Geography and people
Myanmar is the largest country in mainland south-east Asia. The Bay of Bengal lies to the southwest, surrounded by nearly 1,200 miles of Myanmar’s coast.
The climate is cooler in the mountainous north and east areas, tropical in the south and west and hot and humid along the coast and delta.
Natural resources include petroleum, timber, tin, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas and hydropower.
Over 130 ethnic groups live in Myanmar. The Burman are the largest ethnic group, making up two-thirds of the population. The official language is Burmese, but many ethnic groups speak their own dialects. English is a second language, often used in government settings and in schools.
Population
Life expectancy
Literacy rate
Access to safe water
Average annual income
Our Achievements in Myanmar
World Vision’s work in Myanmar started in the 1980s. Since then, some major accomplishments include:
Child development
Meeting the needs of children through sponsorship since the mid 1980s.
Economic development
Helping families affected by floods regain livelihoods with resources such as carts, rickshaws and sewing machines in the 1980s.
Health and well-being
Providing healthcare, education and skills training to hearing impaired children and adults in the 1990s.
Community development
Improving the lives of children living on the street, assisting with Cyclone Nargis relief efforts and increasing microenterprise development since 2000.
