Country information

Area: 677,000 sq km (419,740 sq mi)
Population: 52m
Capital City: Rangoon (population 5.8 million), Administrative Capital: Nay Pyi Taw (population 200,000)  
People: Bamar (69%), Shan (8.5%), Karen (6.2%), Rakhine (4.5%), Mon (2.4%), Chin (2.2%), Kachin (1.4%), Karrenni (0.4%), other indigenous (0.1%) and foreign nationalities (including Burmese Indian & Sino Burmese people) 5.3%
Languages: Burmese is the official language. There are numerous other ethnic minority languages.
Religion(s): Buddhism is the predominant religion. The other main religions are Christianity, Islam and Animism.
Currency: Kyat
Major political parties: Burma is ruled by a military junta known as State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). The main democratic opposition party is the National League for Democracy (NLD). Ethnic minority groups also have political organisations.
Government: Military junta - State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
Head of State: Senior General Than Shwe
Prime Minister/Premier: General Thein Sein
Governor: N/A
Foreign Minister: U Nyan Win
Membership of international groupings/organisations: UN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC).

Britain's policy is to refer to Burma rather than 'Myanmar'. The current regime changed the name to Myanmar in 1989. Burma's democracy movement prefers the form ‘Burma’ because they do not accept the legitimacy of the unelected military regime to change the official name of the country. Internationally, both names are recognised.

TRAVEL

We have drawn attention to the views of Burma's democratic leaders, including ASSK, who have in the past argued that tourism to Burma should be discouraged for the economic benefits it brings to the regime. Their recent views are unknown. Burmese tourism officials are included in the EU travel ban imposed on Burma. We would urge anyone who may be thinking of visiting Burma on holiday to consider carefully whether by their actions they are helping to support the regime.

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