Over 37 million people in Myanmar—representing 68% of the country's population—are currently living in poverty or are highly vulnerable to falling into it, according to a newly released United Nations report. The findings highlight how armed conflict, limited access to basic services, and severe economic instability continue to deepen deprivation across the Southeast Asian nation.
The UN Development Program (UNDP) revealed that approximately 18 million people, or 32.6% of the population, are officially poor. An additional 19.5 million people are classified as vulnerable to poverty. The compounding crises have escalated since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, sparking widespread opposition, violent crackdowns, and armed conflict across large swathes of the country.
"We are seeing a depth of poverty in Myanmar that is eroding human development itself," said Kanni Wignaraja, UN assistant secretary-general and UNDP regional director for Asia and the Pacific. "This is a no-win war. Everyone is losing. The core muscle of the country is being systematically eroded."
The UNDP report compiled data from a nationwide telephone survey of 7,463 households. To capture deprivation beyond income alone, researchers utilized an adapted Multidimensional Poverty Index that measures overlapping gaps in health, education, and living standards. Deficits in health and living conditions account for more than 80% of the measured poverty, reflecting severe challenges in accessing healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and adequate housing, particularly in active conflict zones.
The report noted that poverty is especially severe in states experiencing heightened insecurity and restricted humanitarian access, specifically Rakhine State in the west and Kayah State in the east. Low education levels, insecure employment, and low incomes further compound the pressures of displacement, disrupted markets, and fragmented public services. Natural hazards, including the anticipated impacts of the El Niño climatic pattern, are expected to intensify these hardships.
Furthermore, the UNDP warned of a massive loss of human capital. At least 1 million young people are estimated to have left Myanmar since 2021 due to vanishing opportunities, limited educational prospects, and overall uncertainty about the future.
Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar's military-backed government, acknowledged the economic slowdown during a Cabinet meeting. According to state media reports, he attributed the country's stalled growth to political instability, international sanctions, a lack of financial assistance, limited access to global markets, declining trade, and increased worker migration.
