Karen Demographics and Economy Overview

Karen Overview

Population:

1.6 Million (3% of Myanmar)

70,000 other ethnics

80% in Rural

97 males for 100 females

Adult literacy rate: 70%

300,000 migrants workers in

Thailand

Population Density

52/75/square kilometer

Main Towns & Population:

Hpa-an 420,000 – 83% rural

Myawaddy 195,000 – 40% rural

Kawkareik 220,000 – 81% rural

Hlaingbwe 155,000 – 93% rural

Kyarinseikkyi 100,000 – 92% rural

458 villages

Economy/Social

Nominal GDP $ 2 Billion

17 percent of households living below

the poverty line

30pc of children are stunted

20% never goes to school

75% never goes to preschool while

70% in Kaya state goes to preschool

45% never gets clean waters

20% need immediate sanitation

8% never use toilet

Migrants:

IDP: 90,000

Refugee: 60,000

Ethinicities/Religions:

• 75% Buddhist, 2% Muslim, 15% Christian

• Sgaw Karen, Pwo Karen, Bwe Karen, Paku

Karen, Shan, Pao, Myanmar, Mon

Karen Demographics

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000

0 - 4

10 -14

20 - 24

30 - 34

40 - 44

50 - 54

60 - 64

70 - 74

80 - 84

90+

Urban Age Distribution

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000

0 - 4

10 -14

20 - 24

30 - 34

40 - 44

50 - 54

60 - 64

70 - 74

80 - 84

90+

Rural Age Distribution

Intersate Migration

Kachin Kayah Chin Sagaing

Tanintharyi

Bago

Magway

Mandalay

Mon

Rakhine

Yangon

Shan Ayewaddy

Naypyitaw

Immigration into Karen State

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

8,000,000

9,000,000

10,000,000

Natural Resources

Agro Resources & Utilizations

Karen Economy Overview

Border Trade

USD 500 million trade

Half a million Border Tourists

5 Billion Bath Remittance back to

Kayin State

Main Border Export Goods

Green mung

Bean

Sesame seeds

Tamarind

Raw rubber

Hide and skin

Fresh and dried

Prawns

Fish and Fish

Product

Teak Log

Teak

Conversion

Hardwood Log

Hardwood

Base metal and ores

Jade

Garment

Asia Highway

A 1450-kilometre (900-mile) highway, in various stages of development, is intended to link

Vietnam starting in Da Nang with Laos and Thailand and then pass through Kayin state to

the port of Mawlamyine at the mouth of the Thanlwin (Salween) river.

Economy

• More than 60pc of state income comes from

agriculture, particularly rubber plantations,

which cover 400,000 acres, and coffee.

SEZ

• Hpa-An industrial zone. It covers nearly

1,000 acres of land. It is divided into four

parts, and 59 land plots have been

earmarked for foreign investors at industrial

Zone One.

• The Myawaddy industrial zone to be open on

2017 is being built on a 201-acre site

between Myawaddy and Thingan Nyi Naung,

just 7 miles (11 kilometres) from the Thai-

Myanmar border.

People Voice and Issues

Governance-related:

There is still a high level of control, rigidity and top down management in government: these practices are due to personal dominance and lack of trust of the government in the people;

The people are not really represented in committees and administration, the people who are selected do not represent all groups in society

People's awareness about their rights and responsibilities is still very low;

Social problems:

There is increased drug abuse among the youths;

Multilevel Networking

Economy-related:

More people need to be connected to the electricity network and electricity supply should be more reliable;

More business activities and investments will increase employment;

Further improvements in the communication and transport network are needed.

Immediate Resolutions

Education

Brain Drain/Labor Drain

Agro and Trading Sector Development