Moving to Myanmar: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

56,590,071

Population - note

Note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS

this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

Population Growth Rate

1.05%

Urban Population

32.600000

Population in Major Urban Areas

RANGOON (capital) 4.457 million; Mandalay 1.063 million; Nay Pyi Taw 1.06 million

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Age Structure

25.770000

Median Age

27.600000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

19

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

8.05

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

2.21

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

46%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

46%

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.060000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-0.3

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Ethnic Groups

Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%

Language Note

Burma is a nation of many races - some 135 ethnic groups, with their own languages and dialects, make up its population of nearly 45 million.

It is impossible to mention more than a few of the races, for Burma is an anthropologist's paradise.

The Burmese people call their own language Bamar or Myanmar and it is the main language spoken throughout the country.

About 70 percent of the people of Burma speak one or other of the Burma Group of languages while the percentage of those speaking Burmese is estimated at ninety.

Despite the diversity and geographic separation, the national groups share with each other a wide variety of social customs and cultures.

The Burmese language vocabulary contains a large number of Pali and Sanskrit words.

The earliest Burmese writing was the Myazedi Stone Inscription. which is a four-sided stone inscription constructed in 1113 A.D. during the Pagan Period.

The inscription is written in Myanmar, Pyu, Mon, and Pali and was discovered in 1887.

Nationality Noun

Burmese (singular and plural)

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Literacy - total population

89.9%

Literacy - male

89.9%

Literacy - female

86.4%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

0.8%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

9.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

65.600000

Infant Mortality Rate

46.310000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

46.310000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

200

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.5

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

.6

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

2%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

Very high

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

94.800000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

84.300000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

22.6%

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Economic Overview

Since Burma began the transition to a civilian-led government in 2011, the country initiated economic reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment and reintegrating into the global economy.

Burma established a managed float of the Burmese kyat in 2012, granted the Central Bank operational independence in July 2013, enacted a new anti-corruption law in September 2013, and granted licenses to 13 foreign banks in 2014-16.

State Counsellor AUNG SAN SUU KYI and the ruling National League for Democracy, who took power in March 2016, have sought to improve Burma’s investment climate following the US sanctions lift in October 2016 and reinstatement of Generalized System of Preferences trade benefits in November 2016.

In October 2016, Burma passed a foreign investment law that consolidates investment regulations and eases rules on foreign ownership of businesses.

Burma’s economic growth rate recovered from a low growth of under 6% in 2011 but has been volatile between 6% and 7.2% during the past few years.

Burma’s abundant natural resources and young labor force have the potential to attract foreign investment in the energy, garment, information technology, and food and beverage sectors.

The government is focusing on accelerating agricultural productivity and land reforms, modernizing and opening the financial sector, and developing transportation and electricity infrastructure.

The government has also taken steps to improve transparency in the mining and oil sectors through the publication of reports under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2016 and 2018.

Despite these improvements, living standards have not improved for the majority of the people residing in rural areas.

Burma remains one of the poorest countries in Asia – approximately 26% of the country’s 51 million people live in poverty.

The isolationist policies and economic mismanagement of previous governments have left Burma with poor infrastructure, endemic corruption, underdeveloped human resources, and inadequate access to capital, which will require a major commitment to reverse.

The Burmese Government has been slow to address impediments to economic development such as unclear land rights, a restrictive trade licensing system, an opaque revenue collection system, and an antiquated banking system.

Industries

• Agricultural processing
• wood and wood products
• copper, tin, tungsten, iron
• cement, construction materials
• pharmaceuticals
• fertilizer
• oil and natural gas
• garments
• jade and gems

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,000.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

8.1%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$247,240,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$6,000.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

8.1%

GDP - official exchange rate

$68,280,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 57.9% Government
• Consumption: 6.2% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 37.7% Investment in
• Inventories: 0.2% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 24.4% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -26.4%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

26.3%

GDP by Sector- Industry

27.5%

GDP by Sector- services

46.2%

Industrial Growth Rate

12.2%

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Inflation Rate

7%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

1205.9

Currency Name and Code

kyats (MMK)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

15%

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Labor Force

37,150,000

Unemployment Rate

4.8%

Major Industries

• Agricultural processing
• wood and wood products
• copper, tin, tungsten, iron
• cement, construction materials
• pharmaceuticals
• fertilizer
• oil and natural gas
• garments
• jade and gems

Agriculture Products

• Rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts
• sugarcane
• fish and fish products
• hardwood

Population Below Poverty Line

32.7%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

70%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

7%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

23%

Annual Budget

$8,944,000,000 (USD)

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-3%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

13.1%

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Full Country Name

Union of Burma

Country Name

Burma

Local - Long

Pyidaungzu Thammada Myanma Naingngandaw (translated as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar)

Local - Short

Myanma Naingngandaw

Former Name

Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, Union of Myanmar

Etymology- history of name

both "Burma" and "Myanmar" derive from the name of the majority Burman (Bamar) ethnic group note: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma and the deposed parliamentary government have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state

the US Government has not officially adopted the name

Independence

4 January 1948 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)

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Government Type

military regime

Constitution

• history: previous 1947, 1974 (suspended until 2008); latest drafted 9 April 2008, approved by referendum 29 May 2008
• amendments: proposals require at least 20% approval by the Assembly of the Union membership; passage of amendments to sections of the constitution on basic principles, government structure, branches of government, state emergencies, and amendment procedures requires 75% approval by the Assembly and approval in a referendum by absolute majority of registered voters; passage of amendments to other sections requires only 75% Assembly approval; military granted 25% of parliamentary seats by default; amended 2015

Legal System:

mixed legal system of English common law (as introduced in codifications designed for colonial India) and customary law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: Acting President Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 31 July 2025)
• head of government: Prime Minister NYO SAW (since 31 July 2025)
• cabinet: Cabinet appointments shared by the president and the commander-in-chief election/appointment
• process: prior to the military takeover in 2021, president was indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the full Assembly of the Union from among 3 vice-presidential candidates nominated by the Presidential Electoral College (consists of members of the lower and upper houses and military members); the other 2 candidates became vice presidents (president elected for a 5-year term) most recent election
• date: 8 November 2020
• election results: 2020: the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 396 seats across both houses -- well above the 322 required for a parliamentary majority -- but on 1 February 2021, the military claimed the results of the election were illegitimate and deposed State Counsellor AUNG SAN SUU KYI and President WIN MYINT of the NLD, causing military-affiliated Vice President MYINT SWE (USDP) to become acting president; MYINT SWE subsequently handed power to coup leader MIN AUNG HLAING; WIN MYINT and other key leaders of the ruling NLD party were placed under arrest after the military takeover 2018: WIN MYINT elected president in an indirect by-election held on 28 March 2018 after the resignation of HTIN KYAW; Assembly of the Union vote for president - WIN MYINT (NLD) 403, MYINT SWE (USDP) 211, HENRY VAN THIO (NLD) 18, 4 votes canceled (636 votes cast) expected date of next
• election: on 31 July 2025, the military government announced that it was preparing for elections to be held in December 2025 state
• counsellor: State Counselor AUNG SAN SUU KYI (since 6 April 2016); note - under arrest since 1 February 2021 note 1: on 31 July 2025, the military ended the state of emergency that had been in place since taking over the government in February 2021, although martial law continues to exist in parts of the country; at the same time, the military dissolved the State Administrative Council (SAC), which had been the official name of the military government in Burma, and replaced it with the National Security and Peace Commission (NSPC), chaired by Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING, who also retains his position as chief of the armed forces note 2: prior to the military takeover, the state counsellor served the equivalent term of the president and was similar to a prime minister

Legislative Branch:

• Description: dissolved 1 February 2021 by the coup led by Sr. General MIN AUNG HLAING; previously bicameral Assembly of the Union or Pyidaungsu consists of: House of Nationalities or Amyotha Hluttaw, (224 seats; 168 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed and 56 appointed by the military; members serve 5-year terms) House of Representatives or Pyithu Hluttaw, (440 seats, currently 433; 330 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 110 appointed by the military; members serve 5-year terms);
• Note: on 1 February 2021, the military dissolved the Assembly of the Union, which was replaced by the State Administration Council
• Elections: House of Nationalities - last held on 8 November 2020 House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2020;
• Note: the military junta overturned the results of the 8 November legislative elections
• Election Results: 2020: House of Nationalities - percent of vote by party - NLD 61.6%, USDP 3.1%, ANP 1.8%, MUP 1.3%, KySPD 1.3%, other 5.9%, military appointees 25%; seats by party - NLD 138, USDP 7, ANP 4, MUP 3, KySPD 3, SNLD 2, TNP 2, other 2, vacant 7 (canceled due to insurgency), military appointees 56 House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NLD 58.6%, USDP 5.9%, SNLD 3.0%, other 7.5%, military 25%; seats by party - NLD 258, USDP 26, SNLD 13, ANP 4, PNO 3, TNP 3, MUP 2, KySPD 2, other 4, vacant 15 (canceled due to insurgency), military appointees 110

Judicial Branch:

• office: chief justice and judges nominated by the president, with approval of the Lower House, and appointed by the president; judges normally serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
• subordinate courts: High Courts of the Region; High Courts of the State; Court of the Self-Administered Division; Court of the Self-Administered Zone; district and township courts; special courts (for juvenile, municipal, and traffic offenses); courts martial

Regions or States:

• Summary: 7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing), 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne), 1 union territory
• regions: Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy)
• Bago
• Magway
• Mandalay
• Sagaing
• Tanintharyi
• Yangon (Rangoon) states: Chin
• Kachin
• Kayah
• Karen
• Mon
• Rakhine
• Shan union territory: Nay Pyi Taw

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Arakan National Party or ANP [THAR TUN HLA]
• Democratic Party or DP [U THU WAI]
• Kayah State Democratic Party or KySDP Kayin People's Party or KPP [TUN AUNG MYINT]
• Kokang Democracy and Unity Party or KDUP [LUO XINGGUANG]
• La Hu National Development Party or LHNDP [KYA HAR SHAL]
• Lisu National Development Party or LNDP [U ARKI DAW]
• Mon Unity Party (formed in 2019 from the All Mon Region Democracy Party and Mon National Party)
• National Democratic Force or NDF [KHIN MAUNG SWE]
• National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
• National Unity Party or NUP [U HAN SHWE]
• Pa-O National Organization or PNO [AUNG KHAM HTI]
• People's Party [KO KO GYI]
• Shan Nationalities Democratic Party or SNDP [SAI AI PAO]
• Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD Ta'ang National Party or TNP [AIK MONE]
• Tai-Leng Nationalities Development Party or TNDP [ U SAI HTAY AUNG]
• Union Solidarity and Development Party or USDP [THAN HTAY]
• Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State or UDPKS [U KHAT HTEIN NAN]
• Wa Democratic Party or WDP [KHUN HTUN LU]
• Wa National Unity Party or WNUP [NYI PALOTE]
• Zomi Congress for Democracy or ZCD [PU CIN SIAN THANG] (numerous smaller parties
• approximately 90 parties ran in the 2020 election) note 1: in January 2023, the military junta announced a new law restricting political parties and their ability to participate in elections, including: 1) barring parties and candidates deemed by the junta to have links to individuals or organizations alleged to have committed terrorism or other unlawful acts
• 2) stipulating that political parties that wanted to contest the national election would also need to secure at least 100,000 members within 90 days of registration and have funds of 100 million Myanmar kyat ($45,500), 100 times more than previously required, which would need to be deposited with a state-owned bank
• 3) requiring that any existing party must apply for registration within 60 days of the legislation being announced or be invalidated
• allowing for parties to be suspended for 3 years, and ultimately dissolved, for failing to comply with the provisions of the new law
• 4) not allowing parties to lodge an appeal against election commission decisions on registration note 2: in March 2023, the military junta announced that 40 political parties had been dissolved, including the National League for Democracy, because they did not register under the junta's new party establishment rules

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: both parents must be citizens of Burma dual citizenship
• recognized: no residency requirement for
• naturalization: none
• note: an applicant for naturalization must be the child or spouse of a citizen

Capital Name

Rangoon (aka Yangon, continues to be recognized as the primary Burmese capital by the US Government); Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital

Capital - geographic coordinate

16 48 N, 96 10 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ADB
• ARF
• ASEAN
• BIMSTEC
• CP
• EAS
• EITI (candidate country)
• FAO
• G-77
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• IHO
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO (correspondent)
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• NAM
• OPCW (signatory)
• SAARC (observer)
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Susan STEVENSON (since 10 July 2023)
• Embassy: 110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon
• Mailing Address: 4250 Rangoon Place, Washington DC 20521-4250
• Telephone: [95] (1) 753-6509
• FAX: [95] (1) 751-1069
• Email: ACSRangoon@state.gov
• Website: https://mm.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires THET Win (since 22 June 2022)
• Chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 332-3344
• FAX: [1] (202) 332-4351
• Email: washington-embassy@mofa.gov.mm
• Website: https://www.mewashingtondc.org/
• Consulate(s) General: Los Angeles, New York

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Geographic Location

Southeast Asia

Geographic Coordinates

22 00 N, 98 00 E

Total Area

261,227 Square Miles 676,578 Square Kilometers

Land Area

252,319 Square Miles 653,508 Square Kilometers

Water Area

8,907 Square Miles 23,070 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

3,651 Miles 5,876 Kilometers

Border Countries

Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

Coastline

1,199 Miles 1,930 Kilometers

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Terrain

Central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Highest Point

5,881 Meters

Highest Point Location

Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m

Lowest Point Location

Andaman Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

Petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower

Irrigated Land

8,147 Square Miles 21,100 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Located in the Southeast Asian monsoon belt, Rangoon has a tropical climate with three distinct seasons: monsoon, cool, and hot.

During the monsoon season, mid-May through mid-October, Rangoon receives most of its 100-inch plus average annual rainfall.

Temperatures are moderate (75°F-90°F), but relative humidity is high.

During the monsoon, dampness and mildew can cause serious damage to clothing, furniture, books, records, electrical appliances, and leather goods.

In mid-November, after a brief period of warm, humid weather, the cool season begins from then until March, weather is pleasant (60°F-90°F) with lower humidity and almost no rain.

Days are sunny and clear; nights are cool.

In March, temperatures and humidity rise until the monsoon begins in mid-May.

During the March-May hot season, the weather is hot and humid, usually rising in the day to over 100°F.

As at most tropical posts, insects and snakes are numerous year-round.

Terrain

Central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Total Area

261,227 Square Miles 676,578 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

Environment - Current Issues

• Deforestation
• industrial pollution of air, soil, and water
• inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease

Environment - International Agreements

Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$10,490,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$13,960,000,000 (USD)

Exports - note

Official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh

Imports - note

Import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India

Major Exports

• Natural gas
• wood products
• pulses and beans
• fish
• rice
• clothing
• minerals, including jade and gems

Major Imports

• Fabric
• petroleum products
• fertilizer
• plastics
• machinery
• transport equipment
• cement, construction materials
• food products, edible oil

Top Export Partners

China 37.7%, Thailand 25.6%, India 7.7%, Japan 6.2%

Top Import Partners

China 42.2%, Thailand 18.5%, Singapore 11%, Japan 4.8%

Export Partners

China 37.7%, Thailand 25.6%, India 7.7%, Japan 6.2%

Import Partners

China 42.2%, Thailand 18.5%, Singapore 11%, Japan 4.8%

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Country Description

Burma (Myanmar) is a developing agrarian country emerging from decades of rule by an authoritarian military regime.

Elections in November 2010 led to a peaceful transition to a civilian government headed by President Thein Sein.

Under President Thein Sein, the Government of Burma has initiated a series of political and economic reforms which have resulted in a substantial opening of the long-isolated country.

These reforms have included the release of many political prisoners, preliminary peace agreements with some armed ethnic groups, greater freedom of the press, and parliamentary by-elections in 2012 in which pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her opposition party won a landslide victory and seats in parliament.

After a long period of isolation, Burma has started to encourage tourism.

As a foreigner, you can expect to pay more than locals do for accommodations, domestic airfares, and entry to tourist sites.

Tourist facilities in Rangoon, Bagan, Ngapali Beach, Inle Lake, and Mandalay are superior to tourist facilities in other parts of the country, where they are limited or nonexistent.

Safety & Security

Over a period of years, Burma has experienced sporadic bombing attacks, primarily targeting government buildings and vehicles.

In January 2013, improvised explosive devices (IED) were used in three attacks in Kachin State.

In June 2011, bombings targeted a variety of local facilities, including government offices, public restrooms, a public phone booth, markets, and in one instance a train traveling from Mandalay to Rangoon.

In April 2010, a series of explosions among a crowd of revelers at a Water Festival celebration in Rangoon killed at least ten people and wounded as many as 170.

There is no indication that these attacks targeted U.S. citizens or U.S. interests.

Conflicts between the government and various ethnic minority groups continue in a number of border regions in Burma, and anti-personnel landmines in some border areas pose an additional danger.

Occasional fighting between government forces and various rebel groups has occurred in Chin State and Sagaing Division near India and along Burma's Kachin, Shan, Mon, Kayah, and Karen States' borders with China and Thailand.

From time to time, the governments of Burma and Thailand have closed the border between the two nations on short notice.

Recent military actions in Kachin State by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burmese Army have endangered the lives of civilians.

Sectarian violence in Rakhine State in June and October 2012 reportedly left many people dead and displaced thousands of others.

The violence also resulted in demonstrations in Rangoon and elsewhere.

In light of these incidents, you should exercise caution in public places at all times.

Be alert to your surroundings and the presence of unattended packages or bags or suspicious objects/activity in public areas.

Furthermore, avoid crowded public places, such as large public gatherings, demonstrations, and any areas cordoned off by security forces; problems can develop quickly.

Even demonstrations that are meant to be peaceful can become violent and unpredictable.

While in Burma, you should closely follow media reports and public information about the security situation in Burma.

Given the Government of Burma's restrictions on travel by U.S. diplomats, U.S.

Government assistance to U.S. citizens affected by incidents in remote areas of Burma may be difficult.

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Crime

Crime rates in Burma, especially toward foreigners, are lower than those of many other countries in the region.

Nevertheless, the crime rate has been increasing.

Violent crime against foreigners is rare.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them, you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Burma, you are subject to its laws, even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

It is illegal to take pictures of Burmese officials and of certain buildings, such as military installations and government buildings.

There are also some things that might be legal in Burma, but still illegal in the United States.

You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

While in Burma, you should carry your U.S. passport or a photocopy of passport data and visa pages at all times so that if you are questioned by Burmese officials, you will have proof of your U.S. citizenship readily available.

It is important to remember, however, that your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution for violating local laws.

Some foreigners have been denied even minimal rights in criminal proceedings in Burma, especially when suspected of engaging in political activity of any type.

This includes, but is not limited to, denial of access to an attorney, denial of access to court records, and denial of family and consular visits.

Although the current civilian government has repealed some of the laws that prohibited people from exercising many of the rights that U.S. citizens enjoy in the United States – including the freedoms of assembly and speech – there are still many laws on the books that criminalize things that are not illegal in the United States.

For example, Burmese law forbids Burmese citizens from possessing dual nationality.

Under the Burmese Motor Vehicle Act of 1964, driving while intoxicated is punishable by either six months in jail, a 500 kyat (equivalent to USD 50 cents) fine, or both.

Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and customary international law, if you are arrested in Burma, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S.

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Medical Facilities

We highly recommend that you share your travel plans with your doctor so that you can best prepare for the endemic health-related challenges that confront travelers in Burma.

Most medical facilities in Burma are inadequate for even routine medical care.

There are very few medical personnel in Burma who are trained to U.S. standards.

You should also know that, in an emergency, you would likely need to be medically evacuated to a hospital outside Burma.

Medical evacuation from Burma is expensive and is transacted in cash.

We strongly urge all travelers to secure medical evacuation insurance before coming to Burma.

Most pharmaceuticals on sale in Burma have been smuggled into the country, and many are counterfeit or adulterated.

Travelers should consider Burmese pharmaceuticals generally unsafe to use and should accordingly bring adequate supplies of their medications for the duration of their stay in Burma.

All travelers are advised to bring a complete and detailed list of regularly used medicine, and dosages, in case of an emergency.

HIV/AIDS is widespread among high-risk populations, such as prostitutes and illegal drug users.

Malaria, dengue fever, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases are endemic in many parts of the country.

In early 2006 throughout 2007, and again in early 2010, brief avian influenza outbreaks resulted in the death of domestic poultry and some wild birds.

In December 2007, the World Health Organization and Burmese Ministry of Health confirmed Burma’s first case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

If you travel to Burma and other South Asian countries affected by avian influenza, we caution you to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any other surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals.

There were no reported human cases of H5N1 in Burma during the 2010 outbreaks.

Traffic Safety

While in a foreign country, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning Burma is provided for your general reference only, and may not be accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Rangoon's main roads are generally in poor condition.

Traffic in the capital has increased rapidly, resulting in traffic congestion during morning and early evening rush hours.

Some roads are in serious disrepair.

Slow-moving vehicles, bicycles, animals, and heavy pedestrian traffic create numerous hazards for drivers on Rangoon's streets.

If you drive in Burma, you must remain extremely alert to avoid hitting pedestrians.

Most roads outside of Rangoon consist of one to two lanes and are potholed, often unpaved, and unlit at night.

Many of the truck drivers traveling from China to Rangoon are believed to drive under the influence of methamphetamines and other stimulants.

Drunken and/or drugged drivers are also common on the roads during the four-day Buddhist water festival in mid-April.

Driving at night is particularly dangerous.

Few streets are adequately lit.

Most Burmese drivers do not turn on their headlights until the sky is completely dark; many do not use headlights at all.

Many bicyclists use no lights or reflectors.

Vehicular traffic moves on the right side, as in the United States; however, a majority of vehicles have the steering wheel positioned on the right.

The “right of way” concept is generally respected, but military convoys and motorcades always have precedence.

Most vehicle accidents are settled between the parties on site, with the party at fault paying the damages.

In the event of an accident with a pedestrian, the driver is always considered to be at fault and subject to fines or arrest, regardless of the circumstances.

Accidents that require an investigation are concluded quickly and rarely result in criminal prosecution.

There is no roadside assistance, and ambulances are not available.

Vehicles generally do not have seat belts.

Child car seats are also not available.

7 facts — expand for details.

Airports - total

64

Airports with Paved Runways

36

Heliports

11

Railways

3,126 Miles 5,031 Kilometers

Roadways- total

21,361 Miles 34,377 Kilometers

Waterways

7,954 Miles 12,800 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina, Pathein, Rangoon, Sittwe, Tavoy

2 facts — expand for details.

Pipelines: Gas

2,323 Miles 3,739 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

342 Miles 551 Kilometers

7 facts — expand for details.

Telephones

812,000

Cell Phones

214,200

Internet Users

40,000

Internet Country Code

.mm

Internet Hosts

172

Broadcast Media

• The government controls all domestic broadcast media
• 2 state-controlled TV stations with 1 of the stations controlled by the armed forces
• 2 pay-TV stations are joint state-private ventures
• access to satellite TV is limited
• 1 state-controlled domestic radio station and 9 FM stations that are joint state-private ventures
• transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in parts of Burma
• the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), BBC Burmese service, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and Radio Australia use shortwave to broadcast in Burma
• VOA, RFA, and DVB produce daily TV news programs that are transmitted by satellite to audiences in Burma

Telephone System

• Assessment: meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government
• Domestic: system barely capable of providing basic service; mobile-cellular phone system is grossly underdeveloped
• International: country code - 95; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat

9 facts — expand for details.

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

4,403,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

6,286,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

3,240,000,000

Natural Gas Exports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

8,570,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

11,910,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

283,200,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

40,620

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

18,500

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

50,000,000

Anthem History

The tune and lyrics were written by Saya Tin and adopted as the Burmese national anthem in 1947

Anthem Lyrics

Gba Majay Bma (We Shall Love Burma)

Anthem Lyrics English

We shall always love Burma, Land of our forefathers. We fight and give our lives For our union. For her we responsibly shoulder the task, Standing as one in duty to our precious land.