Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar,  is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south.

Myanmar Geography

Land area: 253,954 sq mi (657,741 sq km); total area: 261,969 q mi (678,500 sq km), Slightly smaller than Texas, Myanmar occupies the Thailand/Cambodia portion of the Indochinese peninsula. India lies to the northwest and China to the northeast. Bangladesh, Laos, and Thailand are also neighbors. The Bay of Bengal touches the southwest coast. The fertile delta of the Irrawaddy River in the south contains a network of interconnecting canals and nine principal river mouths.

Population

2011: 53,999,804, 2025 est. 58,120,485

growth rate: 1.084%;

birth rate: 19.31/1000;

infant mortality rate: 49.23/1000;

life expectancy: 64.88

States & Divisions

States – Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine and Shan

Divisions -Yangon, Mandalay, Bago, Ayeyarwaddy, Sagaing, Magway and Tanintharyi

Myanmar Rivers

Ayeyarwaddy River, Chindwin River, Thanlwin River and Sittaung River

Myanmar People

Myanmar is very diverse ethnically.

Sino Tibetan 89.3% – Burmese (Buma) 57.5% and other 19.8% such as Karen, Chin, Rakhine, Kachin, Intha, Lisu, Akha, Rawawng, Tai, Shan and etc…

Mon-Khmer 5.7% Mon, Palawng, Wa and Khmu

Other 5% – Rohinya, Indian, Nepali, Malay and Moken

Myanmar Economy

Rich in natural resource but majority are poor. The country is one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia, suffering from decades of stagnation, mismanagement and isolation. The lack of an educated workforce skilled in modern technology contributes to the growing problems of the economy.

Under British administration, Burma was the second-wealthiest country in South-East Asia. It had been the world’s largest exporter of rice.

The major agricultural product is rice which covers about 60% of the country’s total cultivated land area. Rice accounts for 97% of total food grain production by weight.

Myanmar Culture

A diverse range of indigenous cultures exist in Burma, the majority culture is primarily Buddhist and Bamar. Bamar culture has been influenced by the cultures of neighbouring countries. This is manifested in its language, cuisine, music, dance and theatre. The arts, particularly literature, have historically been influenced by the local form of Theravada Buddhism. Considered the national epic of Burma, the Yama Zatdaw, an adaptation of India’s Ramayana, has been influenced greatly by Thai, Mon, and Indian versions of the play.

Myanmar Religions

Many religions are practised in Burma. Religious edifices and orders have been in existence for many years.

Buddhism 89%

Christianity 4%

Islam 4%

Hinduism 1%

Other 2%