Myanmar (Republic of the Union of Myanmar), also known as Burma, is a country in Southeast Asia. It borders India to the west and northwest, Bangladesh to the northwest, China to the north and northeast, Laos to the east, and Thailand to the south. Myanmar is bordered in the west by the Bay of Bengal and in the south by the Andaman Sea.
The capital is Naypyitaw. The city became the capital of Myanmar in 2006 when the government decided to move the capital from Yangon.
The form of government in Myanmar is an authoritarian military junta. The country has been under military rule since a coup d'état in February 2021.
Myanmar has a varied climate depending on the region. Common features include a monsoon climate with three main seasons: rainy summer (May to October), cool and dry winter (November to February) and hot and dry spring (March to April). The eastern regions of the country are wetter, while the western regions have a drier climate.
The country's population is about 55,500,000 people (2022).
The official language in Myanmar is Burmese (Myanmar). There are also many different ethnic groups, and each one usually speaks its own language. Different languages are spoken in the ethnic regions such as Shan, Kachin, Chin and others.
Myanmar's economy is largely based on agriculture and mining (including the extraction of natural resources such as gas, oil and precious metals), as well as tourism and small-scale manufacturing. Agriculture plays a key role in the country's economy, with a major emphasis on the cultivation of rice and other crops. Myanmar's economy has also in the past been heavily dependent on the export of natural resources such as natural gas and oil.
Despite this, the country faces problems of poverty, inequality and access to basic services such as health and education.
The level of health care in Myanmar is below world standards, and access to quality health care may be limited, especially in rural areas. Lack of funding and infrastructure can mean that health services and medicines are out of reach for many citizens.
Basic education is free and compulsory for children, but the quality of education is low, especially in rural areas.
