Poverty and living standards in Kayah, Myanmar: official figures
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 many poor people are there in Kayah State?
About 91,000 people were poor in Kayah State in 2017, 0.8% of the 11.76 million poor people in Myanmar, while the state or region holds 0.6% of the population.
Source: Central Statistical Organization (Ministry of Planning and Finance), UNDP and World Bank · saved copyHow deep is poverty in Kayah State?
The 2017 poverty gap in Kayah State (how far the poor fall below the line, averaged over everyone) was 8.4% against 5.2% nationally, and the squared poverty gap, which gives more weight to the poorest, was 3.1% against 1.6%.
Source: Central Statistical Organization (Ministry of Planning and Finance), UNDP and World Bank · saved copyHow much do people spend per day in Kayah State?
Average daily spending per adult equivalent in Kayah State was 2,491 kyat in 2017 (first-quarter 2017 prices, adjusted for local price differences), against 2,628 kyat nationally; 8th highest of 15 states and regions.
Source: Central Statistical Organization (Ministry of Planning and Finance), UNDP and World Bank · saved copyHow many households in Kayah State have no phone, TV or radio?
11.0% of households in Kayah State had none of a radio, television, telephone, computer or home internet in 2019, against 9.4% across Myanmar (joint 6th highest of 15 states and regions).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyWhat kind of homes do people live in in Kayah State?
In 2019, 15.2% of households in Kayah State lived in bamboo houses and 0.4% in huts, while 46.0% lived in wooden houses and 34.5% in brick or semi-pucca houses; nationally 26.6% lived in bamboo houses and 3.6% in huts.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow Kayah compares with other states
Poverty headcount (2017)
Kayah ranks 5 of 15, highest first. Share of people whose spending per adult equivalent was under 1,590 kyat a day (2017 first-quarter prices).
| Rank | Region | Poverty headcount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Rakhine | 41.6% |
| 3 | Kachin | 36.6% |
| 4 | Magway | 35.6% |
| 5 | Kayah | 32.0% |
| 6 | Ayeyawady | 31.7% |
| 7 | Sagaing | 30.7% |
| 8 | Shan | 28.6% |
Daily spending per adult equivalent (2017)
Kayah ranks 8 of 15, highest first. Spatially adjusted to 2017 first-quarter kyat.
| Rank | Region | Daily spending per adult equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Nay Pyi Taw | 2,703 kyat |
| 6 | Mon | 2,663 kyat |
| 7 | Kayin | 2,511 kyat |
| 8 | Kayah | 2,491 kyat |
| 9 | Shan | 2,459 kyat |
| 10 | Ayeyawady | 2,344 kyat |
| 11 | Magway | 2,260 kyat |
Households with none of radio, TV, phone, computer or internet (2019)
Kayah ranks 6 of 15, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with none of radio, TV, phone, computer or internet |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Kayin | 13.6% |
| 4 | Rakhine | 13.2% |
| 5 | Shan | 11.1% |
| 6 | Kayah | 11.0% |
| 7 | Bago | 11.0% |
| 8 | Tanintharyi | 10.0% |
| 9 | Magway | 8.9% |
Households living in a bamboo house or hut (2019)
Kayah ranks 11 of 15, highest first. Bamboo houses plus huts built to last 2-3 years or 1 year.
| Rank | Region | Households living in a bamboo house or hut |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Bago | 24.8% |
| 9 | Tanintharyi | 18.7% |
| 10 | Rakhine | 16.1% |
| 11 | Kayah | 15.6% |
| 12 | Mon | 12.3% |
| 13 | Yangon | 11.3% |
| 14 | Kayin | 10.2% |
More on Kayah: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Myanmar
Sources
- 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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