Myanmar

Cultural Attributes

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Holidays

• Independence Day

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  Independence Day

Dates of Interest

• January 4th

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What sports and pastimes are popular in Burma?

Historical Eras

Overview

Timeline of Key Events

1. 1057

   King Anawrahta founds the first unified Burmese state at Pagan.

   King Anawrahta founds the first unified Burmese state at Pagan and adopts Theravada Buddhism.

2. 1287

   The forces of Kublai Khan overran Burma.

   The forces of Kublai Khan overran Burma. The royal city of Bagan (Pagan) was abandoned under threat from Kublai Khan in the 13th century. The brick temple of Ananda Pahto is in Bagan. More than 4,400 pagodas and 3,000 other religious structures of bricks and stones were built in Bagan, Myanmar’s former capital, during a 243-year period from the 11th to 13th centuries, the result of extraordinary Buddhist fervor.

3. 1531

   Toungoo dynasty, with Portuguese help, reunites Burma.

   Toungoo dynasty, with Portuguese help, reunites Burma.

4. 1824 – 1826

   First Anglo-Burmese war.

   First Anglo-Burmese war. The war ends with the Treaty of Yandabo, according to which Burma ceded the Arakan coastal strip, between Chittagong and Cape Negrais, to British India.

5. 1850

   Rangoon, Burma, was destroyed by fire.

   Rangoon, Burma, was destroyed by fire.

6. 1852

   Second Anglo-Burmese War, where General Bandoola died.

   Second Anglo-Burmese War, where General Bandoola died.

7. 1885

   Britain captures Mandalay after a brief battle.

   Britain captures Mandalay after a brief battle; Burma becomes a province of British India.

Religion

Languages Spoken

• Burmese

Population

Population

54,409,800

Population in Major Urban Areas

RANGOON (capital) 4.457 million; Mandalay 1.063 million; Nay Pyi Taw 1.06 million

Nationality Noun

Burmese (singular and plural)

Ethnic Groups

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

Language Note

Burma is a nation of many races - some 135 ethnic groups, with their own languages and dialects, make up its population of nearly 45 million. It is impossible to mention more than a few of the races, for Burma is an anthropologist's paradise. The Burmese people call their own language Bamar or Myanmar and it is the main language spoken throughout the country. About 70 percent of the people of Burma speak one or other of the Burma Group of languages while the percentage of those speaking Burmese is estimated at ninety. Despite the diversity and geographic separation, the national groups share with each other a wide variety of social customs and cultures. The Burmese language vocabulary contains a large number of Pali and Sanskrit words. The earliest Burmese writing was the Myazedi Stone Inscription. which is a four-sided stone inscription constructed in 1113 A.D. during the Pagan Period. The inscription is written in Myanmar, Pyu, Mon, and Pali and was discovered in 1887.

Education

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Myanmar stands at approximately 67 years for the overall population, with women typically outliving men by several years. Female life expectancy averages around 69 years, while male life expectancy is closer to 65 years. These figures place Myanmar below the average for the broader Southeast Asian region, reflecting ongoing challenges in healthcare access, infrastructure, and public health systems. Several interconnected factors contribute to Myanmar's relatively modest life expectancy. The country has long faced limited access to quality medical care, particularly in rural and remote areas where the majority of the population resides. Communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and respiratory infections remain significant health burdens. Maternal and infant mortality rates, while improved over recent decades, continue to be higher than those of regional peers, weighing down overall life expectancy statistics. Malnutrition is another contributing factor, especially among children and rural communities, and it compounds vulnerability to infectious diseases and chronic conditions. Access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation, though improving gradually, remains inconsistent across the country. Myanmar's political instability and internal conflicts have compounded these public health challenges. The military coup of February 2021 severely disrupted healthcare services, leading to a sharp decline in routine immunizations, maternal health services, and the treatment of chronic diseases. Many trained medical professionals joined civil disobedience movements and ceased working in government facilities, further straining an already fragile health system. Humanitarian organizations have reported worsening health indicators in conflict-affected regions, and ongoing civil conflict continues to displace large portions of the population, limiting their access to even basic care. Prior to 2021, Myanmar had made measurable progress in improving life expectancy over the preceding two decades, largely through targeted public health campaigns, expanded vaccination programs, and international health assistance. However, the post-coup environment has reversed some of these gains and introduced significant uncertainty around future improvement. The deterioration of health infrastructure, combined with reduced international aid access in certain regions, has made it difficult to sustain earlier advances. For travelers and expatriates, it is advisable to ensure comprehensive travel health insurance and to carry necessary medications, as access to reliable medical facilities — particularly outside Yangon and Mandalay — can be limited and unpredictable.

Major Infectious Diseases — degree of risk

Very high

Infant Mortality Rate

Burma's infant mortality rate reflects the ongoing challenges the country faces in delivering adequate healthcare to its population, particularly in rural and conflict-affected regions. As of recent estimates, Burma records approximately 32 to 35 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that, while representing significant improvement over past decades, remains notably higher than regional neighbors such as Thailand and Malaysia. Infant mortality in Burma is driven by several interconnected factors. Neonatal conditions — including preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia, and neonatal infections — account for a substantial portion of deaths in the first year of life. Diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, and vaccine-preventable illnesses also contribute meaningfully to infant deaths, particularly in areas with limited access to clean water and sanitation. Geographic disparities are pronounced. Infants born in rural areas, remote hill regions, or states experiencing ongoing armed conflict, such as Kachin, Shan, and Rakhine, face considerably higher mortality risks than those born in urban centers like Yangon or Naypyidaw. In these underserved regions, access to skilled birth attendants, postnatal care, and essential medicines is severely restricted. The political instability following the 2021 military coup has compounded these challenges substantially. Healthcare infrastructure has been disrupted, medical professionals have faced intimidation and displacement, and international humanitarian aid has encountered significant barriers to reaching vulnerable populations. UNICEF and other international agencies have raised concerns that years of incremental gains in child survival outcomes may be at risk of reversal. Historically, Burma's infant mortality rate has declined from levels exceeding 80 per 1,000 live births in the early 1990s, a testament to past immunization drives, maternal health initiatives, and improved nutritional programs. However, sustaining and accelerating this progress depends heavily on political stability, restored healthcare funding, and renewed investment in community-level health services — conditions that remain uncertain in the current environment.

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Myanmar stands at approximately 67 years for the overall population, with women typically outliving men by several years. Female life expectancy averages around 69 years, while male life expectancy is closer to 65 years. These figures place Myanmar below the average for the broader Southeast Asian region, reflecting ongoing challenges in healthcare access, infrastructure, and public health systems. Several interconnected factors contribute to Myanmar's relatively modest life expectancy. The country has long faced limited access to quality medical care, particularly in rural and remote areas where the majority of the population resides. Communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and respiratory infections remain significant health burdens. Maternal and infant mortality rates, while improved over recent decades, continue to be higher than those of regional peers, weighing down overall life expectancy statistics. Malnutrition is another contributing factor, especially among children and rural communities, and it compounds vulnerability to infectious diseases and chronic conditions. Access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation, though improving gradually, remains inconsistent across the country. Myanmar's political instability and internal conflicts have compounded these public health challenges. The military coup of February 2021 severely disrupted healthcare services, leading to a sharp decline in routine immunizations, maternal health services, and the treatment of chronic diseases. Many trained medical professionals joined civil disobedience movements and ceased working in government facilities, further straining an already fragile health system. Humanitarian organizations have reported worsening health indicators in conflict-affected regions, and ongoing civil conflict continues to displace large portions of the population, limiting their access to even basic care. Prior to 2021, Myanmar had made measurable progress in improving life expectancy over the preceding two decades, largely through targeted public health campaigns, expanded vaccination programs, and international health assistance. However, the post-coup environment has reversed some of these gains and introduced significant uncertainty around future improvement. The deterioration of health infrastructure, combined with reduced international aid access in certain regions, has made it difficult to sustain earlier advances. For travelers and expatriates, it is advisable to ensure comprehensive travel health insurance and to carry necessary medications, as access to reliable medical facilities — particularly outside Yangon and Mandalay — can be limited and unpredictable.

Infant Mortality Rate

Burma's infant mortality rate reflects the ongoing challenges the country faces in delivering adequate healthcare to its population, particularly in rural and conflict-affected regions. As of recent estimates, Burma records approximately 32 to 35 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that, while representing significant improvement over past decades, remains notably higher than regional neighbors such as Thailand and Malaysia. Infant mortality in Burma is driven by several interconnected factors. Neonatal conditions — including preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia, and neonatal infections — account for a substantial portion of deaths in the first year of life. Diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, and vaccine-preventable illnesses also contribute meaningfully to infant deaths, particularly in areas with limited access to clean water and sanitation. Geographic disparities are pronounced. Infants born in rural areas, remote hill regions, or states experiencing ongoing armed conflict, such as Kachin, Shan, and Rakhine, face considerably higher mortality risks than those born in urban centers like Yangon or Naypyidaw. In these underserved regions, access to skilled birth attendants, postnatal care, and essential medicines is severely restricted. The political instability following the 2021 military coup has compounded these challenges substantially. Healthcare infrastructure has been disrupted, medical professionals have faced intimidation and displacement, and international humanitarian aid has encountered significant barriers to reaching vulnerable populations. UNICEF and other international agencies have raised concerns that years of incremental gains in child survival outcomes may be at risk of reversal. Historically, Burma's infant mortality rate has declined from levels exceeding 80 per 1,000 live births in the early 1990s, a testament to past immunization drives, maternal health initiatives, and improved nutritional programs. However, sustaining and accelerating this progress depends heavily on political stability, restored healthcare funding, and renewed investment in community-level health services — conditions that remain uncertain in the current environment.

Country Identity

Country Name

Burma

Full Country Name

Union of Burma

Local - Long

Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar)

Local - Short

Myanma Naingngandaw

Former Name

Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma

Government Structure

Government Type

military regime

Legal System

has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive Branch

chief of state: Senior General MIN AUNG HLAING, Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), serving as both head of state and head of government following the military coup of February 1, 2021 (since August 1, 2021, when he assumed the role of Prime Minister in addition to SAC Chairman) head of government: Prime Minister Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since August 1, 2021); prior to the coup, State Counsellor AUNG SAN SUU KYI served as de facto head of government from 2016 until her detention on February 1, 2021 cabinet: The State Administration Council (SAC), established following the February 2021 military coup, serves as the ruling body; the SAC suspended the constitution, detained elected civilian leaders, and declared a state of emergency that has been repeatedly extended; the military, known as the Tatmadaw, previously ruled under the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) from 1997 to 2011 elections: The SAC annulled the results of the November 2020 general elections, which the National League for Democracy (NLD) had won by a landslide; no credible national elections have been held since; the military has repeatedly postponed a promised return to democratic elections, and the political situation remains highly unstable amid ongoing armed conflict across the country

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament or Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, consisting of the House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw) with 224 seats and the House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw) with 440 seats; members serve five-year terms, with one-quarter of seats in each chamber reserved for military appointees selected by the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services. Elections: Last general election held 8 November 2020; the military (Tatmadaw) staged a coup on 1 February 2021, detaining elected leaders including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, and dissolving the elected parliament. The military established a State Administration Council (SAC) to govern the country and has suspended normal legislative functions indefinitely. Election results (2020, prior to coup): percent of vote by party - NLD approximately 58%, USDP approximately 6%, other parties the remainder; seats by party - NLD 396, USDP 33, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy 15, other parties and independents 57; military appointees 166. The military's Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) disputed the results, alleging widespread fraud, a claim that independent observers did not substantiate.

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Constitution

3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); national convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new constitution; progress has since been stalled

Independence

4 January 1948 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 4 January (1948)

Capital City

Capital Name

Rangoon (aka Yangon, continues to be recognized as the primary Burmese capital by the US Government); Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital

Capital - geographic coordinate

16 48 N, 96 10 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Military

Branches: Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay)

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code

kyats (MMK)

GDP — official exchange rate

$7,464,000,000 (USD)

GDP Real Growth Rate

-1%