Abstract

• The vital registration system started in India in 1864 was first introduced to some parts of Lower Myanmar and extended to other parts of the country in the late nineteenth century. By 1897, vital registration had been introduced into eight major towns in Upper Myanmar, but there were still pockets in Lower Myanmar. In Myanmar, as in most nations of the region, the registration of births and deaths has remained in-complete even in areas covered by the registration system. Censuses have shed light on the extent of under-registration. Despite these defects, the vital statistics of Myanmar under certain conditions can provide valuable information about fertility and mortality trends.