Economy, jobs and prices in Rakhine, Myanmar: official figures
In 2019, 44.8% of people aged 5 and over in Rakhine State were in the labour force (working or looking for work): men 52.8%, women 38.0%. The national rate was 51.4% and Rakhine State is 4th lowest of 15. The published table counts everyone aged 5 and over, so it is lower than rates for adults only.
What is the unemployment rate in Rakhine State?
The unemployment rate in Rakhine State was 20.4% of the labour force in the 2019 Inter-censal Survey (men 13.1%, women 29.1%), against 2.7% for Myanmar; it is the highest of 15 for unemployment.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow many people have a job in Rakhine State?
1,039,779 people aged 5 and over in Rakhine State were employed in 2019 (35.7% of that age group) and 266,357 were unemployed; the employment ratio was 45.9% for men and 26.9% for women, against 50.0% nationally.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyWhat was unemployment in Rakhine State in the 2014 census?
In the 2014 census the unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 64 in Rakhine State was 10.4% (national 4.0%) and the labour force participation rate was 58.8% (national 67.0%).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population · saved copyWhat is the GDP per person in Rakhine State?
GDP per person in Rakhine State was 1,193,000 kyat in 2017, 6th lowest of 15 states and regions (Ministry of Planning and Finance figure quoted in the 2017 Myanmar Living Conditions Survey report). Yangon Region was highest at 2,813,000 kyat and Chin State lowest at 737,000 kyat.
Source: Central Statistical Organization (Ministry of Planning and Finance), UNDP and World Bank · saved copyHow many people in Rakhine State have a bank account?
8.7% of adults aged 18 and over in Rakhine State had a bank account in 2019, against 13.0% across Myanmar (4th lowest of 15).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow many households in Rakhine State have electricity?
52.1% of households in Rakhine State used grid electricity for lighting in 2019 and 30.1% used solar systems, against 53.0% and 29.1% across Myanmar.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow many households in Rakhine State have internet at home?
In 2019, 82.0% of households in Rakhine State had a mobile phone and 50.4% had internet access at home (through a landline or mobile connection); the national figures were 85.8% and 56.0%.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow Rakhine compares with other states
Unemployment rate (share of the labour force) (2019)
Rakhine ranks 1 of 15, highest first. Population aged 5 and over, as published in the 2019 Inter-censal Survey appendix tables.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (share of the labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rakhine | 20.4% |
| 2 | Chin | 3.2% |
| 3 | Yangon | 2.9% |
| 4 | Kayin | 2.8% |
| 5 | Mon | 2.1% |
| 6 | Nay Pyi Taw | 2.0% |
| 7 | Kachin | 1.7% |
Labour force participation rate (2019)
Rakhine ranks 12 of 15, highest first. Population aged 5 and over, as published in the 2019 Inter-censal Survey appendix tables.
| Rank | Region | Labour force participation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Kachin | 48.5% |
| 10 | Bago | 48.5% |
| 11 | Tanintharyi | 45.0% |
| 12 | Rakhine | 44.8% |
| 13 | Mon | 44.1% |
| 14 | Chin | 42.6% |
| 15 | Kayin | 40.1% |
GDP per person (2017)
Rakhine ranks 10 of 15, highest first. Annual current GDP per person in kyat, from the Ministry of Planning and Finance, as printed in the 2017 Myanmar Living Conditions Survey poverty report.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Nay Pyi Taw | 1,541,000 kyat |
| 8 | Mandalay | 1,519,000 kyat |
| 9 | Bago | 1,515,000 kyat |
| 10 | Rakhine | 1,193,000 kyat |
| 11 | Kayin | 1,023,000 kyat |
| 12 | Kayah | 996,000 kyat |
| 13 | Kachin | 935,000 kyat |
Adults (18+) with a bank account (2019)
Rakhine ranks 12 of 15, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (18+) with a bank account |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Magway | 10.7% |
| 10 | Mon | 10.5% |
| 11 | Chin | 10.4% |
| 12 | Rakhine | 8.7% |
| 13 | Ayeyawady | 7.3% |
| 14 | Sagaing | 7.1% |
| 15 | Kayin | 5.8% |
Households using grid electricity for lighting (2019)
Rakhine ranks 8 of 15, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households using grid electricity for lighting |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Nay Pyi Taw | 64.4% |
| 6 | Kachin | 60.4% |
| 7 | Shan | 56.0% |
| 8 | Rakhine | 52.1% |
| 9 | Kayin | 46.4% |
| 10 | Sagaing | 46.0% |
| 11 | Bago | 44.0% |
Households with internet access at home (2019)
Rakhine ranks 12 of 15, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with internet access at home |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Bago | 54.5% |
| 10 | Magway | 53.9% |
| 11 | Sagaing | 52.5% |
| 12 | Rakhine | 50.4% |
| 13 | Chin | 44.1% |
| 14 | Kayah | 43.4% |
| 15 | Ayeyawady | 39.6% |
More on Rakhine: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Myanmar
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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