Country Guide

Israel Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon


Geographic coordinates:
31 30 N, 34 45 E


Map references:
Middle East


Area:
total:20,770 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 154
land:20,330 sq km
water:440 sq km


Area - comparative:
Area comparison map: '>


Land boundaries:
total:1,068 km
border countries:Egypt 208 km, Gaza Strip 59 km, Jordan 307 km, Lebanon 81 km, Syria 83 km, West Bank 330 km


Coastline:
273 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
continental shelf:to depth of exploitation


Climate:
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas


Terrain:
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley


    Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Dead Sea -408 m
highest point:Har Meron 1,208 m


Natural resources:
timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand


Land use:
arable land:13.68%
permanent crops:3.69%
other:82.62% (2011)


Irrigated land:
2,250 sq km (2004)


Total renewable water resources:
1.78 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
1.78 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes


Environment - current issues:
limited arable land and natural freshwater resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:Marine Life Conservation


Geography - note:
Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti); there are about 355 Israeli civilian sites including about 145 small outpost communities in the West Bank, 41 sites in the Golan Heights, and 32 in East Jerusalem (2010 est.)

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Israeli(s)
adjective:Israeli


Ethnic groups:
Jewish 75.1% (of which Israel-born 73.6%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 17.9%, Africa-born 5.2%, Asia-born 3.2%), non-Jewish 24.9% (mostly Arab) (2012 est.)


Languages:
Hebrew (official), Arabic (used officially for Arab minority), English (most commonly used foreign language)


Religions:
Jewish 75.1%, Muslim 17.4%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.6%, other 3.9% (2012 est.)


Population:
7,821,850country comparison to the world: 99
note:approximately 341,400 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2012); approximately 18,900 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2012); approximately 196,400 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2011) (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:27.1% (male 1,084,748/female 1,035,525)
15-24 years:15.7% (male 628,205/female 599,871)
25-54 years:37.8% (male 1,508,860/female 1,443,898)
55-64 years:8.8% (male 333,453/female 352,302)
65 years and over:10.5% (male 368,318/female 466,670) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:63.1 %
youth dependency ratio:45.5 %
elderly dependency ratio:17.6 %
potential support ratio:5.7 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:29.9 years
male:29.2 years
female:30.6 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.46% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 84


Birth rate:
18.44 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 101


Death rate:
5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 175


Net migration rate:
1.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 53


Urbanization:
urban population:91.9% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.73% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
Tel Aviv-Yafo 3.381 million; Haifa 1.054 million; JERUSALEM (capital) 791,000 (2009)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.78 male(s)/female
total population:1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
27.3 (2011 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


    Infant mortality rate:
total:3.98 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 199
male:4.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:81.28 yearscountry comparison to the world: 19
male:79.05 years
female:83.61 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.62 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 75


Health expenditures:
7.7% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
3.11 physicians/1,000 population (2011)


Hospital bed density:
3.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 104


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,500 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 115


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 120


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
26.2% (2008)country comparison to the world: 49


Education expenditures:
5.6% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 57

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:97.1%
male:98.5%
female:95.9% (2004 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:16 years
male:15 years
female:16 years (2009)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:12.1%country comparison to the world: 98
male:11.6%
female:12.7% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form:Israel
local long form:Medinat Yisra'el
local short form:Yisra'el


Government type:
parliamentary democracy


Capital:
name:Jerusalem: note - Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like all other countries, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv
geographic coordinates:31 46 N, 35 14 E
time difference:UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins Friday before the last Sunday in March; ends the last Sunday in October


Administrative divisions:
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv


Independence:
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May


Constitution:
no formal constitution; some functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of the Parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law (2013)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious laws


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Shimon PERES (since 15 July 2007)
head of government:Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 31 March 2009)
cabinet:Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset
elections:president largely a ceremonial role and is elected by the Knesset for a seven-year term (one-term limit); election last held 10 June 2014 (next to be held in 2021 but can be called earlier); following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with party leaders, assigns the task of forming a governing coalition to a Knesset member whom he or she determines is most likely to accomplish that task
election results:Reuven RIVLIN elected president in second round; number of votes in first round - Reuven RIVLIN 44, Meir SHEETRIT 31, Dalia Itzik 28, Dalia Dorner 13, other/invalid 3; number of votes in second round - Reuven RIVLIN 63, Meir SHEETRIT 53, other/invalid 3; RIVLIN will be sworn in 24 July 2014


Legislative branch:
unicameral Knesset (120 seats; political parties are elected by popular vote and assigned seats for members on a proportional basis; members serve 4-year terms)
elections:last held on 22 January 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
election results:percent of vote by party - Likud-Beiteinu (combined for electoral purposes only) 23.3%, Yesh Atid 14.3%, Labor 11.4%, The Jewish Home 9.1%, SHAS 8.7%, United Torah Judaism 5.2%, The Movement 5%, The New Movement-Meretz 4.5%, United Arab List-Ta'al 3.6%, HADASH 3%, Balad 2.6%, Kadima 2.1%; other 7.2%; seats by party - Likud-Beiteinu 31, Yesh Atid 19, Labor 15, The Jewish Home 12, SHAS 11, United Torah Judaism 7, The Movement 6, Meretz 6, United Arab List-Ta'al 4, HADASH 4, Balad 3, Kadima 2
note:Ehud BARAK and four others on 17 January 2011 split from the Labor Party and formed the Atzmaut (Independence) Party; the Labor Party holds 8 seats in the Knesset and the Independence Party holds 5 seats; Aztmaut did not submit a candidate list for the election on 22 January 2013


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court ( consists of the chief justice and 14 judges)
judge selection and term of office:judges selected by the Judicial Selection Committee, made up of all three branches of the government and chaired by the Minister of Justice; judges can serve up to mandatory retirement age of 70
subordinate courts:district and magistrate courts; national and regional labor courts; special and religious courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Balad [Jamal ZAHALKA]
Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (HADASH) [Muhammad BARAKEH]
Kadima [Shaul MOFAZ]
Labor Party [Yitzhak HERZOG]
Likud [Binyamin NETANYAHU]
National Union [Uri ARIEL]
SHAS [Eliyahu YISHAI]
The Jewish Home (HaBayit HaYehudi) [Naftali BENNETT]
The Movement (Hatnuah) [Tzipora 'Tzipi' LIVNI]
The New Movement-Meretz [Haim ORON]
United Arab List-Ta'al [Ibrahim SARSUR]
United Torah Judaism or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN] (a conglomerate of three parties)
Yesh Atid [Yair LAPID]
Yisrael Beiteinu or YB [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
B'Tselem [Jessica MONTELL, Executive Director] monitors human rights abuses


International organization participation:
BIS, BSEC (observer), CE (observer), CICA, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Ron DERMER (since 3 December 2013)
chancery:3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 364-5500
FAX:[1] (202) 364-5647
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Daniel B. SHAPIRO (since 8 July 2011)
embassy:71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903
telephone:[972] (3) 519-7475
FAX:[972] (3) 516-4390
consulate(s) general:Jerusalem; note - an independent US mission, established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign government


Flag description:
white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a traditional Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times


National symbol(s):
Star of David (Magen David)


National anthem:
name:'Hatikvah' (The Hope)

lyrics/music:Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional, arranged by Samuel COHEN
note:adopted 2004, unofficial since 1948; used as the anthem of the Zionist movement since 1897; the 1888 arrangement by Samuel COHEN is thought to be based on the Romanian folk song 'Carul cu boi' (The Ox Driven Cart)

Economy

Economy - overview:
Israel has a technologically advanced market economy. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals are among the leading exports. Its major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are covered by tourism and other service exports, as well as significant foreign investment inflows. Between 2004 and 2011, growth averaged nearly 5% per year, led by exports. The global financial crisis of 2008-09 spurred a brief recession in Israel, but the country entered the crisis with solid fundamentals, following years of prudent fiscal policy and a resilient banking sector. In 2010, Israel formally acceded to the OECD. Israel's economy also has weathered the Arab Spring because strong trade ties outside the Middle East have insulated the economy from spillover effects. The economy has recovered better than most advanced, comparably sized economies, but slowing demand domestically and internationally, and a strong shekel, have reduced forecasts for the next decade to the 3% level. Natural gas fields discovered off Israel's coast since 2009 have brightened Israel's energy security outlook. The Tamar and Leviathan fields were some of the world's largest offshore natural gas finds this past decade. The massive Leviathan field is not due to come online until 2018, but production from Tamar provided a one percentage point boost to Israel's GDP in 2013 and is expected to contribute 0.5% growth in 2014. In mid-2011, public protests arose around income inequality and rising housing and commodity prices. Israel's income inequality and poverty rates are among the highest of OECD countries and there is a broad perception among the public that a small number of 'tycoons' have a cartel-like grip over the major parts of the economy. The government formed committees to address some of the grievances but has maintained that it will not engage in deficit spending to satisfy populist demands. In May 2013 the Israeli government, in a politically difficult process, passed an austerity budget to reign in the deficit and restore confidence in the government's fiscal position. Over the long term, Israel faces structural issues, including low labor participation rates for its fastest growing social segments - the ultra-orthodox and Arab-Israeli communities. Also, Israel's progressive, globally competitive, knowledge-based technology sector employs only 9% of the workforce, with the rest employed in manufacturing and services - sectors which face downward wage pressures from global competition.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$273.2 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$264.5 billion (2012 est.)
$255.9 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$272.7 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
3.4% (2012 est.)
4.6% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$36,200 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$34,300 (2012 est.)
$34,000 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
22.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
21% of GDP (2012 est.)
21.4% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:56.1%
government consumption:22.7%
investment in fixed capital:19.6%
investment in inventories:0.7%
exports of goods and services:34.4%
imports of goods and services:-33.5%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:2.4%
industry:31.2%
services:66.4% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products


Industries:
high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear


Industrial production growth rate:
5.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Labor force:
3.493 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:1.6%
industry:18.1%
services:80.3% (2012 est.)


Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
6.8% (2012 est.)


    Population below poverty line:
21%


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.5%
highest 10%:24.3% (2008)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.6 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 75
39.2 (2008)


Budget:
revenues:$109.7 billion
expenditures:$113.9 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
40.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-1.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72


Public debt:
67.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
66.9% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
1.7% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
1% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
1.75% (31 December 2012 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.8% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
5.16% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$37.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$32.48 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$151.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$136.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$207.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$192.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$148.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
$5.259 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$609 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$60.67 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$62.32 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel


Exports - partners:
US 27.8%, Hong Kong 7.7%, UK 5.7%, Belgium 4.6%, China 4.3% (2012)


Imports:
$67.03 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$71.67 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods


Imports - partners:
US 12.9%, China 7.3%, Germany 6.3%, Switzerland 5.5%, Belgium 4.8% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$80.74 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$75.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$96.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$93.98 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$86.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$75.94 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$80.85 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$74.75 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -
3.621 (2013 est.)
3.8559 (2012 est.)
3.739 (2010 est.)
3.93 (2009)
3.588 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
55.77 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48


Electricity - consumption:
48.73 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48


Electricity - exports:
4.224 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
15.33 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
98.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
1.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75


Crude oil - production:
5,839 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131


Crude oil - imports:
260,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
11.5 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90


Refined petroleum products - production:
278,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
238,400 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53


Refined petroleum products - exports:
83,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47


Refined petroleum products - imports:
56,420 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65


Natural gas - production:
6.86 billion cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49


Natural gas - consumption:
6.86 billion cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120


Natural gas - imports:
720 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63


Natural gas - proved reserves:
268.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
72.1 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
3.594 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 44


Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.225 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 84


Telephone system:
general assessment:most highly developed system in the Middle East
domestic:good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital; four privately owned mobile-cellular service providers with countrywide coverage
international:country code - 972; submarine cables provide links to Europe, Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
state broadcasting network, operated by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), broadcasts on 2 channels, one in Hebrew and the other in Arabic; 5 commercial channels including a channel broadcasting in Russian, a channel broadcasting Knesset proceedings, and a music channel supervised by a public body; multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels; IBA broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters and Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations; about 15 privately owned radio stations; overall more than 100 stations and repeater stations (2008)


Internet country code:
.il


Internet hosts:
2.483 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 36


Internet users:
4.525 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 51

Transportation

Airports
47 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 95


Airports - with paved runways
total:29
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:5
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:11
under 914 m:5 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:18
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:
14 (2013)


Heliports
3 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 763 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2013)


    Railways
total:975 kmcountry comparison to the world: 89
standard gauge:975 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)


Roadways
total:18,566 kmcountry comparison to the world: 115
paved:18,566 km (includes 449 km of expressways) (2011)


Merchant marine
total:8country comparison to the world: 120
by type:cargo 1, container 7
registered in other countries:48 (Bermuda 3, Georgia 1, Honduras 1, Liberia 34, Malta 3, Moldova 2, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa
container port(s) TEUs):Ashdod (1,176,000), Haifa (1,238,000)

Military

Military branches
Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Naval Force (IN), Israel Air Force (IAF) (2010)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) military service; 17 years of age for voluntary (Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 36 months for enlisted men, 21 months for enlisted women, 48 months for officers; pilots commit to 9 years service; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), 24 (women) (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:1,797,960
females age 16-49:1,713,230 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,517,510
females age 16-49:1,446,132 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:62,304
female:59,418 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
5.69% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 4
5.87% of GDP (2011)
5.69% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a 'seam line' separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):34,988 (Eritrea); 12,926 (Sudan) (2013)
stateless persons:14 (2012)



Illicit drugs
increasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan; money-laundering center
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

LookForAttorney.com | Country Guide of Burma

Country Guide

Burma Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand


Geographic coordinates:
22 00 N, 98 00 E


Map references:
Southeast Asia


Area:
total:676,578 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 40
land:653,508 sq km
water:23,070 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas


Land boundaries:
total:6,522 km
border countries:Bangladesh 271 km, China 2,129 km, India 1,468 km, Laos 238 km, Thailand 2,416 km


Coastline:
1,930 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin


Climate:
tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)


    Terrain:
central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Andaman Sea / Bay of Bengal 0 m
highest point:Gamlang Razi 5,870 m


Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:15.94%
permanent crops:2.16%
other:81.89% (2011)


Irrigated land:
21,100 sq km (2004)


Total renewable water resources:
1,168 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
1,168 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective:Burmese


Ethnic groups:
Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%


Languages:
Burmese (official)


Religions:
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, Animist 1%, other 2%


Population:
55,746,253country comparison to the world: 25
note:estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:26.4% (male 7,498,179/female 7,209,588)
15-24 years:18.3% (male 5,163,399/female 5,037,117)
25-54 years:43.1% (male 11,930,777/female 12,073,741)
55-64 years:7% (male 1,836,463/female 2,059,482)
65 years and over:5.3% (male 1,277,919/female 1,659,588) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:42.5 %
youth dependency ratio:35 %
elderly dependency ratio:7.6 %
potential support ratio:13.2 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:27.9 years
male:27.3 years
female:28.5 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.03% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 116


Birth rate:
18.65 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 97


Death rate:
8.01 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 99


Net migration rate:
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 124


Urbanization:
urban population:32.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.49% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
RANGOON (capital) 4.457 million; Mandalay 1.063 million; Nay Pyi Taw 1.06 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.77 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Mother's mean age at first birth:
22.8 (2007 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:44.91 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 47
male:51.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female:38.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:65.94 yearscountry comparison to the world: 170
male:63.57 years
female:68.46 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.18 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 103


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
46% (2009/10)


Health expenditures:
2% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.5 physicians/1,000 population (2010)


Hospital bed density:
0.6 beds/1,000 population (2006)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 94.8% of population
rural: 81.1% of population
total: 85.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5.2% of population
rural: 18.9% of population
total: 14.3% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 84.3% of population
rural: 73.9% of population
total: 77.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 15.7% of population
rural: 26.1% of population
total: 22.6% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 61


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
195,700 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 31


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,600 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 26


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
4% (2008)country comparison to the world: 172


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
22.6% (2010)country comparison to the world: 27


Education expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 172

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:92.7%
male:95.1%
female:90.4% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:9 years (2007)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Union of Burma
conventional short form:Burma
local long form:Pyidaungzu Thammada Myanma Naingngandaw (translated as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar)
local short form:Myanma Naingngandaw
former:Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, Union of Myanmar
note:since 1989 the military authorities in Burma and the current parliamentary government have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; the US Government has not adopted the name


Government type:
parliamentary government took power in March 2011


Capital:
name:Rangoon (Yangon); note - Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital
geographic coordinates:16 48 N, 96 09 E
time difference:UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne)


Independence:
4 January 1948 (from the UK)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)


Constitution:
previous 1947, 1974 (suspended until 2008); latest approved by referendum 29 May 2008; reformed 2011 (2011)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of English common law (as introduced in codifications designed for colonial India) and customary law


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President THEIN SEIN (since 4 February 2011); Vice President SAI MAUK KHAM (since 3 February 2011); Vice President NYAN TUN (since 15 August 2012)
head of government:President THEIN SEIN (since 4 February 2011)
cabinet:cabinet is appointed by the president and confirmed by the parliament
elections:THEIN SEIN elected president by the parliament from among three vice presidents; the upper house, the lower house, and military members of the parliament each nominate one vice president (president serves a five-year term)


Legislative branch:
bicameral, consists of the House of Nationalities [Amyotha Hluttaw] (224 seats, 168 directly elected and 56 appointed by the military; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives [Pythu Hluttaw] (440 seats, 330 directly elected and 110 appointed by the military; members serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in December 2015)
election results:House of Nationalities - percent of vote by party - USDP 74.8%, other (NUP, SNDP, RNDP, NDF, AMRDP) 25.2%; seats by party - USDP 129, other 39; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - USDP 79.6%, other (NUP, SNDP, RNDP, NDF, AMRDP) 20.4%; seats by party - USDP 259, other 71


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court of the Union (consists of the chief justice and 7-11 judges)
judge selection and term of office:chief justice and judges nominated by the president, with approval of the Pythu Hlattaw, and appointed by the president; judges normally serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts:High Courts of the Region; High Courts of the State; Court of the Self-Administered Division; Court of the Self-Administered Zone; district and township courts; special courts (for juvenile, municipal, and traffic offenses); courts martial


    Political parties and leaders:
All Mon Region Democracy Party or AMRDP [NAING NGWE THEIN]
National Democratic Force or NDF [KHIN MAUNG SWE, Dr.THAN NYEIN]
National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
National Unity Party or NUP [TUN YE]
Rakhine Nationalities Development Party or RNDP [Dr. AYE MG]
Shan Nationalities Democratic Party or SNDP [SAI AIKE PAUNG]
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]
Union Solidarity and Development Party or USDP [SHWE MANN, HTAY OO]
numerous smaller parties


Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Mon Region Democracy Party or AMRDP [NAING NGWE THEIN]
National Democratic Force or NDF [KHIN MAUNG SWE, Dr.THAN NYEIN]
National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
National Unity Party or NUP [TUN YE]
Rakhine Nationalities Development Party or RNDP [Dr. AYE MG]
Shan Nationalities Democratic Party or SNDP [SAI AIKE PAUNG]
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]
Union Solidarity and Development Party or USDP [SHWE MANN, HTAY OO]
numerous smaller parties



International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador KYAW MYO HTUT (since 3 December 2013)
chancery:2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 332-3344
FAX:[1] (202) 332-4351
consulate(s) general:none; Burma has a Mission to the UN in New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Derek J. MITCHELL (since 11 July 2012)
embassy:110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon
mailing address:Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone:[95] (1) 536-509, 535-756, 538-038
FAX:[95] (1) 511-069


Flag description:
design consists of three equal horizontal stripes of yellow (top), green, and red; centered on the green band is a large white five-pointed star that partially overlaps onto the adjacent colored stripes; the design revives the triband colors used by Burma from 1943-45, during the Japanese occupation


National symbol(s):
chinthe (mythical lion)


National anthem:
name:'Kaba Ma Kyei' (Till the End of the World, Myanmar)

lyrics/music:SAYA TIN
note:adopted 1948; Burma is among a handful of non-European nations that have anthems rooted in indigenous traditions; the beginning portion of the anthem is a traditional Burmese anthem before transitioning into a Western-style orchestrated work

Economy

Economy - overview:
Since the transition to a civilian government in 2011, Burma has begun an economic overhaul aimed at attracting foreign investment and reintegrating into the global economy. Economic reforms have included establishing a managed float of the Burmese kyat in 2012, granting the Central Bank operational independence in July 2013, and enacting a new Anti-corruption Law in September 2013. The government’s commitment to reform, and the subsequent easing of most Western sanctions, has begun to pay dividends. The economy accelerated in 2012 and 2013. And Burma’s abundant natural resources, young labor force, and proximity to Asia’s dynamic economies have attracted foreign investment in the energy sector, garment industry, information technology, and food and beverages. Foreign direct investment grew from US$1.9 billion in FY 2011 to US$2.7 billion in FY 2012. Despite these improvements, living standards have not improved for the majority of the people residing in rural areas. Burma remains one of the poorest countries in Asia - more than one-fourth of the country’s 60 million people live in poverty. The previous government’s isolationist policies and economic mismanagement have left Burma with poor infrastructure, endemic corruption, underdeveloped human resources, and inadequate access to capital, which will require a major commitment to reverse. The Burmese government has been slow to address impediments to economic development such as an opaque revenue collection system and antiquated banking system. Key benchmarks of sustained economic progress would include modernizing and opening the financial sector, increasing budget allocations for social services, and accelerating agricultural and land reforms.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$111.1 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$104 billion (2012 est.)
$97.81 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$59.43 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
6.4% (2012 est.)
5.9% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
$1,600 (2012 est.)
$1,600 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
11.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
12.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
13.7% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:80.6%
government consumption:3.8%
investment in fixed capital:17.5%
investment in inventories:0.3%
exports of goods and services:20.1%
imports of goods and services:-22.3%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:38%
industry:20.3%
services:41.7% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; fish and fish products; hardwood


Industries:
agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments, jade, gems


Industrial production growth rate:
11.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Labor force:
34.31 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:70%
industry:7%
services:23% (2001)


Unemployment rate:
5.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
5.4% (2012 est.)


    Population below poverty line:
32.7% (2007 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.8%
highest 10%:32.4% (1998)


Budget:
revenues:$2.413 billion
expenditures:$4.443 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
4.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135


Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
1.5% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
9.95% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
12% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
13% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$12.23 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$11.54 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$14.43 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$13.51 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$2.596 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
-$1.791 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$9.043 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$7.82 billion (2012 est.)
note:official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh


Exports - commodities:
natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing, jade and gems


Exports - partners:
Thailand 40.7%, India 14.8%, China 14.3%, Japan 7.4% (2012)


Imports:
$10.11 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$7.998 billion (2012 est.)
note:import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India


Imports - commodities:
fabric, petroleum products, fertilizer, plastics, machinery, transport equipment; cement, construction materials, crude oil; food products, edible oil


Imports - partners:
China 36.9%, Thailand 20.2%, Singapore 8.7%, South Korea 8.7%, Japan 8.2%, Malaysia 4.6% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.278 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$6.977 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$5.379 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$5.591 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
kyats (MMK) per US dollar -
947.9 (2013 est.)
853.48 (2012 est.)
5.58 (2010 est.)
1,055 (2009)
1,205 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
7.346 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104


Electricity - consumption:
6.093 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.713 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
53.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
46.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158


Crude oil - production:
20,830 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
50 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78


Refined petroleum products - production:
18,920 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
40,620 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155


Refined petroleum products - imports:
4,855 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Natural gas - production:
11.91 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39


Natural gas - consumption:
3.24 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70


Natural gas - exports:
8.57 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163


Natural gas - proved reserves:
283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
13.67 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
556,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 95


Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.44 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 106


Telephone system:
general assessment:meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government
domestic:system barely capable of providing basic service; mobile-cellular phone system is grossly underdeveloped
international:country code - 95; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2011)



    Broadcast media:
government controls all domestic broadcast media; 2 state-controlled TV stations with 1 of the stations controlled by the armed forces; 2 pay-TV stations are joint state-private ventures; access to satellite TV is limited; 1 state-controlled domestic radio station and 9 FM stations that are joint state-private ventures; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in parts of Burma; the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), BBC Burmese service, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and Radio Australia use shortwave to broadcast in Burma; VOA, RFA, and DVB produce daily TV news programs that are transmitted by satellite to audiences in Burma


Internet country code:
.mm


Internet hosts:
1,055 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 172


Internet users:
110,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 158

Transportation

Airports
64 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 77


Airports - with paved runways
total:36
over 3,047 m:12
2,438 to 3,047 m:11
1,524 to 2,437 m:12
under 914 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:28
over 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:10
under 914 m:
13 (2013)


Heliports
11 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 3,739 km; oil 551 km (2013)


Railways
total:5,031 kmcountry comparison to the world: 36
narrow gauge:5,031 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:34,377 km (includes 358 km of expressways) (2010)country comparison to the world: 93

Waterways
12,800 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 10


Merchant marine
total:29country comparison to the world: 86
by type:cargo 22, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned:2 (Germany 1, Japan 1)
registered in other countries:3 (Panama 3) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Moulmein, Sittwe
river port(s):Rangoon (Rangoon River)

Military

Military branches
Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for voluntary military service; no conscription (a 2010 law reintroducing conscription has not yet entered into force); service obligation 2 years; male (ages 18-45) and female (ages 18-35) professionals (including doctors, engineers, mechanics) serve up to 3 years; service terms may be stretched to 5 years in an officially declared emergency; Burma signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 15 August 1991; on 27 June 2012, the regime signed a Joint Action Plan on prevention of child recruitment; in February 2013, the military formed a new task force to address forced child conscription, which reportedly continues (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:14,747,845
females age 16-49:14,710,871 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:10,451,515
females age 16-49:11,181,537 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:522,478
female:506,388 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries; the Naf River on the border with Bangladesh serves as a smuggling and illegal transit route; Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 29,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Arakan State, living as refugees in Cox's Bazar; Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border with Bangladesh in 2010; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Burmese forces attempting to dig in to the largely autonomous Shan State to rout local militias tied to the drug trade, prompts local residents to periodically flee into neighboring Yunnan Province in China; fencing along the India-Burma international border at Manipur's Moreh town is in progress to check illegal drug trafficking and movement of militants; over 90,000 mostly Karen refugees and asylum seekers fleeing civil strife, political upheaval, and economic stagnation in Burma were living in remote camps in Thailand near the border as of year-end 2013


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs:640,900 (government offensives against armed ethnic minority groups near its borders with China and Thailand) (2013)
stateless persons:808,075 (2014); note - Burma's main group of stateless people is the Rohingya, Muslims living in northern Rakhine State; the Burmese Government does not recognize the Rohingya as a 'national race' and stripped them of their citizenship under the 1982 Citizenship law, categorizing them as 'non-national' or 'foreign residents'; native-born but non-indigenous people, such as Indians, and children born in Thailand to Burmese parents are also stateless; the Burmese Government does not grant citizenship to children born outside of the country to Burmese parents who left the country illegally or fled persecution



Trafficking in persons



Illicit drugs
world's third largest producer of illicit opium with an estimated production in 2012 of 690 metric tons, an increase of 13% over 2011, and poppy cultivation in 2012 totaled 51,000 hectares, a 17% increase over 2011; production in the United Wa State Army's areas of greatest control remains low; Shan state is the source of 94.5% of Burma's poppy cultivation; lack of government will to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption (2013)
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook