Myanmar's Controversial Census and Civil Conflict

Myanmar's latest census reveals a population drop amid armed conflict and partial data collection. With only 145 out of 330 townships fully surveyed, the results reflect the ongoing civil unrest since the military's 2021 coup. The full report is expected in 2025 as conflict persists.

Myanmar's military government disclosed provisional results from an October census, reporting a population of approximately 51.3 million, a slight decrease from 51.5 million a decade ago. This drop was noted despite the census covering less than half of Myanmar due to escalating armed conflict after the 2021 military takeover.

The recently-released data accounts only for townships successfully surveyed, numbering 145 of Myanmar's 330, with remaining areas compelled into estimated counts or entirely unaccounted for due to security and logistical constraints. The military government has acknowledged that its authority is challenged in over half the country by ethnic militias and pro-democracy guerrillas.

While the government plans to use this census to prepare for a general election, the legitimacy of such a poll is under scrutiny, with critics questioning whether free and fair elections are feasible amid the country's civil war. A full report is anticipated in 2025.

(With inputs from agencies.)