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ABOUT MYANMAR (Burma)
History
Myanmar (official name: Union of the Republic of Myanmar) is the largest country of South-East Asia, formerly called Burma. The country obtained its independance from the United Kingdom January 4th, 1948. From 1948 until 1962 the country was a republic known as the Union of Burma. On 2 March 1962, the military led by General Ne Win took control of Burma through a miltary coup and the government was under a military dictatorship for nearly half a century.
Since 2010, the Myanmar government underwent major democratic reforms. The military junta was dissolved in March 2011 and a new civilian president, Thein Sein, was inaugurated. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest. In 2012, she was elected to the Lower House during by-elections. Since these political changes, aspects of Myanmar have transformed the country: tourism has flourished, economic reforms have taken place, connections with other countries have increased, visits from foreign dignitaries have resumed, thousands of political prisoners have been released, and peace treaties have been signed with various ethnic groups.
The culture of the country is strongly influenced by Buddhism, the official religion of Myanmar, and is extremely diverse taking into account its multiple ethnic groups.
Geopraghy
Myanmar is bordered by the People's Republic of China on the north, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, and India on the northwest, with the Andaman Sea to the south, and the Bay of Bengal to the southwest. One-third of Myanmar's total perimeter, 1,930 kilometers (1,199 mi), forms an uninterrupted coastline. Much of the country lies in the monsoon region of Asia, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator.
Myanmar's diverse population has played a major role in defining its politics, history and demographics in modern times.
Myanmar (official name: Union of the Republic of Myanmar) is the largest country of South-East Asia, formerly called Burma. The country obtained its independance from the United Kingdom January 4th, 1948. From 1948 until 1962 the country was a republic known as the Union of Burma. On 2 March 1962, the military led by General Ne Win took control of Burma through a miltary coup and the government was under a military dictatorship for nearly half a century.
Since 2010, the Myanmar government underwent major democratic reforms. The military junta was dissolved in March 2011 and a new civilian president, Thein Sein, was inaugurated. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest. In 2012, she was elected to the Lower House during by-elections. Since these political changes, aspects of Myanmar have transformed the country: tourism has flourished, economic reforms have taken place, connections with other countries have increased, visits from foreign dignitaries have resumed, thousands of political prisoners have been released, and peace treaties have been signed with various ethnic groups.
The culture of the country is strongly influenced by Buddhism, the official religion of Myanmar, and is extremely diverse taking into account its multiple ethnic groups.
Geopraghy
Myanmar is bordered by the People's Republic of China on the north, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, and India on the northwest, with the Andaman Sea to the south, and the Bay of Bengal to the southwest. One-third of Myanmar's total perimeter, 1,930 kilometers (1,199 mi), forms an uninterrupted coastline. Much of the country lies in the monsoon region of Asia, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator.
Myanmar's diverse population has played a major role in defining its politics, history and demographics in modern times.
- Area : 676,578 km2
- Population : 56 Million (135 ethnic groups) (7 states and 7 divisions) (6,5148 villages)
- Capital : Naypyidaw
- Largest City : Yangon
- Official Language : Myanmar (Burmese)
- Currency : Kyat
- GDP : $53.140 billion in 2012
- Per Capita GDP : $1,691 (150th nation)
