Myanmar (Burma) vs Papua New Guinea
Myanmar (Burma) vs Papua New Guinea: Armed forces, share of workers
Armed forces, share of workers in 2020: 1.94% of the labour force in Myanmar (Burma) and 0.12% of the labour force in Papua New Guinea, by IISS estimates. In 2020 the value was higher in Myanmar (Burma), by 1.82 percentage points, or 16 times that in Papua New Guinea.
% of the labour force · IISS
What the numbers say
- Myanmar (Burma) has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1990.
- In 2020, Myanmar (Burma) ranked 30 and Papua New Guinea ranked 158 of 168 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 0.79% of the labour force in 2020.
Every year
% of the labour force · IISS
| Year | Myanmar (Burma) | Papua New Guinea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1.94 | 0.12 | 0.79 |
| 2019 | 2.16 | 0.13 | 0.79 |
| 2018 | 2.12 | 0.12 | 0.8 |
| 2017 | 2.15 | 0.13 | 0.8 |
| 2016 | 2.13 | 0.13 | 0.81 |
| 2015 | 2.11 | 0.07 | 0.82 |
| 2014 | 2.13 | 0.07 | 0.82 |
| 2013 | 2.16 | 0.07 | 0.83 |
| 2012 | 2.18 | 0.08 | 0.87 |
| 2011 | 2.21 | 0.13 | 0.88 |
| 2010 | 2.23 | 0.13 | 0.89 |
| 2009 | 2.25 | 0.14 | 0.89 |
| 2008 | 2.27 | 0.14 | 0.89 |
| 2007 | 2.29 | 0.14 | 0.89 |
| 2006 | 2.31 | 0.15 | 0.95 |
| 2005 | 2.2 | 0.15 | 0.96 |
| 2004 | 2.21 | 0.16 | 0.94 |
| 2003 | 2.76 | 0.17 | 0.98 |
| 2002 | 2.55 | 0.18 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2.11 | 0.26 | 1.01 |
| 2000 | 2.06 | 0.27 | 1.07 |
| 1999 | 2.1 | 0.28 | 1.09 |
| 1998 | 2.16 | 0.29 | 1.13 |
| 1997 | 2.17 | 0.3 | 1.15 |
| 1996 | 2.1 | 0.27 | 1.18 |
| 1995 | 1.95 | 0.29 | 1.2 |
| 1994 | 1.72 | 0.32 | 0.94 |
| 1993 | 1.76 | – | 0.98 |
| 1992 | 1.59 | 0.34 | 1.03 |
| 1991 | 1.62 | 0.35 | 1.03 |
| 1990 | 1.33 | 0.37 | 1.11 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Active-duty military personnel as a share of everyone working or looking for work, by the IISS Military Balance.
- Source: IISS, The Military Balance, via the World Bank.
- Ranks count the 168 countries with a value in 2020, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Myanmar (Burma) vs Papua New Guinea
Health
- Life expectancyMyanmar (Burma): 66.9 years in 2023Papua New Guinea: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMyanmar (Burma): 3.7 per 100 live births in 2024Papua New Guinea: 3.9 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMyanmar (Burma): 31.8 per 1,000 live births in 2023Papua New Guinea: 32.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionMyanmar (Burma): 2.3% in 2017Papua New Guinea: 3.17% in 2017
- Suicide rateMyanmar (Burma): 5 per 100,000 people in 2017Papua New Guinea: 23.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMyanmar (Burma): 54.1 million people in 2023Papua New Guinea: 10.4 million people in 2023
- Population growthMyanmar (Burma): 0.69% a year in 2023Papua New Guinea: 1.8% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMyanmar (Burma): 2.12 births per woman in 2023Papua New Guinea: 3.1 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMyanmar (Burma): 30.6% in 2025Papua New Guinea: 15.8% in 2025
- Median ageMyanmar (Burma): 29.5 years in 2023Papua New Guinea: 22.3 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMyanmar (Burma): 7.1% in 2023Papua New Guinea: 3.3% in 2023
- Net migration rateMyanmar (Burma): -0.6 per 1,000 people in 2023Papua New Guinea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personMyanmar (Burma): $1,128 in 2025Papua New Guinea: $2,665 in 2025
- GDP growthMyanmar (Burma): -12% a year in 2021Papua New Guinea: 3.9% a year in 2024
- InflationMyanmar (Burma): 27.6% a year in 2023Papua New Guinea: 4.4% a year in 2025
- Government debtMyanmar (Burma): 37.6% of GDP in 2019Papua New Guinea: 51.6% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMyanmar (Burma): 6.61% of GDP in 2024Papua New Guinea: 0.35% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsMyanmar (Burma): $4.65B in 2024Papua New Guinea: $110M in 2025
- Military spending per personMyanmar (Burma): $92 in 2024Papua New Guinea: $10 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMyanmar (Burma): 32% of government spending in 2024Papua New Guinea: 1.6% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelMyanmar (Burma): 463,000 people in 2020Papua New Guinea: 4,000 people in 2020
- National powerMyanmar (Burma): 0.53% of world capability in 2022Papua New Guinea: 0.03% of world capability in 2022
- Arms importsMyanmar (Burma): 70 million TIV in 2025Papua New Guinea: 9 million TIV in 2023
Climate
Technology and environment
- CO₂ per personMyanmar (Burma): 0.58 tonnes in 2024Papua New Guinea: 0.52 tonnes in 2024
- Internet usersMyanmar (Burma): 45.5% in 2020Papua New Guinea: 18.8% in 2024
- Access to electricityMyanmar (Burma): 80.4% in 2024Papua New Guinea: 43.3% in 2024
- Forest areaMyanmar (Burma): 42% in 2024Papua New Guinea: 75.2% in 2024