Kayah: population, jobs, poverty, health and schools
Kayah is a state of Myanmar, number 15 of 15 by population. Kayah State had 311,448 people in the 2019 Inter-censal Survey, 0.6% of Myanmar's 51,144,607. By population that is the smallest of 15 divisions (14 states and regions plus the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory).
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Kayah: In 2019, 54.6% of people aged 5 and over in Kayah State were in the labour force (working or looking for work): men 62.1%, women 47.5%. The national rate was 51.4% and Kayah State is 3rd highest of 15. The published table counts everyone aged 5 and over, so it is lower than rates for adults only.
- Health in Kayah: The 2014 census estimated that 62 babies in every 1,000 born in Kayah State died before their first birthday, and 72 in every 1,000 died before age five, against 62 and 72 for Myanmar. These are estimates made from census answers, not registered deaths.
- Education in Kayah: In 2019 83.1% of adults aged 15 and over in Kayah State could read and write (men 87.8%, women 78.8%), against 89.1% nationally; that is 5th lowest of 15 states and regions.
- Poverty and living standards in Kayah: The 2017 Myanmar Living Conditions Survey found 32.0% of people in Kayah State below the poverty line (1,590 kyat per adult equivalent per day), against 24.8% for Myanmar; it is 5th highest of 15 states and regions for poverty.
How has the population of Kayah State changed since 1983?
The 2014 census counted 286,627 people in Kayah State (including an estimate for areas that could not be enumerated), up from 168,429 in 1983 and 126,574 in 1973. It covers 11,732 square kilometres of land, a density of 24 people per square kilometre in 2014.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population · saved copyHow urban is Kayah State?
21.3% of people in Kayah State lived in urban areas in 2019, compared with 28.8% across Myanmar (8th most urban of 15 divisions).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyWhat is the age structure of Kayah State?
In 2019, 33.4% of the people of Kayah State were aged under 15 and 4.1% were aged 65 or over, with 60.1 children and older people for every 100 people aged 15 to 64 (Myanmar: 27.2% under 15, 6.4% aged 65+, dependency ratio 50.6).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow many men and women live in Kayah State?
There were 95.4 men for every 100 women in Kayah State in the 2019 Inter-censal Survey, against 87.8 across Myanmar.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow states are governed in Myanmar
Regions (7) and states (7), plus Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory. Assemblies (hluttaw) 75% elected, 25% military appointees; chief minister appointed by the President. Limited lawmaking under Schedule II; most services delivered by Union ministries.
Every tier of government in Myanmar
Other states of Myanmar
- Yangon 7,831,830
- Mandalay 6,168,225
- Ayeyawady 6,140,001
- Shan 5,384,244
- Sagaing 5,309,914
- Bago 4,814,582
- Magway 3,805,211
- Rakhine 3,230,175
- Mon 1,889,274
- Kachin 1,584,375
- Kayin 1,556,552
- Tanintharyi 1,426,426
- Nay Pyi Taw 1,183,314
- Chin 509,037
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Sources
- Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population: The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census, The Union Report, Census Report Volume 2 (Tables 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 16 and 17), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b9340ade6cad…)
- Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population: The 2019 Inter-censal Survey, Appendix Tables (A-2, A-4, A-9, A-10, B-2, B-7, C-1, F-2, H-1, H-3, H-10 and I-12 by State/Region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f09f9e2de673…)
- Central Statistical Organization (Ministry of Planning and Finance), UNDP and World Bank: Myanmar Living Conditions Survey 2017: Poverty Report (Table 2.2 and Figures 2.1 and 2.4), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2c7589751333…)
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