Burma

Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar, is a country in Southeast Asia. It borders Bangladesh and India to the west, China to the north, and Laos and Thailand to the east, with a coast on the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. Naypyidaw has been the capital since 2005, while Yangon remains the largest city. The official language is Burmese and Theravada Buddhism is the predominant religion.

With a population around 54 million, Burma is a multiethnic nation. The Burman (Bamar) majority coexists with numerous minority groups, including the Shan, Karen, Rakhine, and Mon. Ethnic and religious diversity has shaped politics and peace negotiations in the country. Buddhism is central to culture, but Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and Hindu communities are present.

Burma was home to early kingdoms before becoming a British colony in the late 19th century. It gained independence in 1948 as the Union of Burma. A 1962 coup began decades of one-party rule, followed by a transition starting in 2011. Democratic elections in 2015 brought the National League for Democracy to power, though a 2021 military coup interrupted civilian governance and sparked ongoing conflict.

The economy remains largely agricultural, with rice farming as a major activity, while energy, mining, and forestry contribute to exports. Development is uneven, and rural poverty persists. The country has faced internal armed conflict with various ethnic groups and international scrutiny over human rights, particularly the Rohingya crisis of 2017 and related refugee flows.

Name usage varies: the government uses Myanmar, while Burma is common in historical contexts and in some international usage. Both names refer to the same country.