|
|
Burma
Main Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
Background:
|
Britain
conquered
Burma
over a
period
of 62
years
(1824-1886)
and
incorporated
it into
its
Indian
Empire.
Burma
was
administered
as a
province
of India
until
1937
when it
became a
separate,
self-governing
colony;
independence
from the
Commonwealth
was
attained
in 1948.
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
September
1988,
the
military
deposed
NE WIN
and
established
a new
ruling
junta.
Despite
multiparty
legislative
elections
in 1990
that
resulted
in the
main
opposition
party -
the
National
League
for
Democracy
(NLD) -
winning
a
landslide
victory,
the
junta
refused
to hand
over
power.
NLD
leader
and
Nobel
Peace
Prize
recipient
AUNG SAN
SUU KYI,
who was
under
house
arrest
from
1989 to
1995 and
2000 to
2002,
was
imprisoned
in May
2003 and
subsequently
transferred
to house
arrest.
She was
finally
released
in
November
2010.
After
the
ruling
junta in
August
2007
unexpectedly
increased
fuel
prices,
tens of
thousands
of
Burmese
marched
in
protest,
led by
prodemocracy
activists
and
Buddhist
monks.
In late
September
2007,
the
government
brutally
suppressed
the
protests,
killing
at least
13
people
and
arresting
thousands
for
participating
in the
demonstrations.
Since
then,
the
regime
has
continued
to raid
homes
and
monasteries
and
arrest
persons
suspected
of
participating
in the
pro-democracy
protests.
Burma in
early
May 2008
was
struck
by
Cyclone
Nargis
which
official
estimates
claimed
left
over
80,000
dead and
50,000
injured.
Despite
this
tragedy,
the
junta
proceeded
with its
May
constitutional
referendum,
the
first
vote in
Burma
since
1990.
Parliamentary
elections
held in
November
2010,
considered
flawed
by many
in the
international
community,
saw the
junta's
Union
Solidarity
and
Development
Party
garnering
over 70
percent
of the
seats.
Parliament
is
constitutionally
mandated
to
convene
within
90 days
of the
election;
the
president,
two vice
presidents,
and
ministers
will be
selected
at that
time.
|
|
|
|
Location:
|
Southeastern
Asia,
bordering
the
Andaman
Sea and
the Bay
of
Bengal,
between
Bangladesh
and
Thailand
|
|
Geographic
coordinates:
|
22
00 N, 98
00 E
|
|
Map
references:
|
Southeast
Asia
|
|
Area:
|
total:
676,578
sq km
country
comparison
to the
world:
land:
653,508
sq km
water:
23,070
sq km
|
|
Area
-
comparative:
|
slightly
smaller
than
Texas
|
|
Land
boundaries:
|
total:
5,876
km
border
countries:
Bangladesh
193 km,
China
2,185
km,
India
1,463
km, Laos
235 km,
Thailand
1,800 km
|
|
Coastline:
|
1,930
km
|
|
Maritime
claims:
|
territorial
sea: 12
nm
contiguous
zone: 24
nm
exclusive
economic
zone: 200
nm
continental
shelf: 200
nm or to
the edge
of the
continental
margin
|
|
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)
|
|
Terrain:
|
central
lowlands
ringed
by
steep,
rugged
highlands
|
|
Elevation
extremes:
|
lowest
point: Andaman
Sea 0 m
highest
point: Hkakabo
Razi
5,881 m
|
|
Natural
resources:
|
petroleum,
timber,
tin,
antimony,
zinc,
copper,
tungsten,
lead,
coal,
marble,
limestone,
precious
stones,
natural
gas,
hydropower
|
|
Land
use:
|
arable
land: 14.92%
permanent
crops: 1.31%
other:
83.77%
(2005)
|
|
Irrigated
land:
|
18,700
sq km
(2003)
|
|
Total
renewable
water
resources:
|
1,045.6
cu km
(1999)
|
|
Freshwater
withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural):
|
total:
33.23
cu km/yr
(1%/1%/98%)
per
capita: 658
cu m/yr
(2000)
|
|
Natural
hazards:
|
destructive
earthquakes
and
cyclones;
flooding
and
landslides
common
during
rainy
season
(June to
September);
periodic
droughts
|
|
Environment
-
current
issues:
|
deforestation;
industrial
pollution
of air,
soil,
and
water;
inadequate
sanitation
and
water
treatment
contribute
to
disease
|
|
Environment
-
international
agreements:
|
party
to: Biodiversity,
Climate
Change,
Climate
Change-Kyoto
Protocol,
Desertification,
Endangered
Species,
Law of
the Sea,
Ozone
Layer
Protection,
Ship
Pollution,
Tropical
Timber
83,
Tropical
Timber
94
signed,
but not
ratified:
none
of the
selected
agreements
|
|
Geography
- note:
|
strategic
location
near
major
Indian
Ocean
shipping
lanes
|
|
|
|
Population:
|
53,414,374
country
comparison
to the
world:
note:
estimates
for this
country
take
into
account
the
effects
of
excess
mortality
due to
AIDS;
this can
result
in lower
life
expectancy,
higher
infant
mortality,
higher
death
rates,
lower
population
growth
rates,
and
changes
in the
distribution
of
population
by age
and sex
than
would
otherwise
be
expected
(July
2010
est.)
|
|
Age
structure:
|
0-14
years: 25.3%
(male
6,193,263/female
5,990,658)
15-64
years: 69.3%
(male
16,510,648/female
16,828,462)
65
years
and
over: 5.4%
(male
1,121,412/female
1,493,298)
(2010
est.)
|
|
Median
age:
|
total:
26.5
years
male:
26
years
female:
27.1
years
(2010
est.)
|
|
Population
growth
rate:
|
1.096%
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world: |
|
Birth
rate:
|
19.49
births/1,000
population
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world: |
|
Death
rate:
|
8.23
deaths/1,000
population
(July
2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world: |
|
Net
migration
rate:
|
-0.31
migrant(s)/1,000
population
country
comparison
to the
world: |
|
Urbanization:
|
urban
population:
33%
of total
population
(2008)
rate
of
urbanization:
2.9%
annual
rate of
change
(2005-10
est.)
|
|
Sex
ratio:
|
at
birth: 1.06
male(s)/female
under
15
years: 1.04
male(s)/female
15-64
years: 0.99
male(s)/female
65
years
and
over: 0.77
male(s)/female
total
population:
0.99
male(s)/female
(2010
est.)
|
|
Infant
mortality
rate:
|
total:
50.76
deaths/1,000
live
births
country
comparison
to the
world:
male:
57.85
deaths/1,000
live
births
female:
43.24
deaths/1,000
live
births
(2010
est.)
|
|
Life
expectancy
at birth:
|
total
population:
64.52
years
country
comparison
to the
world:
male:
62.23
years
female:
66.94
years
(2010
est.)
|
|
Total
fertility
rate:
|
2.28
children
born/woman
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world: |
|
HIV/AIDS
- adult
prevalence
rate:
|
0.7%
(2007
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world: |
|
HIV/AIDS
- people
living
with
HIV/AIDS:
|
240,000
(2007
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world: |
|
HIV/AIDS
- deaths:
|
25,000
(2007
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world: |
|
Major
infectious
diseases:
|
degree
of risk:
very
high
food
or
waterborne
diseases:
bacterial
and
protozoal
diarrhea,
hepatitis
A, and
typhoid
fever
vectorborne
diseases:
dengue
fever
and
malaria
water
contact
disease:
leptospirosis
animal
contact
disease:
rabies
note:
highly
pathogenic
H5N1
avian
influenza
has been
identified
in this
country;
it poses
a
negligible
risk
with
extremely
rare
cases
possible
among US
citizens
who have
close
contact
with
birds
(2009)
|
|
Nationality:
|
noun:
Burmese
(singular
and
plural)
adjective:
Burmese
|
|
Ethnic
groups:
|
Burman
68%,
Shan 9%,
Karen
7%,
Rakhine
4%,
Chinese
3%,
Indian
2%, Mon
2%,
other 5%
|
|
Religions:
|
Buddhist
89%,
Christian
4%
(Baptist
3%,
Roman
Catholic
1%),
Muslim
4%,
animist
1%,
other 2%
|
|
Languages:
|
Burmese
(offical)
minority
ethnic
groups
have
their
own
languages
|
|
Literacy:
|
definition:
age
15 and
over can
read and
write
total
population:
89.9%
male:
93.9%
female:
86.4%
(2006
est.)
|
|
School
life
expectancy
(primary
to
tertiary
education):
|
total:
9
years
male:
8
years
female:
8
years
(2007)
|
|
Education
expenditures:
|
1.2%
of GDP
(2001)
country
comparison
to the
world:
|
|
|
|
Country
name:
|
conventional
long
form: Union
of Burma
conventional
short
form: Burma
local
long
form: Pyidaungzu
Myanma
Naingngandaw
(translated
by the
US
Government
as Union
of
Myanma
and by
the
Burmese
as Union
of
Myanmar)
local
short
form: Myanma
Naingngandaw
former:
Socialist
Republic
of the
Union of
Burma
note:
since
1989 the
military
authorities
in Burma
have
promoted
the name
Myanmar
as a
conventional
name for
their
state;
the US
Government
did not
adopt
the
name,
which is
a
derivative
of the
Burmese
short-form
name
Myanma
Naingngandaw
|
|
Government
type:
|
military
regime
|
|
Capital:
|
name:
Rangoon
(Yangon)
geographic
coordinates:
16
48 N, 96
09 E
time
difference:
UTC+6.5
(11.5
hours
ahead of
Washington,
DC
during
Standard
Time)
note:
Nay
Pyi Taw
is
administrative
capital
|
|
Administrative
divisions:
|
7
divisions
(taing-myar,
singular
- taing)
and 7
states*
(pyi
ne-myar,
singular
- pyi ne)
divisions:
Ayeyarwady,
Bago,
Magway,
Mandalay,
Sagaing,
Tanintharyi,
Yangon
states:
Chin,
Kachin,
Kayah,
Kayin,
Mon,
Rakhine
(Arakan),
Shan
|
|
Independence:
|
4
January
1948
(from
the UK)
|
|
National
holiday:
|
Independence
Day, 4
January
(1948);
Union
Day, 12
February
(1947)
|
|
Constitution:
|
3
January
1974;
suspended
since 18
September
1988; a
constitution
officially
received
92.48%
support
in a
flawed
May 2008
referendum
that
most
observers
judged
fell far
short of
international
standards
of free
and fair
elections;
note - a
new
constitution
is to
take
effect
when a
parliament
is
convened
possibly
in late
January
2011
|
|
Legal
system:
|
based
on
English
common
law; has
not
accepted
compulsory
ICJ
jurisdiction
|
|
Suffrage:
|
18
years of
age;
universal
|
|
Executive
branch:
|
chief
of
state: Chairman
of the
State
Peace
and
Development
Council
(SPDC)
Sr. Gen.
THAN
SHWE
(since
23 April
1992)
head
of
government:
Prime
Minister
Lt. Gen
THEIN
SEIN
(since
24
October
2007)
cabinet:
Cabinet
is
overseen
by the
military
regime
that
assumed
power 18
September
1988
under
the name
State
Law and
Order
Restoration
Council
(SLORC);
changed
in 1997
to SPDC
(For
more
information
visit the
World
Leaders
website )
elections:
none
|
|
Legislative
branch:
|
bicameral,
consists
of the
House of
Nationalities
[Amyotha
Hluttaw]
(224
seats,
168
directly
elected
and 56
appointed
by the
military;
members
serve
five-year
terms)
and the
House of
Representatives
[Pythu
Hluttaw]
(440
seats,
330
directly
elected
and 110
appointed
by the
military;
members
serve
five-year
terms)
elections:
last
held on
7
November
2010
(next to
be held
in
December
2015)
election
results:
House
of
Nationalities
-
percent
of vote
by party
- USDP
74.8%,
others (NUP,
SNDP,
RNDP,
NDF,
AMRDP)
25.2%;
seats by
party -
USDP
129,
others
39;
House of
Representatives
-
percent
of vote
by party
- USDP
79.6%,
others (NUP,
SNDP,
RNDP,
NDF,
AMRDP)
20.4%;
seats by
party -
USDP
259,
others
66
|
|
Judicial
branch:
|
remnants
of the
British-era
legal
system
are in
place,
but
there is
no
guarantee
of a
fair
public
trial;
the
judiciary
is not
independent
of the
executive
|
|
Political
parties
and
leaders:
|
All
Mon
Region
Democracy
Party or
AMRDP;
National
Democratic
Force or
NDF [KHIN
MAUNG
SWE];
National
League
for
Democracy
or NLD [AUNG
SHWE,
AUNG SAN
SUU KYI];
note -
the
party is
defunct
because
it did
not
register
for the
2010
election;
National
Unity
Party or
NUP [TUN
YE];
Rakhine
Nationalities
Development
Party or
RNDP;
Shan
Nationalities
League
for
Democracy
or SNLD
[HKUN
HTUN OO];
Union
Solidarity
and
Development
Party or
USDP [THEIN
SEIN];
numerous
smaller
parties
|
|
Political
pressure
groups
and
leaders:
|
Thai
border: Ethnic
Nationalities
Council
or ENC;
Federation
of Trade
Unions-Burma
or FTUB
(exile
trade
union
and
labor
advocates);
National
Coalition
Government
of the
Union of
Burma or
NCGUB
(self-proclaimed
government
in
exile)
["Prime
Minister"
Dr. SEIN
WIN]
consists
of
individuals,
some
legitimately
elected
to the
People's
Assembly
in 1990
(the
group
fled to
a border
area and
joined
insurgents
in
December
1990 to
form a
parallel
government
in
exile);
National
Council-Union
of Burma
or NCUB
(exile
coalition
of
opposition
groups)
Inside
Burma: Kachin
Independence
Organization
or KIO;
Karen
National
Union or
KNU;
Karenni
National
People's
Party or
KNPP;
Union
Solidarity
and
Development
Association
or USDA
(pro-regime,
a social
and
political
mass-member
organization)
[HTAY OO,
general
secretary]
became
the
Union
Solidarity
and
Development
Party in
2010;
United
Wa State
Army or
UWSA; 88
Generation
Students
(pro-democracy
movement);
several
other
Shan
factions
|
|
International
organization
participation:
|
ADB,
ARF,
ASEAN,
BIMSTEC,
CP, EAS,
FAO,
G-77,
IAEA,
IBRD,
ICAO,
ICRM,
IDA,
IFAD,
IFC,
IFRCS,
IHO, ILO,
IMF,
IMO,
Interpol,
IOC, ISO
(correspondent),
ITU,
NAM,
OPCW
(signatory),
SAARC
(observer),
UN,
UNCTAD,
UNESCO,
UNIDO,
UPU, WCO,
WHO,
WIPO,
WMO, WTO
|
|
Diplomatic
representation
in the
US:
|
chief
of
mission:
Ambassador
(vacant);
Charge
d'Affaires
HAN THU
- note:
Burma
does not
have an
ambassador
to the
United
States
chancery:
2300
S Street
NW,
Washington,
DC 20008
telephone:
[1]
(202)
332-3344
FAX:
[1]
(202)
332-4351
consulate(s)
general:
none;
Burma
has a
Mission
to the
UN in
New York
|
|
Diplomatic
representation
from the
US:
|
chief
of
mission:
Charge
d'Affaires
Larry M.
DINGER -
note:
The
United
States
does not
have an
ambassador
to Burma
embassy:
110
University
Avenue,
Kamayut
Township,
Rangoon
mailing
address:
Box
B, APO
AP 96546
telephone:
[95]
(1)
536-509,
535-756,
538-038
FAX:
[95]
(1)
650-306
|
|
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
|
|
National
anthem:
|
name:
"Kaba
Ma Kyei"
(Till
the End
of the
World,
Myanmar)
lyrics/music:
SAYA
TIN
note:
adopted
1948;
Burma is
among a
handful
of
non-European
nations
that
have
anthems
rooted
in
indigenous
traditions;
the
beginning
portion
of the
anthem
is a
traditional
Burmese
anthem
before
transitioning
into a
Western-style
orchestrated
work
|
|
|
|
Economy
-
overview:
|
Burma,
a
resource-rich
country,
suffers
from
pervasive
government
controls,
inefficient
economic
policies,
corruption,
and
rural
poverty.
Despite
Burma's
emergence
as a
natural
gas
exporter,
socio-economic
conditions
have
deteriorated
under
the
regime's
mismanagement,
leaving
most of
the
public
in
poverty,
while
military
leaders
and
their
business
cronies
exploit
the
country's
ample
natural
resources.
The
economy
suffers
from
serious
macroeconomic
imbalances
-
including
rising
inflation,
fiscal
deficits,
multiple
official
exchange
rates
that
overvalue
the
Burmese
kyat, a
distorted
interest
rate
regime,
unreliable
statistics,
and an
inability
to
reconcile
national
accounts
to
determine
a
realistic
GDP
figure.
Burma's
poor
investment
climate
hampers
the
inflow
of
foreign
investment;
in
recent
years,
foreign
investors
have
shied
away
from
nearly
every
sector
except
for
natural
gas,
power
generation,
timber,
and
mining.
The
business
climate
is
widely
perceived
as
opaque,
corrupt,
and
highly
inefficient.
Over 60%
of the
FY
2009-10
budget
is
allocated
to state
owned
enterprises
- most
operating
at a
deficit.
The
government
has
recently
privatized
a number
of state
owned
enterprises,
but most
of the
benefits
have
accrued
to
regime
insiders
and
cronies.
The most
productive
sectors
will
continue
to be in
extractive
industries
-
especially
oil and
gas,
mining,
and
timber -
with the
latter
two
causing
significant
environmental
degradation.
Other
areas,
such as
manufacturing,
tourism
and
services,
struggle
in the
face of
inadequate
infrastructure,
unpredictable
trade
policies,
neglected
health
and
education
systems,
and
endemic
corruption.
A major
banking
crisis
in 2003
caused
20
private
banks to
close;
private
banks
still
operate
under
tight
restrictions,
limiting
the
private
sector's
access
to
credit.
The
United
States,
the
European
Union,
Canada,
and
Australia
have
imposed
financial
and
economic
sanctions
on
Burma,
prohibiting
most
financial
transactions
with
Burmese
entities,
imposing
travel
bans on
Burmese
officials
and
others
connected
to the
ruling
regime,
and
banning
imports
of
certain
Burmese
products.
These
sanctions
affected
the
country's
fledgling
garment
industry,
isolated
the
struggling
banking
sector,
and
raised
the
costs of
doing
business
with
Burmese
companies,
particularly
firms
tied to
Burmese
regime
leaders.
The
global
crisis
of
2008-09
caused
exports
and
domestic
consumer
demand
to drop.
Remittances
from
overseas
Burmese
workers
- who
had
provided
significant
financial
support
for
their
families
- slowed
or dried
up as
jobs
were
lost and
migrant
workers
returned
home.
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
serious
foreign
investment,
exports,
and
tourism.
|
|
GDP
(purchasing
power
parity):
|
$60.07
billion
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
$58.27
billion
(2009
est.)
$57.24
billion
(2008
est.)
note:
data
are in
2010 US
dollars
|
|
GDP
(official
exchange
rate):
|
$35.65
billion
(2010
est.)
|
|
GDP
- real
growth
rate:
|
3.1%
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
117
1.8%
(2009
est.)
1.1%
(2008
est.)
|
|
GDP
- per
capita
(PPP):
|
$1,100
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
209
$1,100
(2009
est.)
$1,100
(2008
est.)
note:
data
are in
2010 US
dollars
|
|
GDP
-
composition
by
sector:
|
agriculture:
43.2%
industry:
20%
services:
36.8%
(2010
est.)
|
|
Labor
force:
|
31.68
million
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
18 |
|
Labor
force -
by
occupation:
|
agriculture:
70%
industry:
7%
services:
23%
(2001
est.)
|
|
Unemployment
rate:
|
5.7%
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
56
4.9%
(2009
est.)
|
|
Population
below
poverty
line:
|
32.7%
(2007
est.)
|
|
Household
income
or
consumption
by
percentage
share:
|
lowest
10%: 2.8%
highest
10%: 32.4%
(1998)
|
|
Investment
(gross
fixed):
|
15.1%
of GDP
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
129 |
|
Inflation
rate
(consumer
prices):
|
9.6%
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
197
1.5%
(2009
est.)
|
|
Central
bank
discount
rate:
|
12%
(31
December
2009)
country
comparison
to the
world:
34
12%
(31
December
2008)
|
|
Commercial
bank
prime
lending
rate:
|
17%
(31
December
2009
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
33
17%
(31
December
2008
est.)
|
|
Stock
of
narrow
money:
|
$4.907
billion
(31
December
2010 est)
country
comparison
to the
world:
89
$4.038
billion
(31
December
2009 est)
note:
this
number
reflects
the
vastly
overvalued
official
exchange
rate of
5.38
kyat per
dollar
in 2007;
at the
unofficial
black
market
rate of
1,305
kyat per
dollar
for
2007,
the
stock of
kyats
would
equal
only
US$2.465
billion
and
Burma's
velocity
of money
(the
number
of times
money
turns
over in
the
course
of a
year)
would be
six, in
line
with the
velocity
of money
for
other
countries
in the
region;
in 2009,
the
unofficial
black
market
rate
averaged
1,090
kyat per
dollar.
|
|
Stock
of broad
money:
|
$7.8
billion
(31
December
2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
108
$6.231
billion
(31
December
2009
est.)
|
|
Stock
of
domestic
credit:
|
$8.552
billion
(31
December
2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
98
$6.858
billion
(31
December
2009
est.)
|
|
Market
value of
publicly
traded
shares:
|
$NA
|
|
Agriculture
-
products:
|
rice,
pulses,
beans,
sesame,
groundnuts,
sugarcane;
hardwood;
fish and
fish
products
|
|
Industries:
|
agricultural
processing;
wood and
wood
products;
copper,
tin,
tungsten,
iron;
cement,
construction
materials;
pharmaceuticals;
fertilizer;
oil and
natural
gas;
garments,
jade and
gems
|
|
Industrial
production
growth
rate:
|
4.3%
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
77 |
|
Electricity
-
production:
|
6.286
billion
kWh
(2007
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
105 |
|
Electricity
-
consumption:
|
4.403
billion
kWh
(2007
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
113 |
|
Electricity
-
exports:
|
0
kWh
(2008
est.)
|
|
Electricity
-
imports:
|
0
kWh
(2008
est.)
|
|
Oil
-
production:
|
18,880
bbl/day
(2009
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
75 |
|
Oil
-
consumption:
|
42,000
bbl/day
(2009
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
101 |
|
Oil
-
exports:
|
2,200
bbl/day
(2007
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
112 |
|
Oil
-
imports:
|
18,250
bbl/day
(2007
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
114 |
|
Oil
- proved
reserves:
|
50
million
bbl (1
January
2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
78 |
|
Natural
gas -
production:
|
12.4
billion
cu m
(2008
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
39 |
|
Natural
gas -
consumption:
|
3.85
billion
cu m
(2008
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
66 |
|
Natural
gas -
exports:
|
8.55
billion
cu m
(2008
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
22 |
|
Natural
gas -
imports:
|
0
cu m
(2008
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
198 |
|
Natural
gas -
proved
reserves:
|
283.2
billion
cu m (1
January
2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
41 |
|
Current
account
balance:
|
$652
million
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
47
$705
million
(2009
est.)
|
|
Exports:
|
$7.841
billion
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
94
$6.862
billion
(2009
est.)
note:
official
export
figures
are
grossly
underestimated
due to
the
value of
timber,
gems,
narcotics,
rice,
and
other
products
smuggled
to
Thailand,
China,
and
Bangladesh
|
|
Exports
-
commodities:
|
natural
gas,
wood
products,
pulses,
beans,
fish,
rice,
clothing,
jade and
gems
|
|
Exports
-
partners:
|
Thailand
46.57%,
India
12.99%,
China
9.01%,
Japan
5.65%
(2009)
|
|
Imports:
|
$4.532
billion
(2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
121
$4.02
billion
(2009
est.)
note:
import
figures
are
grossly
underestimated
due to
the
value of
consumer
goods,
diesel
fuel,
and
other
products
smuggled
in from
Thailand,
China,
Malaysia,
and
India
|
|
Imports
-
commodities:
|
fabric,
petroleum
products,
fertilizer,
plastics,
machinery,
transport
equipment;
cement,
construction
materials,
crude
oil;
food
products,
edible
oil
|
|
Imports
-
partners:
|
China
33.1%,
Thailand
26.28%,
Singapore
15.18%
(2009)
|
|
Reserves
of
foreign
exchange
and gold:
|
$3.762
billion
(31
December
2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
79
$3.561
billion
(31
December
2009
est.)
|
|
Debt
-
external:
|
$7.145
billion
(31
December
2010
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
96
$7.079
billion
(31
December
2009
est.)
|
|
Exchange
rates:
|
kyats
(MMK)
per US
dollar -
1,000
(2010),
1,055
(2009),
1,205
(2008),
1,296
(2007),
1,280
(2006)
|
|
|
|
Telephones
- main
lines in
use:
|
812,000
(2009)
country
comparison
to the
world:
86 |
|
Telephones
- mobile
cellular:
|
448,000
(2009)
country
comparison
to the
world:
160 |
|
Telephone
system:
|
general
assessment:
meets
minimum
requirements
for
local
and
intercity
service
for
business
and
government
domestic:
system
barely
capable
of
providing
basic
service;
mobile-cellular
phone
system
is
grossly
underdeveloped
with a
subscribership
base of
only 1
per 100
persons
international:
country
code -
95;
landing
point
for the
SEA-ME-WE-3
optical
telecommunications
submarine
cable
that
provides
links to
Asia,
the
Middle
East,
and
Europe;
satellite
earth
stations
- 2,
Intelsat
(Indian
Ocean)
and
ShinSat
(2009)
|
|
Broadcast
media:
|
government
controls
all
domestic
broadcast
media; 3
state-controlled
television
stations
with 1
of the
stations
controlled
by the
armed
forces;
a fourth
TV
channel,
a pay-TV
station,
is a
joint
state-private
venture;
access
to
satellite
TV is
limited
with
residents
required
to
register
and pay
a fee
for all
satellite
television
receivers;
2
state-controlled
domestic
radio
stations;
transmissions
of
several
international
broadcasters
are
available
in
Burma;
the
opposition-backed
station
Democratic
Voice of
Burma
broadcasts
into
Burma
via
shortwave
(2009)
|
|
Internet
country
code:
|
.mm
|
|
Internet
hosts:
|
172
(2010)
country
comparison
to the
world:
197 |
|
Internet
users:
|
110,000
(2009)
country
comparison
to the
world:
158
|
|
|
|
Airports:
|
76
(2010)
country
comparison
to the
world:
72 |
|
Airports
- with
paved
runways:
|
total:
37
over
3,047 m:
12
2,438
to 3,047
m: 8
1,524
to 2,437
m: 15
914
to 1,523
m: 1
under
914 m: 1
(2010)
|
|
Airports
- with
unpaved
runways:
|
total:
39
over
3,047 m:
1
1,524
to 2,437
m: 4
914
to 1,523
m: 11
under
914 m: 23
(2010)
|
|
Heliports:
|
6
(2010)
|
|
Pipelines:
|
gas
2,228
km; oil
558 km
(2009)
|
|
Railways:
|
total:
3,955
km
country
comparison
to the
world:
44
narrow
gauge: 3,955
km
1.000-m
gauge
(2008)
|
|
Roadways:
|
total:
27,000
km
country
comparison
to the
world:
101
paved:
3,200
km
unpaved:
23,800
km
(2006)
|
|
Waterways:
|
12,800
km
(2008)
country
comparison
to the
world:
10 |
|
Merchant
marine:
|
total:
26
country
comparison
to the
world:
90
by
type: bulk
carrier
1, cargo
19,
passenger
2,
passenger/cargo
3,
specialized
tanker 1
foreign-owned:
3
(Cyprus
1,
Germany
1, Japan
1)
registered
in other
countries:
3
(Panama
3)
(2010)
|
|
Ports
and
terminals:
|
Moulmein,
Rangoon,
Sittwe
|
|
|
|
Military
branches:
|
Myanmar
Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw):
Army (Tatmadaw
Kyi),
Navy (Tatmadaw
Yay),
Air
Force (Tatmadaw
Lay)
(2010)
|
|
Military
service
age and
obligation:
|
18-35
years of
age
(men)
and
18-27
years of
age
(women)
for
compulsory
military
service;
service
obligation
2 years;
male
(ages
18-45)
and
female
(ages
18-35)
professionals
(including
doctors,
engineers,
mechanics)
serve up
to 3
years;
service
terms
may be
streched
to 5
years in
an
officially
declared
emergency;
forced
conscription
of
children,
although
officially
prohibited,
reportedly
continues
(2011)
|
|
Manpower
available
for
military
service:
|
males
age
16-49: 14,558,921
females
age
16-49: 14,539,703
(2010
est.)
|
|
Manpower
fit for
military
service:
|
males
age
16-49: 10,281,131
females
age
16-49: 10,988,695
(2010
est.)
|
|
Manpower
reaching
militarily
significant
age
annually:
|
male:
526,557
female:
510,538
(2010
est.)
|
|
Military
expenditures:
|
2.1%
of GDP
(2005
est.)
country
comparison
to the
world:
69
|
|
|
|
Transnational
Issues ::Burma |
Disputes
-
international:
|
over
half of
Burma's
population
consists
of
diverse
ethnic
groups
who have
substantial
numbers
of kin
in
neighboring
countries;
Thailand
must
deal
with
Karen
and
other
ethnic
refugees,
asylum
seekers,
and
rebels,
as well
as
illegal
cross-border
activities
from
Burma;
Thailand
is
studying
the
feasibility
of
jointly
constructing
the
Hatgyi
Dam on
the
Salween
River
near the
border
with
Burma;
citing
environmental,
cultural,
and
social
concerns,
China is
reconsidering
construction
of 13
dams on
the
Salween
River
but
energy-starved
Burma
with
backing
from
Thailand
remains
intent
on
building
five
hydro-electric
dams
downstream,
despite
identical
regional
and
international
protests;
India
seeks
cooperation
from
Burma to
keep
Indian
Nagaland
separatists,
such as
the
United
Liberation
Front of
Assam,
from
hiding
in
remote
Burmese
Uplands;
after 21
years,
Bangladesh
in
January
2008
resumed
talks
with
Burma on
delimiting
a
maritime
boundary
|
|
Refugees
and
internally
displaced
persons:
|
IDPs:
503,000
(government
offensives
against
ethnic
insurgent
groups
near the
eastern
borders;
most
IDPs are
ethnic
Karen,
Karenni,
Shan,
Tavoyan,
and Mon)
(2007)
|
|
Trafficking
in
persons:
|
current
situation:
Burma
is a
source
country
for
women,
children,
and men
trafficked
for the
purpose
of
forced
labor
and
commercial
sexual
exploitation;
Burmese
women
and
children
are
trafficked
to East
and
Southeast
Asia for
commercial
sexual
exploitation,
domestic
servitude,
and
forced
labor;
Burmese
children
are
subjected
to
conditions
of
forced
labor in
Thailand
as
hawkers
and
beggars;
women
are
trafficked
for
commercial
sexual
exploitation
to
Malaysia
and
China;
some
trafficking
victims
transit
Burma
from
Bangladesh
to
Malaysia
and from
China to
Thailand;
Burma's
internal
trafficking
remains
the most
serious
concern
occurring
primarily
from
villages
to urban
centers
and
economic
hubs for
labor in
industrial
zones,
agricultural
estates,
and
commercial
sexual
exploitation;
the
Burmese
military
continues
to
engage
in the
unlawful
conscription
of child
soldiers,
and
continues
to be
the main
perpetrator
of
forced
labor
inside
Burma;
ethnic
insurgent
groups
also
used
compulsory
labor of
adults
and
unlawful
recruitment
of
children;
the
regime's
widespread
use of
and lack
of
accountability
in
forced
labor
and
recruitment
of child
soldiers
is
particularly
worrying
and
represents
the top
causal
factor
for
Burma's
significant
trafficking
problem
tier
rating: Tier
3 -
serious
problems
remain
in
Burma,
and in
some
areas,
most
notably
in the
area of
forced
labor,
the
Government
of Burma
is not
making
significant
efforts
to
comply
with the
minimum
standards
for the
elimination
of
trafficking,
warranting
a
ranking
of Tier
3; in
other
areas,
particularly
with
regard
to
international
sex
trafficking
of women
and
girls,
the
Government
of Burma
is
making
significant
efforts
(2010)
|
|
Illicit
drugs:
|
remains
world's
second
largest
producer
of
illicit
opium
with an
estimated
production
in 2008
of 340
metric
tons, an
increase
of 26%,
and
poppy
cultivation
in 2008
totaled
22,500
hectares,
a 4%
increase
from
2007;
production
in the
United
Wa State
Army's
areas of
greatest
control
remains
low;
Shan
state is
the
source
of 94%
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
(2008)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AsianInfo.org
supports I.C.E.Y. -
H.O.P.E. (non-profit org)
(International
Cooperation of Environmental Youth - Helping Our Polluted
Earth) Any advertisement you view helps save the
environment! Thanks! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|