• Officially known as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, also called Burma until 1989
• Largest country in Mainland Southeast Asia with a population of about 55 million
• Borders include India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, Thailand, Andaman Sea, and Bay of Bengal
• Capital city: Naypyidaw; Largest city: Yangon

• Early civilizations included Pyu city-states and Mon kingdoms
• Bamar people established dominance in the 9th century with the Pagan Kingdom in the 1050s
• 16th century: Reunified by the Taungoo dynasty, forming a vast empire
• 19th century: British colonization after three Anglo-Burmese Wars; briefly occupied by Japan during WWII
• Gained independence in 1948 under the Burma Independence Act 1947

• Post-independence marked by unrest and military rule since a 1962 coup
• 8888 Uprising in 1988 led to a transition to a multi-party system but military retained control
• 2011: Transition to nominally civilian government, release of political prisoners
• 2021 coup reinstated military rule amid widespread protests and civil war, with Aung San Suu Kyi arrested

• Member of ASEAN, East Asia Summit, and other international organizations
• Rich in natural resources but suffers from instability, violence, and underdevelopment
• More than 600,000 displaced and over 1.3 million refugees since 2021 coup; humanitarian crisis ongoing

List of newspapers published in Myanmar.