General overview of the country.

1. Myanmar
Facts and figures

2. General Info
Officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar,
it is also known as Burma.
Where on Earth? Southeast Asia, along the Bay
of Bengal (Indian Ocean).
In the 16th
century, the country was the center of
the largest empire in the history of Southeast
Asia.
Neighbors: Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and
Thailand.

3. History
 The conflict between Burma and British India began in 1824. The so
called Anglo-Burmese Wars lasted until 1885. Burma remained under
British control up until 1948.
 Burma was devastated during World War II as it became a major
battleground where American and British armies fought invasive
Japanese troops.
 In 1948 the country became independent from the UK. It was first
known as Union of Burma.
 In 1962 a military coup d'état turned the country into a Soviet-style
dictatorship. Due to the lack of political and economic freedom, it
became one of the world's most impoverished countries.
 In 1989 the military government changed the name of the country
from Burma to Myanmar.
 The country has experienced some democratic reforms, and the 2015
general elections gave a majority to Nobel Prize winner Suu Kyi.

4. Politics
 According to the last Constitution, that’s been
drafted by the country’s military rulers in 2008,
Myanmar is governed as a parliamentary republic.
 Thein Sein, a former military commander, is the
President of Myanmar since 2011.
 The military regime in Myanmar is one of the world's
most repressive and abusive regimes. According to
the HDI Myanmar has a low level of human
development.
 Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi’s party
has won in the 2015 elections. She is constitutionally
barred from the presidency, but she’s stated that
she will hold the power in Myanmar’s government.

5. Demographics
 2014 population was an estimated 51 million.
 Capital city is Naypyitaw, but the largest and most
important city in the country is Yangon (Rangoon).
 Population density is 76 per square kilometre
(200/sq mi), among the lowest in Southeast Asia.
 Official language is Burmese, which is related to
Tibetan and Chinese language.
 Buddhism is the most widespread religion, practiced
by an estimated 80% of the population. Many other
religions are practiced in Myanmar, but the
Christian and Muslim populations face religious
persecution.

6. Internal conflicts

7. Economy
 Myanmar currency is the Kyat (1USD=1290MMK)
 Estimated GDP was $112.972 billion in 2013.
 It is one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia,
suffering from decades of stagnation,
mismanagement and isolation.
 37% of the nation’s population are unemployed
and an average of 26% live in poverty.
 Myanmar’s economy faces many threats, such as
inflation, corruption and illegal drug trade (mainly
opium). If the country finally moves towards a real
democracy, foreign financial restrictions could be
lifted up and foreign aid would boost the economy.

8. Debt and IMF
Myanmar’s debt is $5.5 billion, 17% of its GDP.
From 1977 to 1981 Myanmar received Stand-by
loans from the IMF. After that period,
international financial restrictions have been
applied due to the human rights abuses
consistently practiced by the Burmese regime. As
a consequence, the level of international aid to
Burma ranks amongst the lowest in the world.
Should Myanmar’s political transformation go
ahead, the IMF would be able to turn the current
technical assistance into actual financing for
development through further loans.