Various ethnic Burmese and ethnic minority city-states or kingdoms occupied the present borders through the 19th century. Over a period of 62 years (1824-1886), Britain conquered Burma and incorporated 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, 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.

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. In early May 2008, Burma was struck by Cyclone Nargis, 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. Legislative elections held in November 2010, which the NLD boycotted and were considered flawed by many in the international community, saw the ruling 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. Burma's first credibly elected civilian government after more than five decades of military dictatorship was sworn into office on 30 March 2016.

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

22 00 N, 98 00 E

Southeast Asia

slightly smaller than Texas

1,930 km

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)

central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

highest point: Gamlang Razi 5,870 m

petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower, arable land

arable land 16.5%; permanent crops 2.2%; permanent pasture 0.5%

22,950 sq km (2012)

destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts

deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease

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

56,890,418

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

Burmese (official)

Buddhist 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%, none 0.1%

1% (2016 est.)

18.2 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

RANGOON (Yangon) (capital) 4.802 million; Mandalay 1.167 million; Nay Pyi Taw 1.03 million (2015)

21.8

178 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

2.15 children born/woman (2016 est.)

46% (2009/10)

2.3% of GDP (2014)

0.61 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2006)

urban: 92.7% of population

rural: 74.4% of population

total: 80.6% of population

urban: 7.3% of population

rural: 25.6% of population

total: 19.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 84.3% of population

rural: 73.9% of population

total: 77.4% of population

urban: 15.7% of population

rural: 26.1% of population

total: 22.6% of population (2012 est.)

0.76% (2015 est.)

224,800 (2015 est.)

9,700 (2015 est.)

2.9% (2014)

22.6% (2010)

parliamentary republic

7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing), 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne), 1 union territory

4 January 1948 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)

previous 1947, 1974 (suspended until 2008); latest approved by referendum 29 May 2008 (2016)

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

All Mon Region Democracy Party or AMRDP [NAING NGWE THEIN]

Arakan National Party or ANP [Dr. AYE MAUNG] (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 KHAN HTI]

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

Federation of Trade Unions-Burma or FTUB (exile trade union and labor advocates)

United Nationalities Federal Council or UNFC

Karen National Union or KNU

Karenni National People's Party or KNPP

United Wa State Army or UWSA

88 Generation Students (pro-democracy movement)

several other Chin, Karen, Mon, and Shan factions

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

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

chinthe (mythical lion); national colors: yellow, green, red, white

Since the transition to a civilian government in 2011, Burma has begun an economic overhaul aimed at attracting foreign investment and reintegrating into the global economy. Economic reforms have included establishing a managed float of the Burmese kyat in 2012, re-writing the Foreign Investment Law in 2012 to allow more foreign investment participation, granting the Central Bank operational independence in July 2013, enacting a new Anti-corruption Law in September 2013, and granting licenses to nine foreign banks in 2014 and four more foreign banks in 2016.

The government’s commitment to reform, and the subsequent easing of most Western sanctions, led to accelerated growth in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, growth slowed because of political uncertainty in an election year, summer floods, and external factors, including China’s slowdown and lower commodity prices. Burma’s abundant natural resources, young labor force, and proximity to Asia’s dynamic economies have attracted foreign investment in the energy sector, garment industry, information technology, and food and beverages. Pledged foreign direct investment grew from $4.1 billion in FY 2013 to $8.1 billion in FY 2014.

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 previous government’s isolationist policies and economic mismanagement 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 insecure land rights, a restrictive trade licensing system, an opaque revenue collection system, and an antiquated banking system. The newly elected government, led by AUNG SAN SUU KYI, will likely focus on accelerating agricultural productivity and land reforms, modernizing and opening the financial sector, and improving fiscal management.

$311.1 billion (2016 est.)

$287.8 billion (2015 est.)

$268.9 billion (2014 est.)

$68.28 billion (2015 est.)

8.1% (2016 est.)

7% (2015 est.)

8.7% (2014 est.)

$6,000 (2016 est.)

$5,600 (2015 est.)

$5,200 (2014 est.)

16.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

15.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

17.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

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

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

12.2% (2016 est.)

37.15 million (2016 est.)

4.8% (2016 est.)

5% (2015 est.)

32.7% (2007 est.)

13.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

-3% of GDP (2016 est.)

1 April - 31 March

7% (2016 est.)

10.8% (2015 est.)

9.95% (31 December 2010)

12% (31 December 2009)

15% (31 December 2016 est.)

13% (31 December 2015 est.)

$18.37 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$13.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$21.22 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$16.01 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$NA

-$5.665 billion (2016 est.)

-$4.879 billion (2015 est.)

$10.49 billion (2016 est.)

$9.135 billion (2015 est.)

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

China 37.7%, Thailand 25.6%, India 7.7%, Japan 6.2% (2015)

$13.96 billion (2016 est.)

$12.49 billion (2015 est.)

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

China 42.2%, Thailand 18.5%, Singapore 11%, Japan 4.8% (2015)

$8.913 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$8.463 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$9.041 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$7.407 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

kyats (MMK) per US dollar -

1,205.9 (2016 est.)

1,162.62 (2015 est.)

1,162.62 (2014 est.)

984.35 (2013 est.)

853.48 (2012 est.)

14 billion kWh (2014 est.)

11 billion kWh (2014 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

4.3 million kW (2014 est.)

24.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

75.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

15,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

2,775 bbl/day (2013 est.)

57 bbl/day (2013 est.)

50 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)

15,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)

61,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

43,880 bbl/day (2013 est.)

16.8 billion cu m (2014 est.)

4.1 billion cu m (2014 est.)

12.7 billion cu m (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

15 million Mt (2013 est.)

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 radi

.mm

XY (2016)

64 (2013)

11 (2013)

gas 3,739 km; oil 551 km (2013)

12,800 km (2011)

Burmese Defense Service (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) (2013)

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 (CRC) 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; approximately 600 children have been released from military service since the signing of the joint action plan (2015)

over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries; the Naf River on the border with Bangladesh serves as a smuggling and illegal transit route; Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 29,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Arakan 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 April 2016

world's third largest producer of illicit opium with an estimated production in 2012 of 690 metric tons, an increase of 13% over 2011, and poppy cultivation in 2012 totaled 51,000 hectares, a 17% increase over 2011; production in the United Wa State Army's areas of greatest control remains low; Shan state is the source of 94.5% 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; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption (2013)