Islam in Myanmar (Burma): history and Muslim population data

History of Islam in Myanmar (Burma)

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar has a total area of 676,578 sq kmand its map is presented in Figure 2.4.6a. It was occupied by the Britishbetween 1824 and 1886 and gained its independence from the UK in1948. It changed its name from Burma in 1989.

Islam entered here as early as the seventh century through MuslimArab traders on northern coast and more to the south later. A Muslimstate was established in Arakan state (later renamed Rakhine) when theSultan of Bengal Jalaludding Muhmmad Shah helped King Naramithlain 1429 to re-gain his reign in Arakan by establishing Mrauk-U Kingdomwhich lasted until 1784 and extended south covering most of theBurmese coastline during the reign of Sultan Salim Shah Razagri whoruled from 1593 to 1612. It extended as far south as Moulmein, which islater renamed Mawlamyaing.

Based on census data, the Muslim population changed from 0.10million or 3.6% in 1871, to 0.17 million or 4.5% in 1881, to 0.25 million or3.1% in 1891, to 0.34 million or 3.2% in 1901, to 0.42 million or 3.5% in1911, to 0.50 million or 3.8% in 1921, to 0.59 million or 4.0% in 1931.

The religion data from the 1941 was destroyed in WWII. A postindependence multi-stage census was conducted in 1953-1954 but wasnot completed due to unrest in the country. This census counted almostall the urban population (2,940,704) in 1953 but covered only 15% of therural area, counting 2,676,719 in 1954. Religious data was based on 20%sample and found that Muslims constituted 7.97% of the urbanpopulation (234,512) and 3.20% of the rural population. Thus, out of atotal population the census estimated 738,365 or 3.95% were Muslim.Post-independence complete censuses recorded a continuous increase inthe Muslim population to 1.08 million or 3.9% in 1973, to 1.31 million or3.8% in 1983 and 2.24 million or 4.3% in 2014. The latter census showed that almost half of the Muslims reside in the State of Arakan (Rakhine)on the border with Bangladesh, where they constitute half of thepopulation.

An increase of the Muslim population during the British occupationwas due to the fact that Burma was part of British India which madeMuslims from current India and Bangladesh to settle in Burma. After theindependence, and especially after the military coup of 1962, Muslimsare under constant oppression.

Assuming that the percentage of the Muslim population continues toincrease by a tenth of a percentage point per decade; then the Muslimpopulation is expected to remain just less than three million throughoutthe second half of this century.

Historical Muslim population dataset for Myanmar (Burma)

The figures below are from the CoMPS historical dataset. Population values are expressed in thousands; 2100 is a modelled projection, not a present-day count.

For the full time series and visualisation, use the interactive map above.