitution, domestic service, and begging

Tier Rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Burma does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making a significant effort toward meeting the minimum standard for eliminating human trafficking; in 2014, law enforcement continued to investigate and prosecute cross-border trafficking offenses but did little to address domestic trafficking; no civilians or government officials were prosecuted or convicted for the recruitment of child soldiers, a serious problem that is hampered by corruption and the influence of the military; victim referral and protection services remained inadequate, especially for men, and left victims vulnerable to being re-trafficked; the government coordinated anti-trafficking programs as part of its five-year national action plan (2015)