As a least developed country with almost one-quarter of the population found to be poor according to the 2017 Myanmar Living Conditions Survey, Myanmar has made significant progress in poverty reduction between 2005 and 2017, halving the share of the population considered poor. Nevertheless, the disparity in wealth between rural and urban areas remained high, with wide variations across townships and a third of the population not considered poor in 2017 were still highly vulnerable and at the risk of falling into poverty.

Recent reports in 2020 and 2021 have indicated sharp increases in poverty in Myanmar following the COVID pandemic and the situations in 2021. A recent UNDP report warns that, if unchecked, the combined effect of these two crises could push up to 12 million people into poverty and put as much as 25 million people, nearly half of Myanmar’s population, below the poverty line.   

This page gathers together recent reports, resources and information on poverty and vulnerability in Myanmar - please share any resources that could be included through [email protected]