The full public release of Myanmar’s first census data for over 30 years, scheduled for May 2015, will not include statistics on religion, occupation or ethnicity, U Myint Kyaing, secretary of the Central Census Commission told a press conference held at the Ministry of Immigration and Population in Nay Pyi Taw on October 1.
“The commission had said it would only delay the release of data on ethnic groups, but as the census form comprises a column for religion; which includes results such as Chinese Muslim, the commission must coordinate with leaders of the four [largest] religions to scrutinize the results,” said U Myint Kyaing.
U Myint Kyaing added the likely release date for the statistics on religion would be the end of 2015 or in 2016, the same timeframe he has previously suggested for numbers of ethnicity.
Daw Khaing Khaing Soe, director of the Department of Population, told Mizzima that further scrutiny of the occupation results was also required.
U Myint Kyaing also told journalists that they should not be surprised if the population figure for Myanmar alters when the final population count is released in May 2015.
“In the preliminary population statistics we could not estimate the number of tourists, so we cannot be certain of the total Myanmar population figure from the preliminary population figure,” said U Myint Kyaing.
He added that the preliminary population statistics were based solely on the figures from the 12-day census survey period from March 31 to April 10, however, the population list would consist of a number of Myanmar nationals who have been abroad and returned.
