Shan: population, jobs, poverty, health and schools
Shan is a state of Myanmar, number 4 of 15 by population. Shan State had 5,384,244 people in the 2019 Inter-censal Survey, 10.5% of Myanmar's 51,144,607. By population that is 4th largest of 15 divisions (14 states and regions plus the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory).
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Shan: In 2019, 55.8% of people aged 5 and over in Shan State were in the labour force (working or looking for work): men 62.0%, women 50.2%. The national rate was 51.4% and Shan State is 2nd highest of 15. The published table counts everyone aged 5 and over, so it is lower than rates for adults only.
- Health in Shan: The 2014 census estimated that 60 babies in every 1,000 born in Shan State died before their first birthday, and 70 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 Shan: In 2019 72.6% of adults aged 15 and over in Shan State could read and write (men 77.5%, women 68.1%), against 89.1% nationally; that is 2nd lowest of 15 states and regions.
- Poverty and living standards in Shan: The 2017 Myanmar Living Conditions Survey found 28.6% of people in Shan State below the poverty line (1,590 kyat per adult equivalent per day), against 24.8% for Myanmar; it is 8th highest of 15 states and regions for poverty.
How has the population of Shan State changed since 1983?
The 2014 census counted 5,824,432 people in Shan State (including an estimate for areas that could not be enumerated), up from 3,716,841 in 1983 and 3,179,546 in 1973. It covers 155,801 square kilometres of land, a density of 37 people per square kilometre in 2014.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population · saved copyHow urban is Shan State?
29.1% of people in Shan State lived in urban areas in 2019, compared with 28.8% across Myanmar (4th most urban of 15 divisions).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyWhat is the age structure of Shan State?
In 2019, 30.2% of the people of Shan State were aged under 15 and 4.9% were aged 65 or over, with 54.1 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 Shan State?
There were 92.6 men for every 100 women in Shan 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
- 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
- Kayah 311,448
Up a level: Myanmar · government and power in Myanmar · cities
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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.