CapitalRangoon (also known as Yangon, which continues to be acknowledged as the main capital of Burma by the US Government)
Population57,931,718
Area676,578 km²
GDP per capita$5,300
LanguagesBurmese
Currencykyats
Life Expectancy70.3 yr
Governmentmilitary regime
Introduction
Background
Burma is home to ethnic Burmans and scores of other ethnic and religious minority groups that have resisted external efforts to consolidate control of the country throughout its history. Britain conquered Burma over a period extending from the 1820s to the 1880s and administered it as a province of India until 1937, when Burma became a self-governing colony. Burma gained full independence in 1948. In 1962, General NE WIN seized power and ruled the country until 1988 when a new military regime took control.
In 1990, the military regime permitted an election but then rejected the results after the main opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) and its leader AUNG SAN SUU KYI (ASSK) won in a landslide. The military regime placed ASSK under house arrest until 2010. In 2007, rising fuel prices in Burma led pro-democracy activists and Buddhist monks to launch a "Saffron Revolution" consisting of large protests against the regime, which violently suppressed the movement. The regime prevented new elections until it had drafted a constitution designed to preserve the military's political control; it passed the new constitution in its 2008 referendum. The regime conducted an election in 2010, but the NLD boycotted the vote, and the military’s political proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, easily won; international observers denounced the election as flawed.
Burma nonetheless began a halting process of political and economic reforms. ASSK's return to government in 2012 eventually led to the NLD's sweeping victory in the 2015 election. With ASSK as the de facto head of state, Burma’s first credibly elected civilian government drew international criticism for blocking investigations into Burma’s military operations -- which the US Department of State determined constituted genocide -- against its ethnic Rohingya population. When the 2020 elections resulted in further NLD gains, the military denounced the vote as fraudulent. In 2021, the military's senior leader General MIN AUNG HLAING launched a coup that returned Burma to authoritarian rule, with military crackdowns that undid reforms and resulted in the detention of ASSK and thousands of pro-democracy actors.
Pro-democracy organizations have formed in the wake of the coup, including the National Unity Government (NUG). Members of the NUG include representatives from the NLD, ethnic minority groups, and civil society. In 2021, the NUG announced the formation of armed militias called the People's Defense Forces (PDF) and an insurgency against the military junta. As of 2024, PDF units across the country continued to fight the regime with varying levels of support from and cooperation with the NUG and other anti-regime organizations, including armed ethnic groups that have been fighting the central government for decades.
Geography
Area
land
653,508 sq km
water
23,070 sq km
total
676,578 sq km
Climate
The climate features a tropical monsoon pattern, characterized by overcast, wet, hot, and humid summers during the southwest monsoon from June to September, and a winter period from December to April that is less cloudy with little rainfall, mild temperatures, and reduced humidity associated with the northeast monsoon.
Terrain
The central lowlands are encircled by steep and rugged highlands.
Land use
other
37.7% (2023 est.)
forest
42.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
19.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in Southeastern Asia, it borders the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, situated between Bangladesh and Thailand.
Coastline
1,930 km
Elevation
lowest point
Andaman Sea/Bay of Bengal 0 m
highest point
Gamlang Razi 5,870 m
mean elevation
702 m
Irrigated land
17,140 sq km (2020)
Map references
Southeast Asia
Land boundaries
total
6,522 km
border countries
The country shares borders with Bangladesh (271 km), China (2,129 km), India (1,468 km), Laos (238 km), and Thailand (2,416 km).
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
It is prone to destructive earthquakes and cyclones, with flooding and landslides frequently occurring during the rainy season from June to September, as well as experiencing occasional droughts.
Geography - note
Its strategic location is near key shipping routes in the Indian Ocean, with the Irrawaddy River flowing north to south being the largest and most vital commercial waterway in the nation.
Natural resources
Natural resources include petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower, and arable land.
Area - comparative
The size is marginally smaller than that of Texas.
Geographic coordinates
22 00 N, 98 00 E
Population distribution
The population is primarily situated along coastal regions and near the Irrawaddy River, while the far north remains relatively sparsely populated.
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage
Major river basins include the Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), and Salween (271,914 sq km).
Pacific Ocean drainage
Mekong (805,604 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
The Mekong River (shared with China [s], Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) measures 4,350 km; the Salween river mouth (shared with China [s] and Thailand) is 3,060 km; the Irrawaddy river mouth (shared with China [s]) is 2,809 km; and the Chindwin spans 1,158 km.
note: [s] indicates the river source after the country name; [m] indicates the river mouth after the country name.
People & Society
Literacy
male
94.7% (2020 est.)
female
92.7% (2020 est.)
total population
93.5% (2020 est.)
Languages
Languages
Burmese (official)
major-language sample(s)
ကမ္ဘာ့အချက်အလက်စာအုပ်- အခြေခံအချက်အလက်တွေအတွက် မရှိမဖြစ်တဲ့ အရင်းအမြစ် (Burmese)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Buddhist 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2014 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
total population
0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.77 male(s)/female
Birth rate
15.44 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
29.9 years
total
31.1 years (2025 est.)
female
31.6 years
Population
male
28,591,467
total
57,931,718 (2025 est.)
female
29,340,251
Nationality
noun
Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective
Burmese
Tobacco use
male
68.1% (2025 est.)
total
42.2% (2025 est.)
female
17.1% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
32.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
24.4% (male 7,197,177/female 6,843,879)
15-64 years
68.5% (male 19,420,361/female 19,998,625)
65 years and over
7.1% (2024 est.) (male 1,770,293/female 2,296,804)
Ethnic groups
Burman (Bamar) 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%
Child marriage
men married by age 18
5% (2016)
women married by age 15
1.9% (2016)
women married by age 18
16% (2016)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
45.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
35 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
9.3 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
10.7 (2025 est.)
Physician density
0.76 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
5.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.95 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 77.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 82.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 93.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 22.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 17.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 6.3% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
9.7% national budget (2019 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
35.4 deaths/1,000 live births
total
30.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
28.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.69% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.95 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
population is primarily situated along coastal regions and near the banks of the Irrawaddy River; the far north is comparatively sparsely populated
Life expectancy at birth
male
68.5 years
female
72.1 years
total population
70.3 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
185 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 82% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 18% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
2.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
1.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
5.610 million RANGOON (Yangon) (capital), 1.532 million Mandalay (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
5.8% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
24.7 years (2015/16 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58% (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
19.5% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
11 years (2018 est.)
total
12 years (2018 est.)
female
12 years (2018 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical monsoon climate characterized by overcast skies, precipitation, and high temperatures with humidity during the summer months (southwest monsoon occurring from June to September); the winter season (northeast monsoon from December to April) is marked by reduced cloud cover, minimal rainfall, moderate temperatures, and decreased humidity
Land use
other
37.7% (2023 est.)
forest
42.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
19.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
32.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
4.677 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
12.3% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation; industrial contamination of air, soil, and water; insufficient sanitation and water purification; swift exhaustion of the nation's natural resources
Total water withdrawal
municipal
3.323 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
498.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
29.57 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
27.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
8.376 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
1.24 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
17.39 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
27.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
1.168 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: three horizontal stripes of equal width in yellow (top), green, and red; positioned on the green stripe is a five-pointed white star that extends onto the yellow and red stripes
history: this design reinstates the triband colors used by Burma from 1943 to 1945, during the period of Japanese occupation
Capital
name
Rangoon (also known as Yangon, which continues to be acknowledged as the main capital of Burma by the US Government); Nay Pyi Taw serves as the administrative capital
etymology
Rangoon/Yangon is derived from the Burmese terms yan and koun, frequently interpreted as "end of strife"; Nay Pyi Taw translates to "abode of kings"
time difference
UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
16 48 N, 96 10 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
history
previous constitutions were enacted in 1947 and 1974 (the latter was suspended until 2008); the most recent was drafted on 9 April 2008 and ratified by referendum on 29 May 2008
amendment process
proposals necessitate a minimum of 20% approval from the Assembly of the Union members; amendments to sections of the constitution concerning fundamental principles, governmental structure, branches of government, state emergencies, and amendment processes require a 75% approval from the Assembly and a majority approval in a referendum from registered voters; amendments to other sections need only a 75% Assembly approval; the military is guaranteed 25% of parliamentary seats by default
Country name
former
Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, Union of Myanmar
etymology
both "Burma" and "Myanmar" originate from the name of the dominant Burman (Bamar) ethnic group, with the term myanma, meaning "the strong," being the self-referential name of the group
local long form
Pyidaungzu Thammada Myanma Naingngandaw (translated as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar)
local short form
Myanma Naingngandaw
conventional long form
Union of Burma
conventional short form
Burma
Independence
4 January 1948 (from the UK)
Legal system
a mixed legal framework comprising English common law (introduced during colonial India) and customary law
Government type
military regime
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of the Union (consists of the chief justice and 7-11 judges)
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
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice and judges are nominated by the president with the consent of the Lower House and appointed by the president; judges typically serve until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 70
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointments shared by the president and the commander-in-chief
chief of state
Acting President Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 31 July 2025)
election results
2020: the National League for Democracy (NLD) secured 396 seats in both houses, exceeding the 322 needed for a parliamentary majority; however, on 1 February 2021, the military declared the election results to be illegitimate and ousted State Counsellor AUNG SAN SUU KYI and President WIN MYINT of the NLD, leading to military-affiliated Vice President MYINT SWE (USDP) assuming the role of acting president; MYINT SWE later transferred power to coup leader MIN AUNG HLAING; following the military takeover, WIN MYINT and several key figures from the ruling NLD were arrested
2018: WIN MYINT was elected president in an indirect by-election on 28 March 2018 after HTIN KYAW's resignation; the Assembly of the Union vote for president showed WIN MYINT (NLD) with 403 votes, MYINT SWE (USDP) with 211 votes, HENRY VAN THIO (NLD) with 18 votes, and 4 votes canceled (total of 636 votes cast)
state counsellor
State Counselor AUNG SAN SUU KYI (since 6 April 2016); note - has been under arrest since 1 February 2021
head of government
Prime Minister NYO SAW (since 31 July 2025)
most recent election date
8 November 2020
election/appointment process
prior to the military takeover in 2021, the president was chosen indirectly by a simple majority vote within the full Assembly of the Union from among three vice-presidential candidates nominated by the Presidential Electoral College (composed of members from both the lower and upper houses, alongside military representatives); the remaining two candidates assumed the role of vice presidents (the president is elected for a term of five years)
expected date of next election
on 31 July 2025, the military leadership announced preparations for elections scheduled for December 2025
National holiday
Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
National color(s)
yellow, green, red, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Pyu Ancient Cities; Bagan
Political parties
the military regime reported that over 50 political parties had registered and received approval for the elections scheduled in December 2025, yet only 9 of them participated on a national scale; the others contested in regional or state elections.
The 9 parties that competed included:
Democratic Party of National Politics (DNP)
Myanmar Farmers Development Party (MFDP)
National Democratic Force Party (NDF)
National Unity Party (NUP)
People’s Party
People’s Pioneer Party (PPP)
Shan and Ethnic Democratic Party (SEDP)
Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)
Women’s Party (Mon)
Legislative branch
legislature name
Assembly of the Union (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw)
legislative structure
bicameral
most recent election date
28 December 2025
expected date of next election
on 31 July 2025, the military authorities revealed plans to conduct elections in late December 2025.
National anthem(s)
title
"Kaba Ma Kyei" (Till the End of the World)
history
adopted 1948
lyrics/music
SAYA TIN
National symbol(s)
chinthe (mythical lion)
Administrative divisions
7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing), 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne), and 1 union territory
regions: Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy), Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon (Rangoon)
states: Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shan
union territory: Nay Pyi Taw
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 332-4351
chancery
2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 332-3344
chief of mission
Ambassador position is currently vacant; Chargé d'Affaires Soe Thet NAUNG has been in office since 24 June 2025.
consulate(s) general
Los Angeles
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.mewashingtondc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[95] (1) 751-1069
embassy
110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon
telephone
[95] (1) 753-6509
mailing address
4250 Rangoon Place, Washington DC 20521-4250
chief of mission
Ambassador position is currently vacant; Chargé d’Affaires Susan STEVENSON has been serving since 10 July 2023.
email address and website
[email protected]
https://mm.usembassy.gov/
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
International law organization participation
has not presented a declaration for ICJ jurisdiction; is a non-party state to the ICCt.
Economy
Budget
revenues
$10.945 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures
$10.22 billion (2019 est.)
Exports
Exports 2018
$15.728 billion (2018 est.)
Exports 2019
$17.523 billion (2019 est.)
Exports 2021
$20.4 billion (2021 est.)
Imports
Imports 2018
$18.664 billion (2018 est.)
Imports 2019
$17.356 billion (2019 est.)
Imports 2021
$23.1 billion (2021 est.)
Industries
processing of agricultural products; timber and timber products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement and construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizers; oil and natural gas; clothing; jade and precious stones
Labor force
22.742 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
35.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
kyats (MMK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2019
1,518.255 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
1,381.619 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
1,615.367 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
1,932.543 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
2,100 (2023 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$8.748 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
a gradually recovering economy in Southeast Asia; household earnings are diminishing domestic demand; increasing trade deficit; falling employment; high inflation and weakened currency; the agricultural sector remains the most stable
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3.1% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
3.1% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 32%, Thailand 16%, Japan 7%, Germany 6%, India 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 40%, Thailand 18%, Singapore 15%, Indonesia 4%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$5,400 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$5,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$5,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
-1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
rice, sugarcane, vegetables, beans, maize, groundnuts, plantains, fruits, coconuts, onions (2023)
Exports - commodities
garments, natural gas, dried legumes, rare-earth metal compounds, precious stones (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, synthetic fabric, fertilizers, crude petroleum, fabric (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2017
-$4.917 billion (2017 est.)
Current account balance 2018
-$2.561 billion (2018 est.)
Current account balance 2019
$67.72 million (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
6% (of GDP) (2019 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$74.08 billion (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
24.8% (2017 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
53.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
0.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
4.6% (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
6.9% (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
8.8% (2019 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-0.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$287.624 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$290.381 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$287.559 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
10.5% (2024 est.)
total
10% (2024 est.)
female
9.4% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$9.103 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$8.182 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$9.338 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
37.8% (2024 est.)
services
41.4% (2024 est.)
agriculture
20.8% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3.8% (2017 est.)
highest 10%
25.5% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
30.7 (2017 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
221,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
67,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
production
1.031 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
907,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
252 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
139 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
122,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
exports
200 million kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
23.625 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
7.419 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
1.855 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
9.29 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
219.822 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
production
13.549 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
4.241 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
637.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
62.8%
electrification - urban areas
93.9%
electrification - total population
73.7% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
8.384 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
61.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
36.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
59% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The government maintains control over all domestic broadcasting media; there are two state-run television stations, one of which is managed by the military; additionally, there are two pay-TV channels that are collaborations between state and private sectors; one radio station is under state control; there are nine FM stations that also operate as joint ventures between state and private entities; various international broadcasts can be accessed in select regions; these include the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), the BBC Burmese service, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and Radio Australia, all of which utilize shortwave frequencies for transmission; VOA, RFA, and DVB produce daily television news content that is distributed via satellite; in 2017, the government issued licenses to five private broadcasters to run digital free-to-air television channels in collaboration with the state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV); following the military coup in 2021, the authorities annulled the media licenses of most independent media outlets, including the free-to-air licenses for DVB and Mizzima (2022).
Internet country code
.mm
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
559,000 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
62.3 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
114 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
1.51 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
5
medium
0
key ports
Bassein, Mergui, Moulmein Harbor, Rangoon, Sittwe
very small
2
total ports
7 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
3
Airports
74 (2025)
Railways
total
5,031 km (2008)
narrow gauge
5,031 km (2008) 1.000-m gauge
Heliports
6 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
101 (2023)
by type
1 bulk carrier, 44 general cargo vessels, 5 oil tankers, 51 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
XY
Military & Security
Military - note
Since its inception, the Tatmadaw has played a significant role in the political landscape and economic framework of the nation; it governed the country for a period of fifty years following a military coup in 1962. Before the latest coup in 2021, the military already held authority over three essential security ministries (Defense, Border, and Home Affairs), occupied one of two vice presidential roles, secured 25% of the seats in parliament, and maintained a proxy political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). The military operates two major business conglomerates that encompass over 100 subsidiaries. The commercial endeavors of these conglomerates span various sectors, including banking and insurance, hospitality, tourism, jade and ruby mining, timber, construction, real estate, and the production of palm oil, sugar, soap, cement, beverages, drinking water, coal, and gas. Some of these enterprises provide goods and services to the military, such as food, clothing, insurance, and mobile phone services. Additionally, the military oversees a film industry, publishing houses, and television networks.
The primary operational focus of the Tatmadaw is internal security, conducting counterinsurgency operations against anti-regime factions that began an armed rebellion following the 2021 coup, as well as a variety of ethnic armed groups (EAGs). As of 2024, the Tatmadaw was reportedly involved in combat operations across 10 of its 14 regional commands.
Since 1948, EAGs have been engaged in combat for self-governance against the Burmese Government. Their strength varies, with numbers ranging from a few hundred fighters to an estimated 30,000. Some EAGs are structured like military organizations, with "brigades" and "divisions," and are equipped with heavy weaponry, including artillery. They control extensive territories within the country, predominantly in border areas. Notable groups include the United Wa State Army, Karen National Union, Kachin Independence Army, Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army.
The opposition National Unity Government asserts that its armed faction, the People's Defense Force (PDF), consists of over 60,000 fighters loosely grouped into battalions. Furthermore, several EAGs have allied with the NUG and provided support to local PDF units (2024).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2019
4.1% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020
3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
3.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and security forces
Burmese Defense Service (also known as Armed Forces of Burma, Myanmar Army, Royal Armed Forces, the Tatmadaw, or the Sit-Tat): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay); People’s Militia.
Ministry of Home Affairs: Burma (People's) Police Force, Border Guard Forces/Police (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 are eligible for voluntary and conscripted military service; there is a 24-month service obligation. Conscripts who are professional men (ages 18-45) and women (ages 18-35), including doctors, engineers, and mechanics, may serve for up to 36 months. In officially declared emergencies, service terms may be extended to 60 months (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The inventory of the Burmese military primarily consists of armaments from China, Russia, or of Soviet origin. The defense sector in Burma is engaged in shipbuilding and the production of ground force equipment, largely based on designs from China and Russia (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
While estimates vary, there are approximately 150,000 active military personnel (2025).
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Trafficking in persons
tier rating
Tier 3 — Burma fails to fully adhere to the minimum criteria for eradicating trafficking and is not exerting notable efforts in this regard, consequently, Burma continues to be classified as Tier 3; for additional information, visit: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/burma/
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
3,646,658 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
619,429 (2024 est.)
