Historical population
YearPop.±%
18722,747,148—    
18813,737,000+36.0%
18917,722,000+106.6%
190110,491,000+35.9%
191112,115,000+15.5%
192113,212,000+9.1%
193114,667,000+11.0%
194116,824,000+14.7%
197328,921,000+71.9%
198335,306,000+22.1%
201451,419,420+45.6%
Sources: 1872-1983,[1] 2014[2]

The Burmese census is an official count of the human population in Burma (Myanmar).

History

edit

The earliest census on record in Burmese history was taken in 1359 in the Pinya Kingdom. The first nationwide census was taken in 1638, and it was followed by two other nationwide censuses in 1784 and 1803.[3] The first modern census was taken in 1891 in the British colonial period. It was carried out in 10-year intervals until 1941.[4] In the post-independence area, the census has been conducted 3 times, in 1973, 1983, and 2014.

2014 Census

edit

The last census was conducted by the Ministry of Immigration and Population's Department of Population, and was funded by Western donors, at a cost of US$74 million, and supervised by the United Nations Population Fund.[5]

2024 Census

edit

In March 2023, the SAC announced it would conduct a nationwide census between 1 and 15 October 2024, in preparation for the next Myanmar general election.[6] Due to ongoing political instability in the wake of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état and limited recognition of the military junta, the UN denied allegations that it would support the planned census.[7]

In September 2024, the military leader of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing announced that the main purpose of the 2024 census is to get voter lists for the 2025 general election. The current main opposition to Min Aung Hlaing, the National Unity Government advised caution when answering the questions on the census.[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ Maung, M. Ismael Khin (April 1986). The population of Burma: An analysis of the 1973 Census (PDF). East-West Population Institute. ISBN 0866380779.
  2. ^ Population and Housing Census of Myanmar, 2014 Provisional results (PDF). Vol. 1. Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar: Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population. August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  3. ^ Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd. pp. 194, 269–270.
  4. ^ "President U Thein Sein attends the meeting to clarify country-wide census-taking (2014) process". Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Ethnicity without Meaning, Data without Context" (PDF). Transnational Institute. February 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Myanmar Regime Paves Way for Election With Census Next Year". The Irrawaddy. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Census or spy op? Upcoming population count raises alarm". Frontier Myanmar. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  8. ^ Now, Myanmar (2 September 2024). "Myanmar regime to conduct 'nationwide' census in October". Myanmar Now. Retrieved 2 September 2024.