Photo: Soe Lin derivative work: JamesA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Myanmar: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Myanmar is placed 109th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 53.41 (2025); Labour Income Share 48.67 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
109th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Myanmar on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
53.41
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Myanmar: 53.41. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 82.17 Cambodia
- Land neighbours
- Bangladesh 56.57 · China 61.57 · India 53.31 · Laos 65.3 · Thailand 66.16
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
3.047
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Myanmar: 3.047. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 0.263 Cambodia
- Land neighbours
- Bangladesh 3.778 · China 4.615 · India 4.219 · Laos 1.187 · Thailand 0.781
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
62.89
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Myanmar: 62.89. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 4.478 Brunei
- Land neighbours
- Bangladesh 57.35 · China 33.4 · India 71.58 · Laos 76.38 · Thailand 47.98
02Over time
Which way Myanmar is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
MyanmarWorld median
Myanmar fell from 66.86 in 2000 to 53.41 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Myanmar World median 2025 53.41 57.720 2024 53.54 57.694 2023 53.55 58.158 2022 53.53 57.688 2021 52.80 56.066 2020 59.26 55.691 2019 60.26 57.871 2018 61.88 56.911 2017 61.18 56.738 2016 62.71 56.845 2015 64.22 56.788 2014 64.35 56.774 2013 64.49 56.229 2012 64.64 56.289 2011 64.79 56.297 2010 64.90 56.212 2009 65.08 56.255 2008 65.27 57.308 2007 65.47 56.933 2006 65.68 56.685 2005 65.90 56.129 2004 66.11 55.465 2003 66.32 55.630 2002 66.54 55.843 2001 66.71 56.018 2000 66.86 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
MyanmarWorld median
Myanmar fell from 50.21 in 2004 to 48.67 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Myanmar World median 2025 48.667 46.230 2024 48.523 46.060 2023 48.322 45.900 2022 48.037 45.615 2021 49.715 45.433 2020 51.097 47.267 2019 51.341 46.277 2018 50.284 46.187 2017 50.928 46.467 2016 50.949 46.798 2015 50.853 46.876 2014 50.753 47.281 2013 50.725 46.887 2012 50.803 46.231 2011 50.930 45.679 2010 50.593 46.024 2009 50.507 47.071 2008 50.519 45.312 2007 50.367 45.246 2006 50.268 45.670 2005 50.217 46.265 2004 50.207 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
MyanmarWorld median
Myanmar rose from 0.712 in 2000 to 3.047 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Myanmar World median 2025 3.047 5.08 2024 2.887 5.15 2023 2.977 5.21 2022 3.063 5.34 2021 4.340 6.04 2020 1.476 6.38 2019 0.407 5.36 2018 0.767 5.35 2017 1.356 5.59 2016 1.058 5.90 2015 0.766 6.41 2014 0.763 6.58 2013 0.775 6.71 2012 0.768 6.79 2011 0.749 6.90 2010 0.725 7.04 2009 0.712 6.67 2008 0.700 5.79 2007 0.684 6.00 2006 0.676 6.50 2005 0.672 7.09 2004 0.677 6.80 2003 0.686 6.95 2002 0.685 6.91 2001 0.689 6.96 2000 0.712 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
MyanmarWorld median
Myanmar fell from 71.27 in 2000 to 62.89 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Myanmar World median 2025 62.89 28.67 2024 62.88 29.04 2023 62.82 29.33 2022 62.74 29.67 2021 62.64 30.01 2020 63.20 30.54 2019 63.09 29.98 2018 61.87 30.15 2017 62.94 29.93 2016 63.17 29.91 2015 63.42 30.26 2014 63.73 30.47 2013 64.09 31.14 2012 64.44 31.00 2011 64.83 31.41 2010 65.29 32.37 2009 65.80 32.59 2008 66.36 31.76 2007 66.95 33.47 2006 67.58 34.27 2005 68.21 34.66 2004 68.86 35.51 2003 69.50 35.90 2002 70.13 35.96 2001 70.72 35.27 2000 71.27 35.67
03In context
Myanmar beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Myanmar and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Thailand | =37th | 66.16 | 47.02 | 0.781 | 47.98 |
 Laos | 52nd | 65.3 | 48.7 | 1.187 | 76.38 |
 China | 60th | 61.57 | 51.23 | 4.615 | 33.4 |
 India | =99th | 53.31 | 61.83 | 4.219 | 71.58 |
 Bangladesh | =103rd | 56.57 | 49.03 | 3.778 | 57.35 |
| Myanmar | 109th | 53.41 | 48.67 | 3.047 | 62.89 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South-eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Myanmar in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Myanmar is ahead of the world, and behind
24 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median4
Statistics on which Myanmar does better than the middle country measured.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1641.1319.16No earlier reading
Myanmar: 41.13 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 8th of 179 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3153▼ Worsened since 2015
Myanmar: 15 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8131.4541.81No earlier reading
Myanmar: 31.45 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 122nd of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.839.80612.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Myanmar: 9.806 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 113th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median12
Statistics on which Myanmar does worse than the middle country measured.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88511.34.885▲ Improved since 2015
Myanmar: 11.3 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6655.0961.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Myanmar: 55.09 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 138th of 182 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3640.9453.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Myanmar: 40.94 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 146th of 182 · derived.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7680.3636.76No earlier reading
Myanmar: 80.36 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 20th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38412,66947,384No real change since 2015
Myanmar: 12,669 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 139th of 168 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.98.545.9No earlier reading
Myanmar: 8.5 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.165.7922.16▲ Improved since 2015
Myanmar: 5.79 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 154th of 182 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7421,2066,742No real change since 2015
Myanmar: 1,206 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 134th of 151 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.075.9432.07No earlier reading
Myanmar: 5.94 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.68116.68No earlier reading
Myanmar: 1 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 138th of 139 · derived.
Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed PersonsILO · 2024 · world median 0.5750.070.575No earlier reading
Myanmar: 0.07 · world median 0.575 · Labour inspectors per 10,000 employed persons. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 3.89; higher is better.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.61101.61▼ Worsened since 2015
Myanmar: 10 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989898▼ Worsened since 2015
Myanmar: 98 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Myanmar: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3844.9514.38No real change since 2015
Myanmar: 44.95 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 29th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8465.4731.84No real change since 2015
Myanmar: 65.47 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 39th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8941.7438.89Moved since 2015
Myanmar: 41.74 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 56th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8818.1618.88Moved since 2015
Myanmar: 18.16 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 106th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.014.27215.01No earlier reading
Myanmar: 4.272 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 115th of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5136.8959.51No real change since 2015
Myanmar: 36.89 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 159th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Myanmar
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2020), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2020), Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2019), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2020), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2020), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Low Pay Rate (last 2020), Share of Temporary Employees (last 2020), Statutory Minimum Wage (last 2021) and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2020). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Myanmar’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Myanmar’s 5th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability59th of 1864/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality66th of 1592/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture91st of 1843/4 keys
- Energy94th of 1653/3 keys
- Work & Labour109th of 1824/4 keys
- Gender & Equality136th of 1834/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 136th of 1773/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing155th of 2004/4 keys
- Digital & Technology154th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience157th of 1934/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital162nd of 1963/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties166th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation155th of 1763/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions173rd of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge192nd of 1982/4 keys
- Peace & Security175th of 1774/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Myanmar can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keysHighest in South-eastern Asia
Singapore17th4/4 keysThis page
Myanmar109th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Myanmar and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Myanmar on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Myanmar rank on work & labour?
Myanmar is placed 109th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Myanmar?
53.41 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Myanmar?
48.67 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Myanmar compare with India on work & labour?
India is placed joint 99th of 182, and Myanmar 109th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: India 53.31, Myanmar 53.41; Labour Income Share: India 61.83, Myanmar 48.67; Unemployment Rate: India 4.219, Myanmar 3.047; Vulnerable Employment: India 71.58, Myanmar 62.89.
How have Myanmar’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 66.86 in 2000 to 53.41 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 50.21 in 2004 to 48.67 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 0.712 in 2000 to 3.047 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 71.27 in 2000 to 62.89 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Myanmar?
No current reading is published for Myanmar on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 24 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Myanmar’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Myanmar (banner) — Soe Lin derivative work: JamesA, CC BY 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Myanmar: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/myanmar/work