PEOPLE

Race: The Union of Myanmar is made up of 135 national races, of which there are 8 major national ethnic races including the Bamar (68%), Shan (9%), Kayin (7%), Rakhine (4%), Mon (2%), Kayah, and Kachin. Unrecognised ethnic groups include Burmese Indians and Burmese Chinese, who form 2% and 3% of the population respectively. The remaining 5% of the population belong to small ethnic groups such as the Padaung and Moken.

The population density being 70 persons per sq km. Roughly three quarters of the population are rural inhabitants, with the remaining population living in urban Yangon, Mandalay and Moulmein. About two thirds of Myanmar's population are Bamar (ethnically close to Tibetans and Chinese) with other minorities making up the other third. Of the minorities, the Karen and the Shan groups which together make up less than ten percent of Myanmar's population are considered to be the two most important ones.

The official language and primary medium of instruction of Myanmar is Burmese (65%). However, a diversity of languages is spoken in Myanmar, and includes Shan (6.4%), Karen (5.2%), Kachin (1.8%), Chin (1.6%), Mon (1.5%), and Rakhine (1.5%). English is also spoken, particularly by the educated urban elite, and is the secondary language learnt in government schools.

Population: It estimated at 52.4 million (July, 2003) and the population growth rate is 1.84 percent.

Age structure: 0-14 years: 27.2% (male 5,967,487/female 5,717,795) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 14,448,887/female 14,641,419) 65 years and over: 5% (male 939,092/female 1,194,784) (2005 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.42% (2005 est.) Birth rate: 18.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) Death rate: 12.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.).

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: total: 67.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 73.11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 61.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.7 years male: 57.8 years female: 63.78 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Major Races

Kachin: The Kachin reside in the northernmost region of Myanmar bordering India and Tibet , an area containing some of the highest mountains in South East Asia including Mt. Kakaborazi , Myanmar 's tallest peak.

Kayah: More than a dozen ethnic groups inhabit Kayah State , a rugged mountain region in eastern Myanmar , but the Kayah people, numbering just over 150,000, comprise the largest ethnic group in the region.

Kayin:More than a dozen ethnic groups inhabit Kayah State , a rugged mountain region in eastern Myanmar , but the Kayah people, numbering just over 150,000, comprise the largest ethnic group in the region.

Chin: The Chins, or Zomi, are a Tibeto-Burman people inhabiting the great mountain chain running up western Myanmar into Mizoram in north-east India . In the past the difficult terrain meant there was little communication between villages.

Mon: The Mon, a distinctive branch of the Mon-Khmer peoples, were probably the earliest of modern day inhabitants to settle in the plains of Myanmar . They soon established themselves as the most cultured people in Southeast Asia , as their art and architecture clearly show.

Bamar:The upper and central plains of Myanmar are the traditional home of the Bamar. They are a Tibeto-Burman people who migrated from the north and China-India borderlands long before they established their greatest capital at Bagan on the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River between 1044 and 1287 AD.

Rakhine: The Rakhine, the majority ethnic group in Rakhine State , have long been influenced by their proximity to India and have formed strong trading links with the sub-continent.

Shan: The Shan are the second largest ethnic group in Myanmar after the Bamar. They live mainly in Shan State , which is the biggest state in Myanmar with a population of over 4 million, and is a melting pot of over 35 races and tribes.

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