Religion in Myanmar. The overwhelming majority of Myanmars population practices Theravada Buddhismaround 88 percent. Christians make up just 6 percent of the population, 4 percent of the population is Muslim, 0.8 percent is animist, and 0.05 percent practice Hinduism. hYrF}W[*^%S,VFU5SSN`$ 3snwHE5v^'o7GgX2#4a~' However, the large movement of Rohingyas in 2017 has halved the number of Muslims in the country.. Indeed, the Inquiry Commission found that the authorities have been inconsistent in applying and following the rule of law.[27]. hVmo6+p&(8qzX ? Ethnic minoritiessuch as the Chin, Kachin, Karin, and [21] Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Final Report of Inquiry Commission on Sectarian Violence in Rakhine State (July 8, 2013), 16, http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs15/Rakhine_Commission_Report-en-red.pdf. Are religious doctrinal differences primarily responsible for stoking intercommunal fear and hatred? In great need of spiritual renewal and commitment to biblical faith. startxref Click any point for a popup with further people group details. Church planting agencies in Myanmar (Burma), Joshua Project data is drawn from many sources and of varying accuracy depending on source and editorial decisions. %PDF-1.6 % The founder of Buddhism is the Buddha,Siddharta Gautamawho lived in the 5th century BC. With the military coup of 1962, about 1 million Indians were forced out of Burma, but some remained, mostly in Yangon (Rangoon), Mandalay, and in the Bago District. endstream endobj 92 0 obj <> endobj 93 0 obj <> endobj 94 0 obj <>stream . 0000008816 00000 n 545 million or 545 crores read about list of countries in Asia by population Myanmar Demographics Religion in Myanmar. Approximately 2% of Burmese people are Hindu. Click the image in the popup window for a people group profile. Freedom of religion in Myanmar 0000002975 00000 n Althoughreligion in Myanmarcan be tense at times due to the friction between the different religious groups, in reality, it is a very peaceful country. 0000012575 00000 n WebReligion in Myanmar is spread across Buddhist with 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%, and none at 0.1% of the population. The organized movement has enlisted monasteries across Myanmar to spread radical anti-Muslim messages through Sunday schools, and by handing out stickers and distributing pamphlets and DVDs.[11] As David Steinberg of Georgetown University highlights, the significance of Buddhist monks leading this campaign cannot be underestimated, as few, if any, in the Burman community can publicly dispute a monks announcement on an ostensibly religious issue.[12] Indeed, monks wield the highest level of moral authority in Myanmar and can thus pursue an ethno-nationalist agenda without hindrance. 2023 by selected countries in. Only 2.3% of the GDP is spent in the healthcare sector, and this is likely related to the low physician and hospital bed density in the area. How does gender play a role in the conflict in Myanmar. Illegal groups are not recognized as citizens in the country, and they have been relentlessly persecuted. Again in 1971, a group of Rohingya pushed to join Bangladesh during its fight for independence from East Pakistan. Prayuths military-linked ruling party, United Thai Nation, is polling at 14 percent among Bangkokians and might not get more than a handful of seats. Web The difference is that Myanmar or Burma as it was known While many monks in Myanmar seem to support and even advocate for violence against their Muslim neighbors, there are others who are constantly working to end the violence. Before making travel plans based on data presented here, please confirm with other sources to the extent possible. s\A0W+z=;;4{LqMQ(|> [24] Human Rights Watch, All You Can Do is Pray: Crimes Against Humanity and Ethnic Cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Burmas Arakan State (2013), http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/burma0413webwcover_0.pdf. Myanmar Religion Percentage Hinduism in Myanmar After Christianity, the third-largestreligion in Myanmaris Islam. 0000029681 00000 n 0000002503 00000 n Values for %Christian Adherent and %Evangelical (which determine unreached status) are often informed estimates, some more accurate than others. WebThe majority of Myanmars population is rural, with the density of settlement in each region related to agricultural production, particularly of rice. - Evangelicals have a significant presence. For a listing of MEI donors, please click here. On the official 969 website, Ashin Wirathu calls for Buddhists to prominently display 969 stickers, posters, flags and other items at their home and businesses prompting further religious divisions within Burmese society. Monks have also mobilized to support the passage of anti-Muslim laws in the nations legislature. Sign up to receive the latest publications, event invitations, and our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. Interestingly enough, "The two words mean the same thing and one is derived from the other. Mandalay comes in second, with 1,208,099; and is also known as the economic center of the country. GQ}^. The Bamar account for around 68% of the population, followed by the Shan (10%), Kayin (7%), Rakhine (4%) and overseas Chinese (3%). The population growth rate is slowly decreasing, resulting in population growth to cease around 2054 and the population to start shrinking thereafter. Furthermore, the governments tacit approval of policies that discriminate against the Rohingya, coupled with the role of social media in propagating hate speech, have fostered an enabling environment that has prolonged the sectarian violence. hb```f``fix>w7S;?}U:dqBeChTFAA%% H$ b`b9,iRf] :b `k4#w> @ b4 dPblafLfC9. However, religions are powerful forces. The 969 Movement, a complex Buddhist nationalist movement, has promoted a Buy Buddhist campaign, encouraging citizens to buy goods only from other Buddhists, to target the economic well-being of religious minoritiesespecially Muslims. Growth rates have declined for all of Indias major religious groups, but the slowdown has been more pronounced among religious minorities, who outpaced Hindus in earlier decades. The groups listed below are not included in overall Joshua Project people group counts. Web Burmas population consists of Buddhists 879 percent Christians 62 percent Muslims 43 percent Animists 08 percent and Hindus 05 percent. Thailands Elections Are a Critical Moment for the Kingdomand RELIGION AND PUBLIC LIFE, Harvard Divinity School14 DivinityAvenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138. my.hds |Harvard Divinity School |Harvard University |Privacy | Accessibility | Digital Accessibility | Trademark Notice | Reporting Copyright InfringementCopyright 2023 President and Fellows of Harvard College. This violence has often been supported by factions within the Buddhist monastic community in Myanmar. Children as a percentage of the population Myanmar 2013-2022. The country experienced a spike in population in the 1960s, and since then the nation continues to grow, but at a slower pace. note: religion estimate is based on the 2014 TwitterBobRobertsJr A court in Myanmar has. In 2018, the labor force in Myanmar amounted to approximately 22.74 million people. Skip to main content. Human Rights Watch found that rather than protecting civilians at risk, Burmese police either stood by or actively engaged in and contributed to the unfolding violence. Burmese Hindus are a mix of Bengalis, Tamils, Telegus, and Uttar Pradeshis who arrived in Burma under British colonialism. Myanmar is the most religious Buddhist country with regard to the percentage of the population living as monks and the amount of money spent on religion. The vast majority of people, 89%, profess Buddhism. The most popular form of Buddhism in Myanmar is Theravada Buddhism, mixed with superstitions such as astrology, fortune-telling, and worship Rangoon/Yangon is the largest city and the capital of the area. The analysis draws on the Centers wider body of research on global restrictions related to religion. For more information see the Joshua Project Small Group Policy. 0000011367 00000 n As India is a close neighbor, Hinduism has had a regional influence for centuries and Hindu gods are sometimes included among the nats, or spirits, worshiped by some Burmese Buddhists. Populations are scaled to the current year. Detailed maps are often found on specific people profiles. Stores are marked with the 969 symbol to verify the owner is Buddhist. It is common to hear people say that certain religions are religions of violence or religions of peace. What might you say to someone who made such a claim? %%EOF . 0000010980 00000 n When referring to the World Happiness Report, we see a ranking of 130, with an overall rating of 4.3 out of 10. Copyright 2023 The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Religion and Society Graduate Certificate (Harvard Extension School). Try our business solution for free. Points represent the approximate center of a larger area. As much as 90 of the Burmese population practice Buddhism making it the main religion in MyanmarBuddhism in Burma is attached to the Theravada branch. Rohingya couples in the Rakhine State townships of Maungdaw ad Buthidaung can legally have only two children, in what the state government says is an effort to reduce overpopulation and inter-communal tensions.[16] While this policy is not officially sanctioned by the government, it has received tacit approval. These elements of the Buddhist community have justified their actions using Buddhist theology, claiming that violence is acceptable if it is done in defense of their religion. Buddhism does not have a creator god like other religions and it does not contain theories either. The median age in Myanmar/Burma is 28.2 years of age, with a total life expectancy of approximately 68.2 years. 5 (1799), 237, http://www.networkmyanmar.com/images/stories/PDF12/rohingya-origins-1-r. Burmese Buddhists, as in all of South East Asia, believe in reincarnation and Karma, the natural law of causes and their consequences. Blanks mean an unknown value. Manfred Hutter, Hindus in Southeast and East Asia, Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Eds. Web Religion in Myanmar Burma 1900 - 2100 Religious Population Growth Data Player Data Player 508K subscribers 39K views 1 year ago Statistics of major religion in. It does not engage in advocacy and its scholars opinions are their own. H\0~ (6%CbmYIw<>g0Y@8 e8%A@%`aZ+#t 1$BITDDB%:dQD|_uj2ANWTX$0dCcsrWWTT?8|FpC8Mm7!3t=4Zm6]'^eo:_=@iq"y6PaLq"DsgMnW |1,W&F"q34Eu1UMln2k4rQ-rErX6?\=e5eYk"G`mQyjfB1bR3"AzCW mA/Dafe R^26osQF%87q+{"ke??<7W92'PiA?0NExZ.b`V.E_CqD|mf0$SK|$9jv}|8v}x+w$\c(d; Wd"T:2snU(8 ;'GG'gxr`Q}pfOzkd Uz{6\VzdtmDG._5hE3.gpD#YfWA}0y@o2#MRw))cDcD((ET-nY#d5=`GQUgp>KS/)"gm/u%qA..ybr}}1eF?G=rBVyXz3Jw{03)-%/|kr[GEbs[|)2 Q The Middle East Institute (MEI) is an independent, non-partisan, non-for-profit, educational organization.