Economy, jobs and prices in Shan, Myanmar: official figures
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.
What is the unemployment rate in Shan State?
The unemployment rate in Shan State was 1.2% of the labour force in the 2019 Inter-censal Survey (men 1.1%, women 1.2%), against 2.7% for Myanmar; it is 3rd lowest of 15 for unemployment.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow many people have a job in Shan State?
2,658,105 people aged 5 and over in Shan State were employed in 2019 (55.2% of that age group) and 31,024 were unemployed; the employment ratio was 61.3% for men and 49.6% for women, against 50.0% nationally.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyWhat was unemployment in Shan State in the 2014 census?
In the 2014 census the unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 64 in Shan State was 2.0% (national 4.0%) and the labour force participation rate was 77.5% (national 67.0%).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population · saved copyWhat is the GDP per person in Shan State?
GDP per person in Shan State was 860,000 kyat in 2017, 2nd 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 Shan State have a bank account?
11.4% of adults aged 18 and over in Shan State had a bank account in 2019, against 13.0% across Myanmar (7th highest of 15).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow many households in Shan State have electricity?
56.0% of households in Shan State used grid electricity for lighting in 2019 and 36.1% 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 Shan State have internet at home?
In 2019, 85.1% of households in Shan State had a mobile phone and 56.5% 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 Shan compares with other states
Unemployment rate (share of the labour force) (2019)
Shan ranks 13 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Bago | 1.5% |
| 10 | Sagaing | 1.3% |
| 11 | Tanintharyi | 1.3% |
| 12 | Mandalay | 1.3% |
| 13 | Shan | 1.2% |
| 14 | Magway | 1.0% |
| 15 | Kayah | 0.7% |
Labour force participation rate (2019)
Shan ranks 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mandalay | 57.4% |
| 2 | Shan | 55.8% |
| 3 | Kayah | 54.6% |
| 4 | Magway | 54.2% |
| 5 | Sagaing | 53.3% |
| 6 | Yangon | 52.7% |
| 7 | Nay Pyi Taw | 52.6% |
GDP per person (2017)
Shan ranks 14 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 14 | Shan | 860,000 kyat |
| 15 | Chin | 737,000 kyat |
Adults (18+) with a bank account (2019)
Shan ranks 7 of 15, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (18+) with a bank account |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Bago | 12.6% |
| 5 | Nay Pyi Taw | 12.2% |
| 6 | Kachin | 11.6% |
| 7 | Shan | 11.4% |
| 8 | Tanintharyi | 10.8% |
| 9 | Magway | 10.7% |
| 10 | Mon | 10.5% |
Households using grid electricity for lighting (2019)
Shan ranks 7 of 15, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households using grid electricity for lighting |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Mon | 64.7% |
| 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% |
Households with internet access at home (2019)
Shan ranks 8 of 15, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with internet access at home |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Mandalay | 60.1% |
| 6 | Nay Pyi Taw | 59.6% |
| 7 | Kayin | 56.7% |
| 8 | Shan | 56.5% |
| 9 | Bago | 54.5% |
| 10 | Magway | 53.9% |
| 11 | Sagaing | 52.5% |
More on Shan: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.