The World Factbook (1982)/Burma

by the Central Intelligence Agency

BURMA

(See reference maps VIII and IX)

LAND

678,600 km 2 ; 28% arable, of which 12% is cultivated, 62% forest, 10% urban and other (1969)

Land boundaries: 5,850 km

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 200 nm (200 nm exclusive economic zone)

Coastline: 3,060 km

PEOPLE

Population: 36,166,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 2.5%

Nationality: noun—Burman(s); adjective—Burmese

Ethnic divisions: 72% Burman, 7% Karen, 6% Shan, 3% Indian, 2% Kachin, 2% Chin, 2% Chinese, 6% other

Religion: 85% Buddhist, 15% animist, and other

Language: Burmese; minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Literacy: 70% (official claim)

Labor force: 12.2 million (1976); 67% agriculture, 9% industry, 20% services, commerce, and transportation

Organized labor: no figure available; old labor organizations have been disbanded, and government is forming one central labor organization

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma

Type: republic under 1974 constitution

Capital: Rangoon

Political subdivisions: seven divisions and seven constituent states; subdivided into townships, villages, and wards

Legal system: People's Justice system and People's Courts instituted under 1974 constitution; legal education at Universities of Rangoon and Mandalay; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January

Branches: State Council rules through a Council of Ministers; People's Assembly has legislative power

Government leader: Chairman of State Council and President Gen. U SAN YU

Suffrage: universal over age 18

Elections: People's Assembly and local People's Councils elected in 1978

Political parties and leaders: government-sponsored Burma Socialist Program Party only legal party; U Ne Win, party chairman

Communists: estimated between 12,000 and 14,000

Other political or pressure groups: Kachin Independence Army; Karen Nationalist Union, several Shan factions

Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMCO, IMF, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

ECONOMY

GDP: $5.0 billion (1979/80, in current prices), $170 per capita; real growth rate 5.9% (1979/80)

Agriculture: accounts for nearly 70% of total employment and about 27% of GDP; main crops—paddy, sugarcane, corn, peanuts; almost 100% self-sufficient; most rice grown in deltaic land

Fishing: catch 518,700 metric tons (1977)

Major industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and wood products; petroleum refining

Electric power: 719,000 kW capacity (1980); 1.438 billion kWh produced (1980), 42 kWh per capita

Exports: $480 million (1980/81); rice, teak

Imports: $650 million (c.i.f., 1979); machinery and transportation equipment, textiles, other manufactured goods

Major trade partners: exports—Singapore, Western Europe, China, UK, Japan; imports—Japan, Western Europe, Singapore, UK

Budget: (1979/80) $3.4 billion est. revenues, $4.0 billion expenditures, $600 million deficit

Monetary conversion rate: 7.0 kyat=US$l (1981)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: 3,243 km total; 3,130 km meter gauge (1.00 m), 113 km narrow-gauge industrial lines; 328 km double track; government owned

Highways: 27,000 km total; 3,200 km bituminous, 17,700 km improved earth, gravel, 6,100 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 12,800 km; 3,200 km navigable by large commercial vessels

Ports: 4 major, 6 minor

Civil air: about 20 major transport aircraft

Airfields: 81 total, 80 usable; 21 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 40 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: provide minimum requirements for local and intercity service; international service is good; radiobroadcast coverage is limited to the most populous areas; 33,000 telephones (0.1 per 100 popl); 1 AM station, 1 FM station, and 1 TV station; 1 ground satellite station

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: eligible 15-49, 16,523,000; of the 8,203,000 males 15-49, 4,535,000 are fit for military service; about 374,000 males and 365,000 females reach military age (18) annually; both sexes are liable for military service