GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Spectacular night view of the glowing Uppatasanti Pagoda in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.Serene island scene with clear skies in Popaywa, Myanmar. Ideal for travel and nature themes.

Myanmar

Asia · South-Eastern Asia

Very low safetyAffordable cost of livingMedium development

It is among the least peaceful countries.

Safety

149th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.911lower is more peacefulVery low safety
#149 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
2.6per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
48.5Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,320national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
11.1New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 391% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 92% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$4.0K$8.0K$6,012 PPP$1,489Inflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $303 a person, $2,153 at PPP, inflation 20%2007, $419 a person, $2,459 at PPP, inflation 35%2008, $658 a person, $2,748 at PPP, inflation 26.8%2009, $758 a person, $3,040 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2010, $1,011 a person, $3,348 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2011, $1,214 a person, $3,579 at PPP, inflation 5%2012, $1,203 a person, $3,845 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2013, $1,199 a person, $4,144 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2014, $1,293 a person, $4,376 at PPP, inflation 5%2015, $1,167 a person, $4,459 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2016, $1,229 a person, $4,460 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2017, $1,273 a person, $4,706 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2018, $1,298 a person, $5,581 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2019, $1,426 a person, $6,101 at PPP, inflation 8.8%2020, $1,490 a person, $5,741 at PPP2021, $1,243 a person, $5,178 at PPP2022, $1,158 a person, $5,731 at PPP2023, $1,233 a person, $5,958 at PPP2024, $1,359 a person, $6,006 at PPP2025, $1,489 a person, $6,012 at PPP$0$4.0K$8.0KInflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $303 a person, $2,153 at PPP, inflation 20%2007, $419 a person, $2,459 at PPP, inflation 35%2008, $658 a person, $2,748 at PPP, inflation 26.8%2009, $758 a person, $3,040 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2010, $1,011 a person, $3,348 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2011, $1,214 a person, $3,579 at PPP, inflation 5%2012, $1,203 a person, $3,845 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2013, $1,199 a person, $4,144 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2014, $1,293 a person, $4,376 at PPP, inflation 5%2015, $1,167 a person, $4,459 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2016, $1,229 a person, $4,460 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2017, $1,273 a person, $4,706 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2018, $1,298 a person, $5,581 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2019, $1,426 a person, $6,101 at PPP, inflation 8.8%2020, $1,490 a person, $5,741 at PPP2021, $1,243 a person, $5,178 at PPP2022, $1,158 a person, $5,731 at PPP2023, $1,233 a person, $5,958 at PPP2024, $1,359 a person, $6,006 at PPP2025, $1,489 a person, $6,012 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
67.1years, at birthLow
#156 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
52WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
28.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
31 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
444EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet31 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Serene island scene with clear skies in Popaywa, Myanmar. Ideal for travel and nature themes.
How it changed

Myanmar's Human Development Index

0.609Medium human development

150th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 38th of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #148Angola0.616
  2. #149Micronesia0.615
  3. #150Myanmar0.609
  4. #151Cambodia0.606
  5. #152Comoros0.603
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.347 in 1990 to 0.609 in 2023.

0.300.470.650.60919902000201020231990: 0.3471991: 0.3541992: 0.3681993: 0.3741994: 0.3811995: 0.3851996: 0.3911997: 0.3961998: 0.3991999: 0.4062000: 0.4152001: 0.4232002: 0.4332003: 0.4432004: 0.4532005: 0.4632006: 0.4732007: 0.4832008: 0.4682009: 0.5042010: 0.5152011: 0.5252012: 0.5352013: 0.5462014: 0.5572015: 0.5662016: 0.5742017: 0.5872018: 0.6002019: 0.6102020: 0.6092021: 0.6052022: 0.6062023: 0.6090.300.470.6519902000201020231990: 0.3471991: 0.3541992: 0.3681993: 0.3741994: 0.3811995: 0.3851996: 0.3911997: 0.3961998: 0.3991999: 0.4062000: 0.4152001: 0.4232002: 0.4332003: 0.4432004: 0.4532005: 0.4632006: 0.4732007: 0.4832008: 0.4682009: 0.5042010: 0.5152011: 0.5252012: 0.5352013: 0.5462014: 0.5572015: 0.5662016: 0.5742017: 0.5872018: 0.6002019: 0.6102020: 0.6092021: 0.6052022: 0.6062023: 0.609

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
67.1 years2024at birthUp 5.4 years from 61.7 years in 2005
Urban population
31%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 2 points from 29% in 2006
Births per woman
2.102024births per womanDown 0.42 from 2.52 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
63%2021of energy usedDown 17 points from 80% in 2004
Access to electricity
80%2024of people with electricityUp 33 points from 47% in 2005
Infant mortality
332024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 32 from 65 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.3 t from 0.2 t in 2005
Forest area
42%2023of land under forestDown 9 points from 51% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Military coup in 2021; deep cultural heritage and landscapes, but serious instability. The case against is a low peace ranking, low incomes and polluted air.

About Myanmar

Myanmar is a Southeast Asian country of golden pagodas, ancient temple plains at Bagan, and a great diversity of ethnic cultures spread across delta rivers, mountain jungles, and the shores of Inle Lake. The natural and architectural beauty is exceptional, and the culture carries a deep Buddhist quality of patience and gentleness in everyday interactions. Travellers should research current conditions carefully before visiting.

Practical facts

  • CapitalNaypyidaw
  • LanguagesBurmese
  • CurrencyBurmese kyat (MMK)
  • Area652,670 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B/C/D/E/F/G/I
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Myanmar's Human Development Index?

Myanmar's Human Development Index is 0.609 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #150 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Myanmar safe?

Myanmar scores 2.91 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #149 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Myanmar?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Myanmar at 38.0 (New York = 100); that is #56 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Myanmar?

Life expectancy at birth in Myanmar is 67.1 yrs (World Bank), ranked #156 of 195 countries.