Yangon: population, jobs, poverty, health and schools
Yangon is a region of Myanmar, the largest of 15 by population. Yangon Region had 7,831,830 people in the 2019 Inter-censal Survey, 15.3% of Myanmar's 51,144,607. By population that is the largest of 15 divisions (14 states and regions plus the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory).
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Yangon: In 2019, 52.7% of people aged 5 and over in Yangon Region were in the labour force (working or looking for work): men 62.5%, women 44.3%. The national rate was 51.4% and Yangon Region is 6th highest of 15. The published table counts everyone aged 5 and over, so it is lower than rates for adults only.
- Health in Yangon: The 2014 census estimated that 44 babies in every 1,000 born in Yangon Region died before their first birthday, and 50 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 Yangon: In 2019 95.4% of adults aged 15 and over in Yangon Region could read and write (men 97.1%, women 94.0%), against 89.1% nationally; that is the highest of 15 states and regions.
- Poverty and living standards in Yangon: The 2017 Myanmar Living Conditions Survey found 13.7% of people in Yangon Region below the poverty line (1,590 kyat per adult equivalent per day), against 24.8% for Myanmar; it is 3rd lowest of 15 states and regions for poverty.
How has the population of Yangon Region changed since 1983?
The 2014 census counted 7,360,703 people in Yangon Region (including an estimate for areas that could not be enumerated), up from 3,973,626 in 1983 and 3,190,359 in 1973. It covers 10,277 square kilometres of land, a density of 716 people per square kilometre in 2014.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Immigration and Population · saved copyHow urban is Yangon Region?
69.1% of people in Yangon Region lived in urban areas in 2019, compared with 28.8% across Myanmar (the most urban of 15 divisions).
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyWhat is the age structure of Yangon Region?
In 2019, 22.3% of the people of Yangon Region were aged under 15 and 6.1% were aged 65 or over, with 39.8 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 Yangon Region?
There were 86.8 men for every 100 women in Yangon Region in the 2019 Inter-censal Survey, against 87.8 across Myanmar.
Source: Department of Population, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population · saved copyHow regions 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 regions of Myanmar
- Mandalay 6,168,225
- Ayeyawady 6,140,001
- Shan 5,384,244
- 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…)
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