Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 note: as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only for the government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.mm

Internet users [time series]

10,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios [time series]

4.2 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government; international service is good domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

250,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

8,492 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1998)

Televisions [time series]

320,000 (2000)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $7.9 billion expenditures: $12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7 billion (FY96/97)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

kyat (MMK)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

MMK

Debt - external [time series]

$6 billion

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$99 million (FY98/99)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Burma is a resource-rich country that suffers from abject rural poverty. The military regime took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the economy after decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism", but those efforts have since stalled. Burma has been unable to achieve monetary or fiscal stability, resulting in an economy that suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including an official exchange rate that overvalues the Burmese kyat by more than 100 times the market rate. In addition, most overseas development assistance ceased after the junta suppressed the democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently ignored the results of the 1990 election. Burma is data poor, and official statistics are often dated and inaccurate. Published estimates of Burma's foreign trade are greatly understated because of the size of the black market and border trade - often estimated to be one to two times the official economy.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

4.432 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

4.766 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 83% hydro: 17% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

kyats per US dollar - official rate - 6.8581 (January 2002), 6.7489 (2001), 6.5167 (2000), 6.2858 (1999), 6.3432 (1998), 6.2418 (1997); kyats per US dollar - black market exchange rate - 435 (yearend 2000)

Exports [time series]

$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities [time series]

apparel 55%, foodstuffs 18%, wood products 13%, precious stones 2% (2000)

Exports - partners [time series]

US 27%, India 16%, China 7%, Japan 6%, Singapore 6% (2000 est.) note: official trade statistics do not include trade in illicit goods - such as narcotics, teak, and gems - or the largely unrecorded border trade with China and Thailand

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $63 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 42% industry: 17% services: 41% (2000 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2001 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.3% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 32% (1998)

Imports [time series]

$2.2 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, food products, textile fabrics, petroleum products

Imports - partners [time series]

China 26%, Singapore 23%, South Korea 15%, Japan 10%, Taiwan 10% (2000 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

20% (2001 est.)

Labor force [time series]

23.7 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 65%, industry 10%, services 25% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

25% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.1% (2001 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 678,500 sq km land: 657,740 sq km water: 20,760 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Texas

Climate [time series]

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)

Coastline [time series]

1,930 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

22 00 N, 98 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

Irrigated land [time series]

15,920 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 5,876 km border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 14.53% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 84.57% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Administrative divisions [time series]

7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular - yin) and 7 states (pyine-mya, singular - pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*, Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*

Capital [time series]

Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon)

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Union of Burma conventional short form: Burma local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar) 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; this decision was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the US Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Permanent Charge d'Affaires Carmen M. MARTINEZ embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521) mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546 telephone: [95] (1) 256-019, 256-016 FAX: [95] (1) 256-018

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador TIN WINN consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 332-9046 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044 chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta, so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18 September 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council; the SPDC oversees the cabinet elections: none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation of the former prime minister

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions

Government type [time series]

military regime

Independence [time series]

4 January 1948 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NLD 392, SNLD 23, NUP 10, other 60

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 4 January (1948)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP (proregime) [THA KYAW]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [U KHUN TUN OO]; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (proregime, a social and political organization) [THAN AUNG, general secretary]; and other smaller parties

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

All Burma Student Democratic Front or ABSDF; Kachin Independence Army or KIA; Karen National Union or KNU; National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB [Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but not recognized by the military regime (the group fled to a border area and joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government); several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-86) 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 outside of the Commonwealth was attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as president, and later as political kingmaker. Despite multiparty elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party winning a decisive victory, the ruling military junta refused to hand over power. Key opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, was again placed under house detention from September 2000 to May 2002; her supporters are routinely harassed or jailed.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$39 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2.1% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 12,211,144 note: both sexes liable for military service (2002 est.) females age 15-49: 12,223,069

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 6,502,013 females age 15-49: 6,491,732 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 486,432 females: 470,667 (2002 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 28.6% (male 6,158,039; female 5,905,314) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 13,976,047; female 14,162,467) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 905,476; female 1,130,881) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.65 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.99% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

48,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

530,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

72.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 55.41 years female: 57.07 years (2002 est.) male: 53.85 years

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.1% male: 88.7% female: 77.7% (1995 est.) note: these are official statistics; estimates of functional literacy are likely closer to 30% (1999 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Burmese (singular and plural) adjective: Burmese

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

42,238,224 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.56% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.23 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

despite renewed border committee talks, significant differences remain with Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic guerrilla rebels, refugees, smuggling, and drug trafficking in cross-border region; Burmese attempts to construct a dam on border stream with Bangladesh in 2001 prompted an armed response halting construction; Burmese Muslim migration into Bangladesh strains Bangladesh's meager resources

Illicit drugs [time series]

world's second largest producer of illicit opium (potential production in 2002 - 630 metric tons, down 27% due to drought and, to a lesser extent, eradication; cultivation in 2002 - 77,000 hectares, a 27% decline from 2001); surrender of drug warlord KHUN SA's Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was hailed by Rangoon as a major counternarcotics success, but lack of government will and ability 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

Airports [time series]

80 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 72 under 914 m: 34 (2002) over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 20

Heliports [time series]

1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 28,200 km paved: 3,440 km unpaved: 24,760 km (1996)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 382,386 GRT/582,084 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 5, Japan 4 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 21, container 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 1,343 km; natural gas 330 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina, Rangoon, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy

Railways [time series]

total: 3,991 km narrow gauge: 3,991 km 1.000-m gauge (2000 est.)

Waterways [time series]

12,800 km note: 3,200 km navigable by large commercial vessels

Burma (Myanmar)