UN Report Finds 37 Million Myanmar Residents in Poverty
The UN Development Programme reports that 68 percent of Myanmar's population faces multidimensional poverty following a 2021 military coup and ongoing civil war.
A report from the United Nations Development Programme reveals that over 68 percent of Myanmar's population, approximately 37 million people, are living in poverty or are vulnerable to it. The report, titled "Layers of Deprivation: Multidimensional Poverty in Myanmar," describes a simultaneous collapse of healthcare, schooling, shelter, and livelihoods. Armed conflict, macroeconomic instability, and climate shocks—including a March 2025 earthquake and recent flooding affecting 600,000 people—are cited as primary drivers of the crisis.
Deficits in health and living standards account for more than 80 percent of measured poverty. While Rakhine and Kayah states are identified as severe hotspots, the Yangon region shows significant urban vulnerability. The UNDP further warns of a massive loss of human capital, estimating that at least one million young people have fled the country since 2021 due to insecurity and a lack of opportunity.
Min Aung Hlaing, leader of the military-backed government, acknowledged that instability and a lack of peace have slowed economic growth, though he attributed the decline to sanctions and limited international market access. Kanni Wignaraja, UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, stated that the depth of poverty is eroding human development itself.
