Myanmar's military government recently released provisional results of a census conducted in October, revealing a slight decrease in the country's population. The census reported a figure of approximately 51.3 million, down from the last official count of 51.5 million a decade ago.
The Ministry of Immigration and Population attributed the population decline to challenges faced during the census, including escalating armed conflict and other constraints since the military seized power in 2021. The census was successfully carried out in less than half of the country's 330 townships.
The report did not offer a direct explanation for the decrease but mentioned that a detailed investigation would be conducted, with the main report scheduled for release in 2025. Prior to the census, the ministry had estimated Myanmar's population to be 56.2 million.
Notably, the census did not include the more than 700,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh in 2017 amid a violent military campaign. The challenges in conducting the census highlighted the military government's limited control over significant portions of the country, where ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy forces are actively engaged in conflict.
Myanmar has been embroiled in violence since the military ousted the elected government in 2021, leading to widespread protests and armed resistance. The ongoing civil war has made accurate population counts difficult, exacerbated by the presence of over 3 million displaced individuals.
The military government intends to use the census data to compile voter lists for a promised general election next year, despite the prevailing conflict and civil unrest. Critics have raised concerns about the election's legitimacy, given the country's current state of war and restricted civil liberties.
The census report revealed that data collection faced significant challenges in various regions controlled by ethnic armed forces and pro-democracy groups. The government extended the data collection period in certain areas due to transportation and security issues.
In its publication, the government emphasized its commitment to national reconciliation and inclusive socio-economic development as part of broader political and socio-economic reforms.
