The conflict in Myanmar, coupled with the resulting socio-economic crisis, is rapidly deteriorating the country’s human capital. Widespread poverty, diminishing livelihoods, and rising costs have forced families to reduce spending on essential services like health, education, and nutrition. This report explores three critical channels through which Myanmar’s human capital is being severely impacted: lack of access to healthcare, education, and basic utilities such as clean water and sanitation.

The data highlights alarming trends—nearly 25% of children are not attending school, with dropout rates surging in conflict-affected regions. In the health sector, unmet medical needs are rampant, particularly in areas like Chin State, where emergency healthcare access remains elusive. Additionally, a mass exodus of skilled workers is depleting the nation’s productive capacity, exacerbating the long-term effects of this crisis.

Without urgent interventions, Myanmar risks a permanent degradation of its human capital. This study, drawing from the 2023 People’s Pulse Survey, provides crucial insights into both national and local impacts, offering a roadmap for targeted action to prevent further erosion of the country’s most valuable asset—its people.