Contents

Country Overview

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a Southeast Asian country spanning the Irrawaddy basin, Shan Plateau, border highlands and the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. Its contemporary institutions cannot be described accurately without the February 2021 military coup, the subsequent armed conflict and the contested December 2025–January 2026 elections. Former military commander Min Aung Hlaing became president in April 2026 under a military-dominated government; opposition parties were excluded or dissolved, and large areas remained outside consistent central control. The country has rich ethnolinguistic traditions and agricultural, energy and manufacturing activity, but conflict, displacement and the March 2025 earthquake have disrupted livelihoods and statistical collection.

Reference status: Contemporary country profile • Verified: November 6, 2026 • Source years and statistical or jurisdictional limitations are stated.

CapitalNay Pyi TawAdministrative capital; Yangon major commercial center [1]
Population54.85 millionWorld Bank 2025 estimate, different from 2024 census [2] [4]
2025 GDPUS$81.67 billionWorld Bank calendar-year series [2]
PresidentMin Aung HlaingIn office since April 2026; military-dominated government [6] [7]
Humanitarian needs16.2 millionUN 2026 appeal; not all are refugees [11]
UNESCO World Heritage2 propertiesBagan and Pyu Ancient Cities [14]

Data and status note: The final 2024 population census reports 51,375,327 persons: 32,183,599 directly enumerated and 19,191,728 estimated in inaccessible areas, not a complete door-to-door census. The earlier provisional 51,316,756 figure was superseded. The World Bank 2025 population estimate of 54,850,648 is from a separate international model. The December 2025–January 2026 election occurred in only 263 of 330 townships and was widely criticized; do not equate election conduct with a fully free national vote. UNHCR October 2026 internal displacement figures and September refugee counts are different populations. WTO imports refer to 2025 and exports to 2024.

Identity & State Formation

Official name
Republic of the Union of Myanmar. [1] [6]
Other common name
Burma remains widely used in English, including in some U.S. government documents. [7]
Capital
Nay Pyi Taw (Naypyidaw), seat of national administrative institutions. [1]
Former capital
Yangon (Rangoon) served as principal capital before the 2005–2006 transfer. [1]
UN statistical region
South-eastern Asia in the UN M49 grouping. [1]
Geographic setting
Southeast Asian mainland with coasts on the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. [1] [19]
Independence date
January 4, 1948, after British colonial rule. [7]
Historical British rule
Colonial Burma was administered within the British imperial system before independence. [7]
Post-independence politics
Civil war and ethnic armed conflicts have marked much of the independent period. [7]
1962 coup
Military takeover inaugurated decades of direct military rule. [7]
1988 uprising
Mass pro-democracy protests became a defining modern political event. [7]
1990 election
Electoral victory by opposition did not lead to a transfer of governing power. [7]
2011 transition
Partial civilian administration began amid continued military privileges. [7]
2015 election
National League for Democracy won the general election under the 2008 constitutional system. [7]
2020 election
Civilian-led government was re-elected; military subsequently rejected the result. [7]
2021 coup
Military seized power on February 1, 2021, detaining civilian leaders. [7]
2026 presidency
Min Aung Hlaing became president after the 2025–2026 military-organized election. [6] [7]
Constitutional situation
The 2008 constitution remains a key claimed institutional framework, but effective territorial authority is contested. [7]
Official language
Burmese (Myanmar language) is the official national language. [4]
Writing system
Burmese script is widely used for the dominant national language. [4]
Currency
Myanmar kyat (MMK). [20]
Government setting
Military-dominated republic in civil war; electoral legitimacy is widely disputed. [7] [8]
Country name history
Government officially adopted Myanmar as the English short form in 1989. [7]
UN membership
Myanmar has belonged to the United Nations since 1948. [17]
WTO membership
Myanmar became a founding WTO member in 1995. [10]
ASEAN membership
Myanmar joined ASEAN in 1997. [16]
National flag
Horizontal yellow, green and red bands with a central white star. [1]
Principal seaport
Yangon region remains an important commercial transport hub. [10]
Humanitarian concern
National status summaries must separate legal offices from field control and humanitarian conditions. [7] [11]

Geography & Population

Land area
Approximately 676,578 square kilometres total national area. [1]
Northern neighbour
China. [1]
Eastern neighbours
China, Laos and Thailand. [1]
Western neighbours
Bangladesh and India. [1]
Marine frontages
Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. [1] [19]
Main lowland
Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River basin and delta. [19]
Ayeyarwady River
Major north–south drainage and transport artery. [19]
Chindwin River
Important western tributary of the Ayeyarwady. [19]
Salween River
Thanlwin/Salween flows through eastern highlands to the Andaman Sea. [19]
Shan Plateau
Eastern elevated region with complex river systems and ethnic diversity. [19]
Rakhine coast
Western coastal zone along the Bay of Bengal. [19]
Northern mountains
Kachin highlands contain some of Southeast Asia’s highest summits. [19]
Highest peak
Hkakabo Razi, commonly cited at around 5,881 metres, near the northern border. [19]
Delta economy
Ayeyarwady Delta supports important rice cultivation and settlement. [19] [10]
Monsoon climate
Seasonal rainfall dominates many coastal and lowland landscapes. [19]
Wet season
Southwest monsoon brings much of the annual precipitation. [19]
Dry season
Cooler and drier months occur over much of the country outside the monsoon. [19]
Cyclone exposure
Coastal communities face tropical storms and storm surge. [19] [3]
Cyclone Mocha
May 2023 storm caused extensive coastal damage and displacement. [3]
Typhoon Yagi impacts
September 2024 flooding worsened displacement and losses. [3]
Seismic exposure
Sagaing Fault and associated tectonic processes create earthquake risk. [13]
2025 earthquake
Magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025. [13]
Earthquake affected areas
Mandalay, Sagaing and neighbouring regions sustained serious damage. [13]
Earthquake impact
World Bank estimated approximately US$11 billion direct damage, about 14% of GDP. [3]
World Bank population estimate
54,850,648 residents in 2025. [2]
Final 2024 census total
51,375,327 on reference date September 30, 2024. [4]
Directly enumerated 2024
32,183,599 persons in accessible locations under final census reporting. [4]
Estimated 2024 uncounted
19,191,728 residents estimated in places without full enumeration. [4]
Earlier provisional total
51,316,756; superseded by the final census report. [5] [4]
Enumeration coverage caution
Direct interviews did not reach many conflict-affected areas. [4] [7]
Census comparability
Official 2024 census and World Bank 2025 population use different methods and reference dates. [4] [2]
Population growth
World Bank 2025 population growth estimate about 0.6%. [2]
Life expectancy
About 67 years at birth in World Bank 2024 series. [2]
Internal displacement
UNHCR operational portal reports about 4.055 million internally displaced as of October 26, 2026. [12]
Geographic uncertainty
Continued armed conflict can change access and actual administrative control. [7] [11]
Wetland and forests
Mangrove, tropical forest and upland ecosystems face development and conflict pressures. [19]

Population figures and coverage

Official census figures include modelled uncounted areas; preliminary totals differ from final. The 2025 World Bank series is methodologically distinct. [4] [5] [2]

Measure Population Method / date
Final 2024 national total51,375,327Directly counted and estimated; 30 Sep 2024
Final 2024 directly counted32,183,599Accessible enumeration areas
Final 2024 estimated19,191,728Not directly enumerated
Earlier provisional 2024 total51,316,756Superseded by final union report
World Bank 2025 estimate54,850,648Independent international annual estimate

Economy & International Trade

GDP
World Bank 2025 nominal GDP approximately US$81.67 billion. [2]
GDP per capita
World Bank 2025 current-dollar GDP per capita approximately US$1,489. [2]
GDP growth
World Bank 2025 calendar-year growth was approximately −2.0%. [2]
Different fiscal projection
World Bank projected a 2.5% contraction for FY2025/26; not the same as calendar-year growth. [3]
Economic setting
Civil war, inflation, damage and power disruptions constrain production and trade. [3] [7]
Agriculture
Rice, beans, pulses, sesame and other crops form important rural livelihoods. [10] [3]
Rice
Milled and broken rice are leading merchandise-export items. [10]
Pulses
Dried beans and related crops are major export products. [10]
Natural gas
Gas fields and pipelines provide notable foreign-exchange earnings. [10]
2024 merchandise exports
US$14.924 billion in the WTO profile. [10]
2025 merchandise imports
US$14.791 billion in WTO reporting. [10]
Trade-year warning
These exports and imports cover different years; do not subtract them to claim a single-year balance. [10]
2024 export destination
China took approximately 23.2% of merchandise exports. [10]
2024 Thailand export share
Approximately 19.5%. [10]
2024 European Union export share
Approximately 17.0%. [10]
2024 India export share
Approximately 8.5%. [10]
2025 import origin
China supplied approximately 40.2% of merchandise imports. [10]
2025 Singapore imports
Approximately 17.9%. [10]
2025 Thailand imports
Approximately 10.8%. [10]
2025 Malaysia imports
Approximately 9.6%. [10]
Natural gas export share
About 21.5% of 2024 goods exports under the WTO HS product classification. [10]
Beans export share
A leading dried-bean category accounted for approximately 8.5% of exports in 2024. [10]
Milled rice export share
About 5.5% for the named WTO product category in 2024. [10]
Textile industry
Garment manufacturing connects Myanmar to Asian and European supply chains. [10] [3]
Tourism sector
Archaeological, cultural and coastal tourism exists but is disrupted by insecurity. [14] [7]
Currency
Myanmar kyat (MMK). [20]
Monetary pressures
Depreciation and inflation complicate price comparability and trade accounting. [3] [20]
Central bank
Central Bank of Myanmar operates within current governing arrangements. [6]
Fiscal capacity
Conflict and economic shocks weaken revenue collection and spending services. [3]
Electricity supply
Unreliable electricity and fuel shortages constrain firms and households. [3] [11]
Infrastructure loss
2025 earthquake damaged roads, buildings and other critical facilities. [13] [3]
Migration and remittances
Cross-border movement and work are significant to families and communities. [12]
Cross-border commerce
Neighboring China and Thailand are major merchandise markets. [10]
Economic data reliability
Conflict, informal activity and inconsistent coverage limit the precision of some estimates. [3] [7]
Foreign exchange
Gas, agricultural commodities, garment exports and remittances contribute external earnings. [10] [12]
Reconstruction
Earthquake and conflict recovery require substantial public and humanitarian resources. [3] [11]

2025 World Bank macroeconomic reference

Do not compare the annual GDP growth observation and FY2025/26 estimate as if they use the same period. [2] [3]

Indicator Value Reference
Population54,850,6482025 annual estimate
GDPUS$81.67 billion2025, current dollars
GDP per capitaUS$1,4892025, current dollars
Real GDP growth−2.0%Calendar year 2025
FY2025/26 growth forecast−2.5%Different fiscal window, World Bank overview

WTO merchandise trade: mixed data years

Exports and imports refer to different years: these figures cannot establish an annual bilateral or national trade balance. [10]

Measure Amount Year
Goods exportsUS$14,923.8 million2024
Goods importsUS$14,790.5 million2025
Export share to China23.2%2024
Export share to Thailand19.5%2024
Import share from China40.2%2025

Leading merchandise export categories

Specific HS product classifications, not all agricultural or energy categories combined. [10]

Product Share Reference year
Natural gas, gaseous21.5%2024
Selected dried beans8.5%2024
Milled rice5.5%2024
Maize4.6%2024
Broken rice3.0%2024

People & Society

Ethnolinguistic diversity
Bamar, Shan, Karen, Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, Mon and many other communities live in Myanmar. [4]
Burmese language
National lingua franca, spoken alongside many regional languages. [4]
Shan languages
Tai-language varieties are used in Shan communities. [4]
Karen languages
Several Karenic language varieties are spoken in southeastern areas. [4]
Kachin languages
Jinghpaw and related languages are used among Kachin communities. [4]
Chin languages
Diverse Tibeto-Burman languages are used in western highlands. [4]
Rohingya
Rohingya communities, especially associated with Rakhine State, face severe rights and displacement issues. [12] [21]
Religious majority
Theravada Buddhism is the largest religious tradition. [4]
Other faiths
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and traditional practices are present. [4]
Buddhist monasteries
Monastic institutions influence learning, festivals and community life. [14]
Temple heritage
Bagan is renowned for an extensive cultural landscape of Buddhist religious monuments. [14]
Pyu heritage
Ancient Pyu city sites attest early urban traditions. [14]
Thingyan
Water-based traditional new-year festival in April. [15]
Thingyan UNESCO
Atā Thingyan festival was inscribed on UNESCO intangible list in 2024. [15]
Intangible UNESCO count
One listed national element as of cutoff; pending nominations are not inscriptions. [15]
Thanakha
Traditional cosmetic paste from tree bark is a cultural practice; nomination is not yet inscription. [15]
Longyi clothing
Wrap-around garment commonly used in many social contexts. [15]
Culinary staple
Rice with regional curries, vegetables, fermented and noodle dishes. [4]
Urban centers
Yangon and Mandalay are major cities distinct from Nay Pyi Taw administrative capital. [1]
Education pressure
Displacement and conflict repeatedly interrupt schooling. [11]
Schooling gaps
Humanitarian partners support learning opportunities for displaced children. [11]
Health access
Conflict, supply shortages and disasters constrain medical care. [11] [18]
2025 earthquake burden
Hospital and health-infrastructure damage worsened access in affected regions. [13]
Humanitarian needs
Approximately 16.2 million people required assistance in 2026 UN planning. [11]
Children in need
About 4.9 million children among people needing assistance in 2026. [11]
June 2026 internal displacement
Nearly 3.8 million according to UNICEF reporting then. [11]
October 2026 internal displacement
About 4,054,900 according to UNHCR operational reporting October 26. [12]
Refugees abroad
Approximately 1,638,800 Myanmar refugees/asylum seekers in neighboring countries as of September 30, 2026. [12]
Bangladesh hosting
UNHCR recorded about 1,206,500 Myanmar refugees/asylum seekers in Bangladesh in September 2026. [12]
Rohingya statelessness
UNHCR maintains separate cross-border stateless and refugee indicators; populations can overlap. [12]
Census limitation
Official religious and household breakdowns based on directly counted population exclude estimated areas. [4]
Ethnic complexity
Census classifications and official recognition do not encompass all groups’ self-identifications. [4] [21]
Civilian protection
Armed conflict has generated civilian casualties, landmine risks and movement constraints. [11] [21]
Flood risk
Monsoonal flooding can damage housing, water systems and livelihoods. [19] [11]
Cultural safeguarding
Conflict and earthquake damage threaten temples, museums and local traditions. [14] [13]

Humanitarian indicators, dated

Different populations, dates, and definitions; do not combine or add these estimates without addressing overlap. [11] [12]

Population category Estimated count As of
People needing assistance16.2 million2026 UN humanitarian program
Internally displacedNearly 3.8 millionJune 2026 UNICEF report
Internally displaced4,054,900October 26, 2026 UNHCR
Refugees/asylum seekers in nearby countries1,638,800September 30, 2026 UNHCR
Myanmar refugees in Bangladesh1,206,500September 30, 2026 UNHCR

Government & Institutions

Formally claimed state
Republic of the Union of Myanmar under a military-dominated 2008-constitution framework. [7]
Power transition
Military ousted the elected civilian-led government February 1, 2021. [7]
Current president
Min Aung Hlaing, elected to presidency in April 2026. [6]
President background
Former commander of the armed forces and leader of the 2021 coup. [7]
Vice president one
Nyo Saw, listed as vice president in October 2026. [6]
Vice president two
Nan Ni Ni Aye, listed as vice president in October 2026. [6]
Nominally civilian government
April 2026 offices did not end military predominance or the civil war. [7]
Parliament name
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, comprising two chambers. [7]
Lower house
Pyithu Hluttaw, constitutionally 440 seats when fully constituted. [7] [8]
Upper house
Amyotha Hluttaw, constitutionally 224 seats when fully constituted. [7] [8]
Military reserved seats
Constitutional system reserves 25% of parliamentary seats for appointed military personnel. [7] [8]
Election first stage
December 28, 2025. [9]
Election second stage
January 11, 2026. [9]
Election third stage
January 25, 2026. [9]
Election coverage
Voting conducted in 263 of 330 townships under official figures. [9] [8]
Townships without polling
67 of 330 townships were not included in the three stages. [9] [8]
Military-backed party
Union Solidarity and Development Party dominated the announced results. [8]
Suppressed opposition
National League for Democracy was dissolved; many opponents could not compete. [8] [21]
Election legitimacy
International observers and rights bodies widely disputed the poll’s freedom and legitimacy. [7] [8]
Election-result caution
Resulting institutions should not be described as demonstrating full democratic national participation. [7] [8]
Civil conflict
Armed resistance and multiple ethnic armed organizations challenge the central government. [7] [11]
Territorial control
Military authorities do not exercise stable control of all territory. [7]
Legal framework
2008 constitution and executive orders are cited by ruling authorities. [7]
Security institutions
Armed forces retain broad constitutional and practical influence. [7]
Judicial independence
Rights organizations document major rule-of-law and due-process problems. [21]
Political detentions
Opposition leaders and political prisoners have faced prolonged detention. [21] [7]
Humanitarian access
Fighting and official restrictions impede humanitarian delivery. [11]
Administrative states
Seven named states form one category of subnational government. [4]
Administrative regions
Seven named regions constitute the other main category. [4]
Union territory
Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory has a separate administrative designation. [4]
Local townships
The frequently cited national total is 330 townships. [9]
Rohingya citizenship
Discriminatory citizenship and identity policies affect many Rohingya. [21] [12]
National census authority
Official 2024 census was administered under military authorities; findings require coverage caveats. [4]
Regional diplomacy
ASEAN has sought negotiations but political settlement remains unresolved. [16] [7]

2025–2026 political transition

Election sequence comes from official reporting corroborated by independent commentary; no implication that it represented a free or nationwide vote. [9] [8] [7] [6]

Event Date Qualification
Military coupFebruary 1, 2021Elected civilian leadership removed
Election phase IDecember 28, 2025102 townships
Election phase IIJanuary 11, 2026100 townships
Election phase IIIJanuary 25, 202661 townships
Election coverage263 of 330 townshipsMajor opposition excluded; legitimacy disputed
Min Aung Hlaing assumes presidencyApril 2026Military-dominated government

International Profile

UN member
Myanmar joined the United Nations in 1948. [17]
UN statistical grouping
South-eastern Asia. [1]
ASEAN membership
Member since 1997. [16]
ASEAN diplomacy
ASEAN has pursued a five-point consensus amid contested political legitimacy. [16] [7]
WTO membership
WTO founding member since January 1995. [10]
China relationship
Trade and cross-border infrastructure are significant. [10]
Thailand relationship
Major neighbor, trade market and destination for refugees. [10] [12]
India relationship
Western-border commerce and people movements. [10] [12]
Bangladesh relationship
Large-scale Rohingya refugee-hosting arrangements dominate humanitarian diplomacy. [12]
Regional refugee figures
UNHCR totals cover multiple countries and change monthly. [12]
Stateless Rohingya
Stateless Rohingya refugee and asylum-seeker figures can be subsets of broader refugee counts. [12]
Internal versus external
Internally displaced people have not necessarily crossed an international border. [12] [11]
Humanitarian assistance
UN agencies and NGOs coordinate food, health, protection and relief operations. [11]
International access
Sanctions and banking constraints complicate transactions and humanitarian programs. [7] [3]
Cross-border conflict
Military operations and displacement affect relations with neighbors. [7] [12]
UNESCO World Heritage total
Two properties inscribed, both cultural. [14]
Pyu Ancient Cities
Inscribed in 2014. [14]
Bagan
Inscribed in 2019. [14]
UNESCO tentative list
Fifteen entries; tentative sites are not World Heritage inscriptions. [14]
UNESCO intangible total
One inscribed intangible cultural heritage element. [15]
Thingyan festival
Myanmar traditional New Year Atā Thingyan inscribed in 2024. [15]
Heritage threat
Conflict and natural disasters affect conservation and visitor access. [13] [14]
Cyclone cooperation
Disaster assistance coordinates with countries exposed to Bay of Bengal storms. [19] [11]
Earthquake response
March 2025 magnitude-7.7 earthquake triggered international emergency assistance. [13]
Earthquake damages
World Bank assessed approximately US$11 billion in direct economic damage. [3]
UN 2026 need estimate
16.2 million people needing humanitarian support. [11]
UNHCR October 2026 IDPs
About 4.055 million internally displaced inside Myanmar. [12]
UNHCR September 2026 refugees
About 1.639 million refugees/asylum seekers in nearby countries. [12]
Bangladesh share
Bangladesh hosted the majority of Myanmar refugees in September 2026 figures. [12]
UNHCR indicator overlap
Rohingya stateless persons are recorded separately and may be included in refugee/IDP populations. [12]
World Health Organization
WHO contributes epidemic surveillance, health assistance and indicators. [18]
World Bank engagement
World Bank research tracks poverty, economic losses and disaster needs. [3]
Human rights monitoring
Independent bodies track rights abuses and political participation restrictions. [21]
Ethical data practice
Treat official authority claims, humanitarian estimates and independent analysis as distinct source types. [7] [4] [11]
Future elections
Any subsequent voting must be evaluated for coverage, participation and security conditions. [7] [8]
Territorial claim limits
State borders should not be confused with government control of all internal districts. [7]

UNESCO listed cultural heritage

Two inscribed World Heritage sites and one separately inscribed intangible element; tentative nominations are not inscriptions. [14] [15]

Registry Entry Year
World HeritagePyu Ancient Cities2014
World HeritageBagan2019
Intangible Cultural HeritageAtā Thingyan traditional New Year festival2024

Sources and Methodology

Methodological and political-source note: the Union 2024 final census includes directly enumerated and estimated non-enumerated areas; its publisher is a state authority under military-dominated governance. The World Bank supplies a different 2025 population series and calendar GDP. The 2025–26 elections excluded significant territory and opposition groups, and official officeholder titles should not be treated as proof of democratic legitimacy. UNHCR refugee and IDP populations differ and change frequently. WTO exports are for 2024 but imports for 2025; no cross-year implied trade balance. UNESCO has separate heritage registries.

Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). All stated population counts, prices, elections, and legal statuses have specific reference dates or qualifications. This page should be updated following major new statistical releases or changes of government.

  1. UN Statistics Division — M49 geographic classification — Southeast Asia classification and standard codes.
  2. World Bank — Myanmar country indicators — 2025 population, nominal GDP, GDP growth and social indicators.
  3. World Bank — Myanmar country overview — earthquake damages, development and 2025/26 fiscal-year projections.
  4. Myanmar Department of Population — Final 2024 Census Union Report — final 2024 counted versus estimated population; source produced under current authorities.
  5. Myanmar Department of Population — 2024 provisional census — superseded 2024 preliminary population figures.
  6. CIA World Leaders — Burma, updated October 13, 2026 — president, vice presidents and executive structure; recognition caveat.
  7. Congressional Research Service — Burma: Background and Issues for Congress, May 2026 — 2021 coup, nominal civilian government and political constraints.
  8. Reuters — Myanmar election and military-backed party, January 30, 2026 — 2025–26 election, exclusions, contested political legitimacy and armed conflict.
  9. Myanmar Ministry of Information — election phases, January 27, 2026 — government statement on 263 of 330 townships and dates; not independent validation.
  10. WTO — Myanmar tariff and trade profile — 2025 imports, 2024 exports and major products/partners.
  11. UNICEF / United Nations — Myanmar humanitarian situation, September 16, 2026 — 16.2 million needing assistance and June 2026 displacement.
  12. UNHCR Operational Data Portal — Myanmar Situation — October 26 IDPs and September 30 regional refugee/asylum-seeker numbers.
  13. United Nations — central Myanmar 2025 earthquake report — March 2025 quake and response.
  14. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Myanmar — two inscribed cultural properties and tentative list.
  15. UNESCO Intangible Heritage — Myanmar — Thingyan New Year listing and nomination status.
  16. Association of Southeast Asian Nations — member states — ASEAN membership and multilateral structure.
  17. United Nations — Member States — Myanmar UN membership.
  18. WHO — Myanmar country data — health indicators and administrative context.
  19. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal — Myanmar — cyclones, floods, monsoon exposure and climate risks.
  20. International Monetary Fund — Myanmar — economic challenges and monetary context.
  21. Human Rights Watch — Myanmar 2026 country chapter — rights violations, conflict and contested political participation.