Myanmar Profile:

• Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and formerly known as Burma, is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia.
• Myanmar is a country rich in jade and gems, oil, natural gas and other mineral resources.
• As of 2016, Myanmar ranks 145 out of 188 countries in human development, according to the Human Development Index. Myanmar rates as a corrupt nation on the Corruption Perceptions Index with a rank of 136th out of 176 countries worldwide, with 1st being least corrupt, as of 2016.
• Myanmar has been a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 1997.
• Continuing criticism of the government’s treatment of ethnic minorities, it is responsible to the ethnic insurgency and religious clashes.

Myanmar Economy:

• Myanmar is one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia, suffering from decades of stagnation, mismanagement, and isolation.
• The income gap in Myanmar is among the widest in the world, as a large proportion of the economy is controlled by supporters of the former military government.
• The lack of an educated workforce skilled in modern technology hinders Myanmar’s economy, although recent reforms and developments carried out by the new government, in collaboration with foreign countries and organizations aim to make this a thing of the past.
• Despite the improvements, living standards have not improved for the majority of the people residing in rural areas and approximately 26% of the country’s 51 million people live in poverty.
• Economic reforms have included establishing a managed float of the Burmese kyat in 2012, granting the Central Bank operational independence in July 2013, enacting a new anti-corruption law in September 2013, and granting licenses to nine foreign banks in 2014 and four more foreign banks in 2016.

Myanmar Facts:

• Population: 55.1 million
• Capital: Naypyidaw
• Largest city: Yangon
• Area: 676,578 sq km
• Major language: Burmese (official)
• Major religion: Buddhist 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%
• Life expectancy: 66.6 years (Male), 69.9 years (Female)
• Monetary unit: 1 Kyat (K, MMK) = 100 Pyas
• Main exports: Natural gas; wood products; pulses and beans; fish; rice; clothing; minerals, including jade and gems
• GNI per Capita: $5,540