1. BURMA/MYANMAR
Asia

2. GENERAL FACTS ABOUT
MYANMAR/BURMA
Country Name
The Union of Burma (January, 1948 – January, 1974)
The Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (January, 1974 – September, 1988)
The Union of Myanmar (1989 - Present)
Independence Day -January 4, 1948
(Independence from the British colonial rule from 1885 – 1947)
Country Size
261,218 square miles – the largest country in South East Asia

3. The coordinates of Burma is located with a
latitude of 21 degrees North and a longitude of
95 degrees East
Myanmar is located to the east of India and west
of China, as well as a widespread border with
Thailand to the south. Laos and Bangladesh also
share relatively small borders with Myanmar.
Myanmar is shaped with a panhandle similar to
Oklahoma that runs along the western side of
Thailand. Myanmar is located south the Plateau
of Tibet, to the west of the Indochina Peninsula,
and north of the Malay Peninsula.
The capital of Myanmar is Yangon or otherwise
known as Rangoon.

4. Water Myanmar has several water
masses surrounding the
southern coast. The Bay of
Bengal is on the southwestern
coast, the Gulf of Martaban is
located south of Myanmar’s
capital Yangon, and the
Andaman Sea is located on the
western side of the panhandle.

5. The Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwady
River is Myanmar’s major river,
this river runs South across the
country

6. The Chindwin River is the
major branch of the
Ayeyarwady River.

7. Sittaung River lies in east central Myanmar,
rising northeast of Yamethin on the edge of
the Shan Plateau and flowing south to
empty into the Gulf of Martaban of the
Andaman Sea.
The Thanlwin River (Salween) leaves China
and strolls through Myanmar and Thailand
on its way to emptying in the Andaman Sea
by Mawlamyine

8. Population
• 50,519,000
• Male - 49.7 %
• Female - 50.3 %
70 % of total population lives in rural area
Religion
Major language
Buddhism - 89.2%
Burmese (official language) and ethnic languages;
Shan, Kachin, Kayar, Mon etc. Christianity (5.0%)
Islam (3.8%)
Hinduism 0.5%
Spiritualism (1.2%)
Others (0.2%)

9. The average life expectancy for a
male is 57.35 years and for a female
62.93 years. There is a 1.20
percentage of the population with
HIV/AIDS. About one third
(29.3%) of the population is under
the age of 15 and only 4.60 % of the
population over the age of 65.
http://youtu.be/34ym9QciLc4

10. Currency
Kyats (K) (1 kyat = 100 pyas)
Main exports
Teak, Jade, Gems, pulses and beans, prawns, fish,
rice, opiates, oil and natural gas

11. Government
Military Junta (de facto Military Dictatorship)
The State Peace and Development Council
(Renamed the State Law and Order Restoration
Council in 1997)
Head of the State
Senior General Than Shwe
Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Military Commander- in-Chief
(April, 1992 – Present)

12. Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government controls, inefficient
economic policies, and rural poverty. The junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the
economy after decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism," but those efforts
stalled, and some of the liberalization measures were rescinded. Lacking monetary or fiscal
stability, the economy suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including inflation,
multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat, and a distorted interest rate
regime. Most overseas development assistance ceased after the junta began to suppress the
democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently refused to honor the results of the 1990
legislative elections. In response to the government of Burma's attack in May 2003 on
AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her convoy, the US imposed new economic sanctions against
Burma - including a ban on imports of Burmese products and a ban on provision of
financial services by US persons. A poor investment climate further slowed the inflow of
foreign exchange. The most productive sectors will continue to be in extractive industries,
especially oil and gas, mining, and timber. Other areas, such as manufacturing and services,
are struggling with inadequate infrastructure, unpredictable import/export policies,
deteriorating health and education systems, and corruption. A major banking crisis in 2003
shuttered the country's 20 private banks and disrupted the economy. As of 2006, the largest
private banks operate under tight restrictions limiting the private sector's access to formal
credit. Official statistics are inaccurate. Published statistics on foreign trade are greatly
understated because of the size of the black market and unofficial border trade - often
estimated to be as large as the official economy. Burma's trade with Thailand, China, and
India is rising. Though the Burmese government has good economic relations with its
neighbors, better investment and business climates and an improved political situation are
needed to promote foreign investment, exports, and tourism.