Burma
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Rangoon (aka Yangon, continues to be recognized as the primary Burmese capital by the US Government); Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital
- Population
- 57,931,718 (2025 est.)
- Area
- 676,578 sq km
- Government
- military regime
- Religions
- Buddhist 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2014 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Burman (Bamar) 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%
- Currency
- kyats (MMK)
- Life Expectancy
- 70.3 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .mm
- Climate
- 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)
- Terrain
- central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
- Natural Resources
- petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower, arable land
- Major Exports
- garments, natural gas, dried legumes, rare-earth metal compounds, precious stones (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
Burma is home to ethnic Burmans and scores of other ethnic and religious minority groups that have resisted external efforts to consolidate control of the country throughout its history.