Myanmar: public finances

How much does the Myanmar government spend?

Total public expenditure was 43,449,089.468 million kyats in 2024-25, up from 33,563,110.806 million in 2023-24, according to Table 6.4 of the Handbook on Human Resources Development Indicators 2024-2025, compiled by the Planning Department from the summary of the Union's budget estimate. Administrative organisations took 19,606,941.330 million kyats and electric power 7,379,715.253 million.

The table includes interest, grants, the contingency fund and state and region spending. It is based on budget estimates, not final outturns. Social sector spending was 4,303,405.970 million kyats, of which education was 2,486,146.822 million and health 1,209,129.331 million.

Official sources: Handbook on Human Resources Development Indicators 2024-2025

What is Myanmar's government debt?

General government gross debt is estimated at 51.9% of GDP in 2025 and projected at 53.3% in 2026, according to the IMF DataMapper on 15 October 2026.

Myanmar's own central government debt table, in the CSO's National Summary Data Page, is marked as taken from an IMF staff report and has no figures after 2021. No more recent official debt bulletin was found on the reachable government sites on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: IMF DataMapper: government debt, Myanmar · CSO National Summary Data Page

What is Myanmar's budget deficit?

The IMF estimates general government net borrowing at 4.9% of GDP in 2025 and projects 5.0% for 2026, as shown in the IMF DataMapper on 15 October 2026. A negative net lending figure means the government spent more than it took in.

Myanmar's general government operations table on the CSO's National Summary Data Page ends in 2017-18, when net borrowing was 2,728,660 million kyats. The Ministry of Planning and Finance website, which publishes the Union budget, did not respond on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: IMF DataMapper: net lending/borrowing, Myanmar · CSO National Summary Data Page

How much does Myanmar spend on education and health?

Budgeted education spending was 2,486,146.822 million kyats and health spending 1,209,129.331 million kyats in 2024-25, according to Table 6.4 of the Handbook on Human Resources Development Indicators 2024-2025. Together they were about 8.5% of total public expenditure of 43,449,089.468 million kyats.

Health spending rose from 755,517.418 million kyats in 2023-24, and education from 2,290,130.292 million. These are nominal kyat amounts from the Union budget estimate, so part of the increase reflects higher prices.

Official sources: Handbook on Human Resources Development Indicators 2024-2025

What is Myanmar's debt to GDP ratio?

According to the IMF, general government gross debt in Myanmar was 51.9% of GDP in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 119.0% of GDP; its low point was 2014, at 34.5% of GDP. It is 12th highest of 29 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 45.0% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 100th of 185.

Does Myanmar's government borrow more than it raises?

-4.9% of GDP: that is general government net lending or borrowing in Myanmar for 2025, according to the IMF, a deficit. The peak was -1.1% of GDP in 2014 and the low -6.5% of GDP in 2020. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was -1.7% of GDP, and Myanmar placed 25th highest of 29. Worldwide: 143rd of 188.

How much does Myanmar's government take in?

In 2025, general government revenue in Myanmar was 20.3% of GDP, according to the IMF. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 23.7% of GDP; its low point was 2010, at 10.4% of GDP. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 33.6% of GDP, and Myanmar placed 22nd highest of 29. Of 187 countries with 2025 data, 128th highest.

How big is Myanmar's government spending as a share of GDP?

According to the IMF, general government spending in Myanmar was 25.2% of GDP in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2024, at 25.8% of GDP; its low point was 2008, at 14.4% of GDP. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 32.9% of GDP, and Myanmar placed 20th highest of 29. Worldwide: 117th of 186.

What is tax revenue in Myanmar?

According to the IMF, central government tax revenue in Myanmar was 6.0% of GDP in 2019. Its high point since 2005 was 2016, at 7.2% of GDP; its low point was 2018, at 2.8% of GDP. It is 24th highest of 24 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 17.6% of GDP. Worldwide: 133rd of 137.

What is Myanmar's defence spending?

According to SIPRI, military spending in Myanmar was 6.6% of GDP in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 1.4% of GDP, and Myanmar placed 1st highest of 18. Worldwide: 5th of 151.