Over two-thirds of Rakhine State faces multidimensional poverty, UNDP reports

Poe War

Narinjara, October 9, 2026

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced on October 8 that more than two-thirds of the population in Arakan (Rakhine) State are experiencing multidimensional poverty.

Based on the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), the report reveals that nearly one-third of the state’s population lives in extreme poverty.

In its regional study, the UNDP notes that poverty is most severe in Rakhine and Kayah states, driven by worsening security conditions and limited access to essential services.

Rakhine, Sagaing, and Ayeyarwady all combine high MPI scores with large affected populations, though their underlying causes differ.

Rakhine records the highest national MPI score at 0.342, with a poverty headcount of 68.4%—affecting approximately 1.66 million people. Pervasive poverty here stems from prolonged insecurity, restricted movement, weak market integration, and limited healthcare and education.

core structural feature of Rakhine’s crisis is the plight of stateless and displaced populations, who face severe barriers regarding documentation, freedom of movement, and service entitlements.

While the poverty rate in Yangon Region is lower than in conflict zones, the total number of poor residents remains high due to urban and peri-urban socioeconomic pressures. Ongoing armed conflict, forced displacement, economic instability, and natural disasters have devastated household savings and incomes. Access to healthcare and education has also severely declined.

Nationwide, about 68% of Myanmar’s population (out of more than 37 million people) is either multidimensionally poor or at risk of falling into poverty. According to the report, 32.6% of the population—around 17.9 million people—currently suffer from multidimensional poverty, while another 19.5% remain at risk.

Photo by Doee Chay

MPI evaluates well-being beyond simple income by factoring in health, education, and standard of living. Deficiencies in health and living standards account for over 80% of the overall measure, reflecting widespread lack of decent housing, clean drinking water, and basic sanitation.

Additionally, the UNDP estimates that at least one million young people have left or may leave Myanmar due to a lack of opportunities and unstable conditions following 2021. The report's findings are based on a survey of 7,463 households conducted across Myanmar in 2025.

Photo Courtesy: Doee Chay