Health in Shan, Myanmar: official figures
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.
What is life expectancy in Shan State?
Life expectancy at birth in Shan State was estimated at 67.2 years in the 2014 census, against 66.8 years for Myanmar (6th highest of 15 states and regions).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population · saved copyWhat is the fertility rate in Shan State?
The 2014 census estimated Shan State had a crude birth rate of 21.2 births per 1,000 people and a total fertility rate of 2.7 children per woman, against 18.8 and 2.3 for Myanmar.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population · saved copyHow many people have a disability in Shan State?
8.6% of people aged 5 and over in Shan State had a disability in 2019 (415,135 people), against 12.8% nationally; 3.6% had difficulty seeing and 3.6% difficulty walking or climbing steps.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow many people had a disability in Shan State in 2014?
The 2014 census recorded 228,074 people with a disability in Shan State, 3.9% of the population (national 4.6%). The census asked four disability questions, fewer than the 2019 survey.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population · saved copyHow many children in Shan State have a birth certificate?
82.1% of children aged 15 and under in Shan State had a birth certificate in 2019 and 14.3% were not registered at all (national 81.7% and 13.4%).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyDo households in Shan State have safe drinking water and toilets?
In 2019, 86.2% of households in Shan State had a basic drinking water service (an improved source on the premises or within 30 minutes), 4.9% relied on surface water, and 2.3% had no toilet (open defecation); nationally the shares were 81.6%, 12.4% and 4.9%.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow many households in Shan State have handwashing facilities?
71.9% of households in Shan State had a basic handwashing facility (water and soap present) in 2019 and 56.0% had basic drinking water, sanitation and handwashing services together, against 72.3% and 49.9% for Myanmar.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow Shan compares with other states
Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 births) (2014)
Shan ranks 11 of 15, highest first. Estimated from the 2014 census by indirect methods.
| Rank | Region | Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 births) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Bago | 62 |
| 9 | Kayin | 60 |
| 10 | Sagaing | 60 |
| 11 | Shan | 60 |
| 12 | Mandalay | 57 |
| 13 | Kachin | 53 |
| 14 | Yangon | 44 |
Life expectancy at birth (2014)
Shan ranks 6 of 15, highest first. Estimated from the 2014 census.
| Rank | Region | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Kachin | 68.9 years |
| 4 | Mandalay | 68.0 years |
| 5 | Kayin | 67.3 years |
| 6 | Shan | 67.2 years |
| 7 | Sagaing | 67.1 years |
| 8 | Kayah | 66.7 years |
| 9 | Bago | 66.7 years |
People aged 5+ with a disability (2019)
Shan ranks 15 of 15, highest first. The 2019 survey asked six questions (seeing, hearing, walking, remembering, self-care, communication); the 2014 census asked four, so the two years are not comparable.
| Rank | Region | People aged 5+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Tanintharyi | 11.6% |
| 10 | Kayah | 10.8% |
| 11 | Nay Pyi Taw | 10.8% |
| 12 | Mandalay | 10.2% |
| 13 | Sagaing | 9.6% |
| 14 | Kachin | 8.9% |
| 15 | Shan | 8.6% |
Households with a basic drinking water service (2019)
Shan ranks 6 of 15, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with a basic drinking water service |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Sagaing | 89.9% |
| 4 | Kachin | 89.8% |
| 5 | Tanintharyi | 88.5% |
| 6 | Shan | 86.2% |
| 7 | Kayin | 86.1% |
| 8 | Mon | 85.3% |
| 9 | Bago | 85.1% |
Households with no toilet (open defecation) (2019)
Shan ranks 9 of 15, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with no toilet (open defecation) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Tanintharyi | 4.6% |
| 7 | Mon | 4.2% |
| 8 | Bago | 2.3% |
| 9 | Shan | 2.3% |
| 10 | Kayah | 2.2% |
| 11 | Ayeyawady | 2.1% |
| 12 | Nay Pyi Taw | 2.0% |
More on Shan: overview · economy and jobs · 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…)
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