Area comparison map:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 6,522 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (5): Bangladesh 271 km, China 2129 km, India 1468 km, Laos 238 km, Thailand 2416 km

Coastline:
1,930 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

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)
More Climate Details

Terrain:
central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Elevation:
mean elevation: 702 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
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, arable land

Land use:
agricultural land: 19.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 16.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 2.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 0.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 48.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 32.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
22,950 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
population concentrated along coastal areas and in general proximity to the shores of the Irrawaddy River; the extreme north is relatively underpopulated

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; rapid depletion of the country's natural resources

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, 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; the north-south flowing Irrawaddy River is the country's largest and most important commercial waterway