Nay Pyi Taw, February 7, 2020 – The report, “Myanmar Living Conditions Survey: Socio-Economic Report” was jointly launched today by the Deputy Minister of Planning, Finance and Industry, H.E U Set Aung, the UNDP Resident Representative a.i. Gordon Johnson, and the World Bank Program Leader Ms. Bronwyn Grieve.

The Myanmar Living Conditions Survey is a comprehensive assessment of the well-being of more than 60,000 people of Myanmar. It provides accurate and up-to-date data that can be used to inform policies for future development by the Government of Myanmar and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Although poverty has nearly halved between 2005 and 2017, nearly 1 out 4 people in Myanmar live with less than 1.590 kyats per day while close to 6 out 10 people in Chin State are poor.

Research has been undertaken to look at which factors are linked to being poor in Myanmar.  These, and many other, results have been released today in a Socio-Economic Report. Another in the series of analytical reports using the Myanmar Living Conditions Survey 2017. The research examines the characteristics of Myanmar people and their households, suggesting which factors affect their level of prosperity.  It includes economic models which enables, for the first time in Myanmar, the drivers of welfare to be identified.

 “Myanmar has seen substantial economic growth in the last few years. A lot of that growth is quite obvious in places like Yangon and Mandalay, parts of which are becoming increasingly affluent. This Socio-Economic Report confirms that people have moved in large numbers to Yangon and other cities in order to find work. These people are seeking to benefit from the outside investment that has come to Myanmar as the economy has become more open.

However, some people and other parts of the country are being “left behind” in the rapid development that Myanmar is currently experiencing. There has been a belief that a rising economic tide will lift all boats – but the evidence in this report suggests that is not the case” said Mr. Gordon Johnson, Resident Representative a.i, UNDP Myanmar.

The launch ended with CSO DG U San Myint stating that:

“This is a busy and exciting time for the development of statistics and the statistical system in Myanmar. A new statistics law has been formulated which strengthens the relationship of statistics producers and stakeholders. The National Indicator Framework is being extensively discussed with many partners and this will define the indicators to be used to track the future progress of Myanmar”.

Please click here to download the report.

For more information contact:

Sa Si Thu Htike San, Data for Development Specialist, UNDP Myanmar,

+ 95 9 458667984, sa.si.thu.htike.san@undp.org