TEMPO.CO, Yangon - Myanmar's first census in 30 years has shown that Myanmar has a population of 51.4 million, as reported by Channel News Asia.
However, Myanmar’s immigration ministry did not include people living in Rakhine, Kachin and Kayin, where Rohingya Muslim minority resides.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has collected data of 11 million households. Census takers went to places such as shops and hospitals to gather information. They even visited internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in various parts of the country.
The government failed to collect information from some sensitive areas such as Rakhine and Kachin. Some people in Rakhine were not counted because authorities did not allow them to identify themselves as Rohingyas. In the census, the government categorized them as unidentified.
UNFPA acknowledged the census was not perfect but affirmed that Rohingyas will still receive aid despite being unidentified.
ANINGTIAS JATMIKA | CHANNEL NEWS ASIA