For the purpose of this website, Myanmar will be referred to as Burma when referencing the period of time before the official name change.
Burma, currently known as Myanmar, is a sovereign state located in Southeast Asia. It lies between Bangladesh and Thailand, bordering the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. According to the most recent census, Myanmar has a population of approximately 56,320,206.
Background In the early 1050’s the Pagan Kingdom settled in Burma, establishing the Burmese language and culture. Unfortunately in the 9th century the Kingdom collapsed following Mongol invasions, and wasn’t reunified until the 16th century where it was briefly the largest empire in Southeast Asia. Following three Anglo-Burmese wars in the 19th century, Burma was conquered by the British and became yet another one of Great Britain’s colonies. It wasn’t until 1948 that the Burmese gained their independence. However it quickly fell into a military dictatorship that lasted until 2011, where many ethnic and religious groups were violently persecuted. Now known as Myanmar, Burma currently functions in a parliamentary government. Trisha Mitra, Fall 2015 |
Government
The government of Myanmar recognizes 135 distinct ethnic groups. The Bamar, or the native people of Burma, represent 68% of the population. The rest consists of as well as Overseas Chinese and Indians, and minority groups known as the Shan, Rakhine and Mon. Buddhism remains the dominant religion in Myanmar, practiced by 89% of the Burmese. Christianity and Islam are present in 8% of the population, however disciples have been religiously persecuted, dwindling numbers down over the year. Language Burmese, spoken by 32 million people as a first language and 10 million people as a 2nd, is Myanmar’s official language. Because the use of other languages is largely discouraged in Myanmar, the only other language present is English, the secondary language of the nation, used in government and in classrooms. All classrooms are required to learn English, Myanmar, and Mathematics. The literacy rate is at an astounding 93%, with women at 91% and men at 95%. Students are given the choice of pursuing either science or arts, but generally only the well-connected or the elite are able to attend university. Despite the prevalence of English in schools, it is not nearly as common in regular day to day activities. There are few English language newspapers and even so, the ones that are circulated are highly censored. Regardless, the ability to speak English in Myanmar does positively correlate with eventual economic and social success. |