

Topic: Introduction
Background: Burma was a province of British India until 1937 and then a self-governing colony until independence in 1948.  Military governments have generally led the country since.  Recent years have seen a series of reforms leading to a substantial opening of the long-isolated country.Burma was a province of British India until 1937 and then a self-governing colony until independence in 1948.  Military governments have generally led the country since.  Recent years have seen a series of reforms leading to a substantial opening of the long-isolated country.

Topic: 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

Topic: People and Society
Population: 57,526,449 (2022 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: 0.78% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Nay Pyi Taw (note - Yangon, aka Rangoon, is the former capital)
Executive branch: chief of state: Prime Minister, State Administration Council (SAC) Chair, Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 1 August 2021); note - MIN AUNG HLAING self-appointed himself to the role of prime minister of a “caretaker” provisional government that subsumed the SAC on 1 August 2021; the SAC, chaired by MIN AUNG HLAING, has served as the executive governing body since 2 February 2021, following the 1 February 2021 military takeover of the government and the declaration of a state of emergency and still exists under the provisional government according to state media

head of government: Prime Minister, State Administration Council (SAC) Chair, Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 1 August 2021); MIN AUNG HLAING self-appointed himself to the role of prime minister of a “caretaker” provisional government that subsumed the SAC on 1 August 2021
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); note - on 1 February 2021, the military dissolved the Assembly of the Union; the State Administration Council (SAC) governs in place of the Assembly of the Union

Topic: 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 sourcesprior 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): $247.24 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $4,500 (2020 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
Exports: $17.52 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners: China 24%, Thailand 24%, Japan 7%, Germany 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, clothing products, rice, copper, dried legumes (2019)
Imports: $17.36 billion (2019 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 -Page last updated: Tuesday, Aug 02, 2022