In Myanmar, the vital registration system was first introduced into
some parts of Lower Myanmar in the late nineteenth century and gradually
expanded to other parts of the country. It was introduced into the towns of
Upper Myamnar in 1906 and the villages of Upper Myanmar in 1907 (Kyin,1959, p. 6). By 1931, about 82.5 per cent of the population was covered by
the registration system (United Nations, 1959, p. 47). In those days, vital
statistics were collected by municipal health offices in urban areas and by
village headmen in the rural areas. The reports were published by the
Department of Public Health (Sundrum, 1957, p. 7).
Although vital registration was completely stopped during the Second
World War, it was revived soon after the war and covered 78 municipalities
(Hpu, 1984, p. 3). Then a new system of vital registration, starting with Yangon
City and 15 other towns, was introduced on 8 February 1962. It was
gradually extended to other towns in the country and by the end of 1984,
245 out of 288 towns were covered (Central Statistical Organization (CSO),
1990, p. 1). However, the vital registration system for the rural areas covers
only 25 out of 314 townships. According to a Vital Statistics Report (CSO,
1990, p.1), in 1984 the vital registration system covered 97.4 per cent of the
total urban population, but only 33 per cent of the total rural population.
Nowadays, the vital statistics are collected under the authority of the
Department of Health, and compiled and published jointly by the Central
Statistical Organization. However, the vital registration system covers births
(live and still births) and deaths only. Moreover, the latest published report
is for the year 1984.