Burma

Burma has been under a strict military dictatorship, known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) for nearly a decade.

Opposition to that government has been led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her pro-democracy efforts.

In November 1997, that military government officially changed its name to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and vowed to restore democracy. But Suu Kyi said it will take time to tell whether the government is sincere in its reform efforts or has merely changed its name.

The SLORC, which renamed the country Myanmar, came to power after troops killed hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in 1988. Two years later, it refused to acknowledge an election victory by the opposition, led by Suu Kyi.

Land and People | History |
| Travel | Financial | Weather

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population:
46,821,943
Average life span:
55 male, 59 female
Average income (US$):
$250
GDP per capita (US$):
$1,000
Literacy rate:
83%

THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE

Capital:
Rangoon
Size:
261,220 square miles (676,560 square km)
Government type:
Military
Political leaders:
Senior Gen. Than Shwe
Religions:
Buddhist (89%), Christian (4%), Muslim (4%)
Languages:
Burmese (official), minority languages

MODERN HISTORY

FINANCIAL

Monetary unit:
Kyat
CNN Travel Guide Currency Converter

CNN TRAVEL INFORMATION

CNN City Guides: Burma

CNN WEATHER INFORMATION

CNN WEATHER INFORMATION:
Forecasts:
Rangoon
Forecast and satellite maps:
Asia forecast map
Asia satellite image