Middle East Institute [7] The law did not recognize the Rohingya as an ethnic group of Myanmar, stating that any ethnic group that settled in Myanmar after 1823 (the beginning of the First Anglo-Burmese War) was not entitled to citizenship. Inflation Rate in Myanmar is expected to be 1200 percent by the end of this. For example, one law promoted by monks in 2013 declared that Buddhist women could not marry a man of another faith without official permission from local authorities. Monks have also mobilized to support the passage of anti-Muslim laws in the nations legislature. 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. World Population Prospects (2022 Revision). The essays in this series tackle these and other salient questions pertaining to sectarianism in the MENA and Asia Pacific regions. Since the opening of Myanmar in 2011, President Thein Sein has pursued broad economic and political reforms of policies created by former military leaders. Approximately 2% of Burmese people are Hindu. 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. 0000004853 00000 n Settlement in the Sittang delta, the [3] Jacques P. Leider, Rohingya, Rakhaing and the Recent Outbreak of ViolenceA Note, Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group, 16 (2012), 8, http://www.networkmyanmar.org/images/stories/PDF15/Leider-Note.pdf. 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. In great need of spiritual renewal and commitment to biblical faith. Myanmar Religion Percentage 2023 April 15, 2023 Web As of 2019 the Yangon region was the most populous region in Myanmar with a population of over eight million. Prayer cards are formatted eight to a page. From 1948 to 1961, the Rohingya Mujahideen fought to create a separate Islamic State. Due to decades of heavy censorship, Myanmar continues to have a hyperactive rumor mill in which information from fellow community membersbe it online of face-to-faceis given preferential treatment to news originating from official media outlets. H#6^l? 9?(5S&G qa{uCiV;T(!DU4\d,mq9Hq!i Z+s)[/tnd\g:k[qPr HkxjQ!Orw],V +J1+WY#4OtF&:. [15], As a consequence of this fear, discriminatory policies toward the Rohingya have been imposed. Both believe their actions to be deeply inspired by Buddhism, and both use theology to justify their claims. 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. Matthew J. Walton and Susan Hayward, Contesting Buddhist Narratives: Democratization, Nationalism, and Communal Violence in Myanmar, (2014): 4-5. One Buddhist nationalist monk, U Wirathu, was even described on the cover of Time Magazine as The Face of Buddhist Terror in 2013. endstream endobj 40 0 obj <> endobj 41 0 obj <>stream Some are the perpetrators of violence, some are working to end violence and promote peace, many more are bystanders, who may build up cultural violence, cultural peace, or even both. hVmo6+p&(8qzX ? Be respectful of the different cultures and keep an open mind as you explore this beautiful country! The official language used is Burmese, with some ethnic groups using their own languages. There are people over age 18 in Myanmar. Ethnic minoritiessuch as the Chin, Kachin, Karin, and Sr4cY\d_}AAA|} N &{=s&13333Ogah>7nZ4iqM> | NQwgO4wk\> >t'EYz v There have been numerous sermons from such leaders promoting coexistence, decrying the restrictions on interfaith marriages, and building interfaith understanding. The United Nations Statistics Division collects, compiles and disseminates official demographic and social statistics on a wide range of topics. [4] Moshe Yegar, Between Integration and Secession: The Muslim Communities of the Southern Philippines, Southern Thailand, and Western Burma/Myanmar (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2002), 103. 0000026659 00000 n Web52 (34.9%) Progress Level Total Population 54,101,000 Population in Unreached 45,121,000 (83.4%) Largest Religion Buddhism ( 78.0% ) % Christian Adherent 8.16% % Evangelical 4.86% Evangelical Annual Growth Rate 2.5% (Global Rate = 2.6%) + Leaflet | Powered by Esri | USGS, NOAA People Groups States Progress Religions Languages Photos [24] In Rakhine State, many of the police are selected from the Rakhine Buddhist community and often do not remain impartial when violence erupts between Buddhists and Muslims. This pivotal event subsequently saw the beginnings of Burman-Buddhist ethno-nationalism and the start of nationwide anti-Indian sentiment, which later evolved into anti-Muslim attitudes. Web As of 2019 the Yangon region was the most populous region in Myanmar with a population of over eight million. Their children are often forced to participate in Buddhist rituals which take place at school every morning before class begins. 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? In general, Christian ethnic minorities are have faced discrimination in Myanmar and treatment as second-class citizens. bG^P.mW/r"> U4cT7hksC/)T~X]][/88h a NB4' $.FkRd> Officially, 4% of the inhabitants of Myanmar are Muslim. [14] Unforgiving History, The Economist (November 3, 2012), http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21565638-why-buddhists-and-muslims-r. 2018 Middle East Institute All Rights Reserved | Accessibility Policy |Built by Social Driver. You must help all beings who are in need, who are in trouble.. Some countries, and the United Nations recognize the name change due to the paperwork and preference to allow members to name themselves as they wish so long as the decision is recorded. Burmese Hindus are a mix of Bengalis, Tamils, Telegus, and Uttar Pradeshis who arrived in Burma under British colonialism. (7u%Vd{|>ap"N:.9c~j,1B^U#pilGd`}K H6K@>*#Eg/,gGRL$ VHS{UmN0bo]Y||YWt4@4*^Q@xqh(PG"+m1_ O3Twy(P){g]mQy^ZU3hYkKpPp\(xy-9|Z(B/`7 0YY8{]\aqzMr*fB"Y$2~DIO"frp5Toe1 E_L_1p Q]"5|R9~CM{/ ] AvSWmnY;I$|dzR2/)QgQKm&OJCuM5Lmw0DV]QJ?P3#2;aQ WebNearly 90% of the country is Buddhist, and most are members of the majority ethnic community known as Burmans. [16] Reform Fails to Help Myanmars Rohingya, IISS Strategic Comments, Vol. This is especially the case for the Muslim Rohingya ethnic group who have been living for generations on the northwestern facade of Myanmar in Rakhine State. Christians make up just 6 percent of the While peace building is possible, many challenges remain. He experienced enlightenment, a kind of extraordinary clairvoyance, a great wisdom where he understood that man causes his own suffering by undertaking and carrying out negative actions. Buddhist sermons regularly include Islamophobic messages such as unsubstantiated rumors of Muslim violence against Buddhists or Muslim plots to take over the country and destroy Buddhism. hYrF}W[*^%S,VFU5SSN`$ 3snwHE5v^'o7GgX2#4a~' Myanmar's relatively slow population growth is predicted to continue on its current trajectory. 0000009258 00000 n The forecast population for 2020 is 54,808,276, Population estimates based on interpolation of data from World Population Prospects. Rising Buddhist-Burman ethno-nationalism, fanned by the 969 movement led by Buddhist monks, has resulted in the rapid dissemination of hate speech and reignited lingering resentment between communities. Stores are marked with the 969 symbol to verify the owner is Buddhist. [25] Many Rohingya have reported cases of physical abuse, rape, destruction of property and unlawful killings carried out by both Rakhine Buddhists and security forces, and Amnesty International has found that most arrests appear to have been arbitrary and discriminatory. 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. Ashin Wirathu argues that Muslim extremists are plotting to transform Myanmar into an Islamic country. Burmah, as it was spelled in the 19th Century, is a local corruption of the word Myanmar", according to the same report above. H\0>E? B-x`u [10] The 969 movement has gained many followers by labeling itself as a protector of Buddhism from aliens or non-native persons. Population, by age group, per cent . As much as 90% of the Burmese population practice Buddhism, making it the mainreligion in Myanmar. endstream endobj 27 0 obj <> endobj 28 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/Properties<>>>/ExtGState<>>>/Type/Page>> endobj 29 0 obj <> endobj 30 0 obj <> endobj 31 0 obj <> endobj 32 0 obj <> endobj 33 0 obj <> endobj 34 0 obj [/ICCBased 59 0 R] endobj 35 0 obj <> endobj 36 0 obj <>stream Please. Joshua Project occasionally adjusts profile text from third party sources. [9] Jane Perlez, Rise in Bigotry Fuels Massacre Inside Myanmar, New York Times (March 2, 2014), http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/world/asia/rise-in-bigotry-fuels-mass. New media, such as Facebook, have facilitated the rapid spread of accusations, often inflaming already volatile situations. [23], Political reforms in Myanmar have also led to looser military control and, in some cases, a complete breakdown of law and order. startxref The current population of Myanmar in 2023 is. The root causes of the recent waves of inter-religious violence involving Rohingya Muslims of Rakhine State are deep, complex and date back many centuries. Populations are scaled to the current year. With about four percent in Myanmars. For a description of the Commissions composition, mandate, and methodology, see Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Final Report of Inquiry Commission on Sectarian Violence in Rakhine State (July 8, 2013), i-ii, http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs15/Rakhine_Commission_Report-en-red.pdf . For more information see the Joshua Project Small Group Policy. What roles have state, sub-state and transnational actors played in fomenting sectarian discord? Skip to main content. endstream endobj 92 0 obj <> endobj 93 0 obj <> endobj 94 0 obj <>stream But this gap has narrowed. Myanmar has 676,578 square kilometers of surface area available within its boundaries. It contains 4,477,638 residents. The country is very ethnically diverse with 135 ethnic groups recognized by the government. Illegal groups are not recognized as citizens in the country, and they have been relentlessly persecuted. Strategic Technologies and Cyber Security, Oman Library at the Middle East Institute, Earth Day: Environmental Opportunities and Challenges in the Middle East, Womens Reproductive Rights and Abortion in Morocco: Regulatory Reforms Should Not Miss the Bigger Picture, http://www.networkmyanmar.com/images/stories/PDF12/rohingya-origins-1-r, http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21582321-fuelled-dangerous-brew-fait, http://www.networkmyanmar.org/images/stories/PDF15/Leider-Note.pdf, http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?docid=3ae6b4f71b, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/world/asia/rise-in-bigotry-fuels-mass, http://www.theforeignreport.com/2013/07/01/burma-buddhism-and-the-rise-, http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-180314.html, http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21565638-why-buddhists-and-muslims-r, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-01/an-myanmar-considers-law-restricting-interfaith-marriage/5292534, http://www.fortifyrights.org/downloads/Policies_of_Persecution_Feb_25_F, http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs15/Rakhine_Commission_Report-en-red.pdf, http://www.rsis.edu.sg/publications/Perspective/RSIS2212013.pdf, http://dr.ntu.edu.sg/bitstream/handle/10220/8784/RSIS1312012.pdf?sequen, http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/burma0413webwcover_0.pdf, http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/abuse-against-myanmar-s-r, Indonesia and the Middle East: Exploring Connections, Islam, Migrants and Multiculturalism: A Glance at Germany, Korea and Beyond, Sectarian Violence Involving Rohingya in Myanmar: Historical Roots and Modern Triggers. Burmese Buddhists, as in all of South East Asia, believe in reincarnation and Karma, the natural law of causes and their consequences. 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. [3] The British also welcomed wealthy money lenders (chettyars) from South India to help administer colonial Burma. hb```f``fix>w7S;?}U:dqBeChTFAA%% H$ b`b9,iRf] :b `k4#w> @ b4 0000002037 00000 n Ethnic minorities in the country prefer to be called ethnic nationalities to fight against the proliferation of the dominant Bamar people. 0000038918 00000 n Today, these people live in refugee camps in their own country. They are second-class citizens and even stateless people (the Rohingya were deprived of Burmese citizenship in 1982). There is a significant correlation between ethnicity and religion. WebThe United Nations Statistics Division collects, compiles and disseminates official demographic and social statistics on a wide range of topics. 0000005198 00000 n Eliane Coates, Buddhist Monks in Myanmar: Driving Religious Intolerance and Hindering Reform, RSIS Commentaries No. And what could be done to avert sectarian violence, to foster tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and to promote reconciliation? The Buddhists described here span a wide range of values regarding the intersection of their religion and violence. Homicide rate; Number of homicides; Number of homicides by firearm; Homicides by firearm rate; Assault rate; Kidnapping rate; Robbery rate; Rape rate; Burglary rate; Private car theft rate; See more; Poverty. 117 0 obj <>stream The tacit approval by the government of discriminatory policies toward Rohingyaand the widespread impunity for most perpetrators of violence, including the authoritiesremain a key concern in Myanmars transformation from a military dictatorship into a democracy. WebMyanmar, also known as Burma, is a country rich in history, culture, and traditions. s\A0W+z=;;4{LqMQ(|> Web Estimated Population of Myanmar in 2023. Population aged 0-14 . The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated. Burma Religions - Demographics Burma Religions Factbook > Countries > Burma > Demographics Religions: Buddhist 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2014 est.) WebPew Forum on Religion & Public Life / Mapping the Global Muslim Population www.pewforum.org 39 Estimated Percentage Range of Shia by Country Afghanistan 10 Today, Myanmar is the center of one of the largest refugee crises in the world. xref Ashin Wirathu, a senior abbot in the Masoeyein Mandalay Buddhist monastery, is the face of the 969 economic-nationalist campaign, which encourages Buddhists to boycott Muslim-owned businesses. 0000003605 00000 n Click the image in the popup window for a people group profile. These laws were most common in the Middle East and North Africa, where 18 of the 20 countries (90%) in the region have laws criminalizing blasphemy and 13 of them (65%) outlaw apostasy. 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. 5 (1799), 237, http://www.networkmyanmar.com/images/stories/PDF12/rohingya-origins-1-r. 102 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<4FE0EAC9B217F046911730C569C99152>]/Index[91 27]/Info 90 0 R/Length 69/Prev 102133/Root 92 0 R/Size 118/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream 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. We recommend against using %Christian Adherent and %Evangelical to calculate absolute numbers. Web The difference is that Myanmar or Burma as it was known [1] Francis Buchanan, A Comparative Vocabulary of Some of the Languages Spoken in the Burma Empire, Asiatic Researchers, Vol. Thus, despite clear evidence that Islamophobic monastic rhetoric has increased violence, by denying that violence was their intention, many of these monks claim their karmic conscience is clear. [19] Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Final Report of Inquiry Commission on Sectarian Violence in Rakhine State (8 July 2013), 62, http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs15/Rakhine_Commission_Report-en-red.pdf. Data is not as precise as it appears. The prince of a small kingdom in India, he lived in opulence thanks to his familys wealth without having the slightest contact with anything outside the palace, neither with poverty, nor with misery, nor death. As I have noted in another article, whereas during the period of the military junta ethnic tensions and separatism were held at bay by . TwitterBobRobertsJr A court in Myanmar has. strict military rule, new found freedom of speech permits Buddhist monks, such as U [Ashin] Wirathu, to spread ideas of religious intolerance and fan the flames of Islamaphobia.[22] Indeed, while the 969 movement has been denied the official status of a religious organization, Buddhist monks are able to freely travel the country preaching the protection of their religion and race without government intervention. This includes 1,930 km of coastline. Burmese Hindus are a mix of Bengalis, Tamils, Telegus, and Uttar Pradeshis who arrived in Burma under British colonialism. endstream endobj 95 0 obj <>stream Some may not be viable and/or have incorrect Progress Scale values, population, language and religion information. All rights reserved. The quality of life can be examined in numerous manners, including exploring healthcare, access to improved sanitation and drinking water, as well as the World Happiness Report.
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