Central Statistical Organization Myanmar CSO

Overview

The Central Statistical Organization (CSO) of Myanmar is the country's official national statistics agency, headquartered at Office No. 32 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. It operates under the Ministry of Planning and Finance (and its successors) and serves as the lead institution for Myanmar's National Statistical System (NSS), coordinating statistical activity across government ministries and agencies.

History and Founding

The CSO traces its origins to 1952, when the Central Statistical and Economic Development (CSED) agency was formed under the Central Statistical Authority Act No. 34-A of 1952. From 1952 to 1967, CSED published statistical publications and computed national accounts. In 1974 the organization was reorganized and renamed the Central Statistical Organization to reflect a sharpened focus on statistical matters. The Statistics Law 2018 (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law No. 1/2018) replaced the original 1952 Act, establishing a modernized legal framework for official statistics. The CSO is organized into six divisions: Economic Statistics, Social Statistics, Trade Statistics, Administrative and Computer, Survey and Research Statistics, and Regional Office.

Collections and Holdings

The CSO's primary publication is the Myanmar Statistical Yearbook, an annual compendium covering climate, territory, population, health, vital statistics, justice, education, labour, national accounts, agriculture, industry, construction, tourism, trade, finance, and other sectors. Other regular publications include a Quarterly Statistics Bulletin and sector-specific statistical reports. The CSO conducts major surveys including the Household Income and Expenditure Survey, the Myanmar Business Survey, and surveys of agriculture, livestock, and fisheries. It also coordinates SDGs indicator tracking and reporting.

Notable Data and Publications

The Myanmar Statistical Yearbook 2024, the most recent edition, contains 16 chapters and over 309 tables. The CSO has partnered with international organizations including UNICEF, UNDP, and ASEANstats on specialized data projects, and has developed a Postgraduate Diploma in Statistics program in cooperation with the Graduate School of Administration and Development.

Access and Usage

CSO publications are available at its Nay Pyi Taw headquarters and a Yangon branch office. The CSO's website at csostat.gov.mm provides access to statistical publications. Printed copies of the Statistical Yearbook are available for purchase.