Myanmar population is 51 million

31082014

Myanmar’s first census in more than 30 years shows the country’s population is about 51 million, nearly 10 million fewer than previously estimated.

The government announced on Saturday the preliminary results of the census conducted from March to April.

It shows there are 51,410,000 people in the country. The largest city, Yangon, has the population of 7 million, or about 13 percent of the national total.

The government could not count ethnic minorities in the northern state of Kachin. The survey also excluded Muslims in the west.

Myanmar plans to announce the final results early next year.
International agencies including the International Monetary Fund had estimated the population at about 60 million people. The figure was based on a 1983 survey.

Some analysts say the smaller-than-expected population might make Myanmar a less attractive market.

But government officials say the census should help improve the investment environment as it reveals specific figures, such as the number of people in different areas and in each generation.

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