For more information see the Burma profile.

The Union of Myanmar, known as Burma until 1989, consists of the basin and delta of the Irrawaddy River and a horseshoe-shaped chain of high mountains that isolates the country from India, China and Thailand. Myanmar is one of the world's poorest nations despite the wealth of its natural and human resources.

It has known little peace since the World War II Japanese invasion in 1942. Myanmar became independent from Britain in 1947 as a federal union. In many areas cultural insensitivity provoked bitter ethnic wars. Demand for democratic rule led elections in 1990, but the military regime refused to hand over power.

There is freedom of religion now, and growth continues in the churches. However, the population remains 87.8% Buddhist.