Employment by status in Myanmar
Myanmar: Employment by status was 34.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Employment by status in Myanmar, 1991–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Myanmar recorded 34.5% for employment by status in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment by status in Myanmar peaked at 34.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 1991.
That places Myanmar 148th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Employment by status in Myanmar, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 23.1% | — |
| 1992 | 23.2% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 23.4% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 23.7% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 24.0% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 24.4% | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 24.7% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 25.1% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 25.5% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 26.0% | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 26.6% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 27.1% | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 27.7% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 28.4% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 29.0% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 29.6% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 30.2% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 30.8% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 31.4% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 31.9% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 32.3% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 32.7% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 33.0% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 33.4% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 33.7% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 33.9% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 34.1% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 33.9% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 34.5% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 34.3% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 34.8% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 34.7% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 34.6% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 34.5% | -0.2% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 34.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 35.3%, 98% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 34.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 61.9%, 56% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.1% | 23.1% | 25.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 28.7% | 26.0% | 31.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.3% | 31.9% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.6% | 34.3% | 34.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
More work & labour data for Myanmar
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4735 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5269 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.46 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 29,392 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 32,967 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 25,258 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 24,401 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 49,659 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment by status in Myanmar?
- Employment by status in Myanmar was 34.5% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment by status recorded in Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 34.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest employment by status recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 1991.
- How does Myanmar rank for employment by status?
- Myanmar ranks 148th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment by status rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Myanmar data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment by status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of people in employment working as employees, as a percentage of total employment.