Myanmar Overview

Photo credit

Steve Dowall

9:36am Wednesday 23 May

Diplomatic relations with Myanmar are maintained via accredited Ambassadors in Bangkok and Canberra respectively, with the most regular form of contact in the context of ASEAN.

New Zealand's trade with Myanmar is not significant. Myanmar is New Zealand's 100th largest trading partner with total trade in 2011 of $21.3 million. Exports to Myanmar have increased in recent years: exports in 2011 increased 22% from $16.3 million in 2010, which was up from $9.3 million in 2009. Milk powder and butter account for over 80% of New Zealand's exports. As a Least Developed Country (LDC), Myanmar has duty-free access to New Zealand, along with all of the 50 LDCs currently recognised by the WTO.

Natural gas is one of Myanmar's largest sources of export revenue, accounting for about thirty percent of total exports, with further growth expected and energy demand increasing from neighbouring countries, predominantly India, China and Thailand.

Map of Myanmar and surrounding region with ASEAN neighbours marked

Key demographics

Official Name	Union of Myanmar
Land Area	678,500 sq km
Population	47,758,180
Capital City	Rangoon, new capital Napyitaw
Religion	Buddhist 89%, Christian 4%, Islam 4%, Animist 1%, other 2%
Language	Burmese (65%) & 100 minority dialects
Currency	Kyat

Key statistics

GDP	US$50.2 billion (IMF estimate 20111)
GDP per capita	US$1,327 (PPP estimate 2011)
Total exports	US$7.83 billion (2010)
Total imports	US$4.375 billion (2010)
Total NZ exports to Myanmar	NZ$20 million (2011)
Total NZ imports from Myanmar	NZ$1.34 million (2011)

Sources of data: IMF (GDP data), World Bank (export/imports) and Global Trade Atlas (NZ exports/imports).