Summary
Myanmar is highly-vulnerable to the impacts of climate events and consistently ranked among the world’s top countries on the global climate risk indexes. Since the military coup in 2021, many institutions established under the previous quasi-civilian governments—responsible for social safety nets and socioeconomic development—have collapsed or ceased functioning effectively. According to multiple international reports, including UNDP estimates, half of the population has been living below the national poverty line since late 2023. Against this backdrop of worsening security and a hollowed-out economy, extreme weather events have added new burdens. Unfortunately, since 2021, Myanmar has experienced climate shocks—such as floods, cyclones, extreme heat, and landslides—more frequently than in previous decades. Public resilience is wearing thin, and social safety nets are fraying.
To assess the depth of these impacts, ISP-Myanmar conducted a monthly monitoring survey across 110 townships, covering all district-level areas. The survey asked residents about the climate events they experienced, the adverse effects, and which institutions provided relief. More details on the methodology are provided at the end of this page.
The findings reveal that nearly half of the surveyed townships faced multiple climate-related challenges, including droughts, floods, heavy rainfall from cyclones and typhoons, extreme heat, and landslides. These events caused substantial damage to agricultural outputs, severely affecting rural livelihoods in an economy largely dependent on agriculture. Despite the devastating impacts, communities remain largely helpless: neither military government institutions, the resistance, nor ethnic organizations can provide sufficient recovery support.
Read the full contextual analysis below.
Frequent Shocks by Extreme Heat and Floods
Myanmar is a geographically diverse country, from the sun-scorched dry zone to the misty mountain ranges and the windswept coast, the country’s geography captures every shade of terrain. The diverse terrain means various extreme weather conditions can fall on Myanmar and they did. Residents of 26 to 48 townships across the country suffered extreme heatwaves from March to May for three months. Several dry zone cities were among the hottest places on earth, reaching 48°C in April 2024. Due to the extreme heat in April, seven township residents suffered from drought and 13 township residents suffered from water scarcity. In July, 45 township residents experienced flooding and 37 townships faced heavy rainfalls. A few months later in September, 47 township residents suffered from severe flooding and heavy rainfalls with the arrival of Typhoon Yagi; the unusual flash floods took away people’s houses and savings. Other natural disasters such as earthquakes, heavy wind, extreme cold, as well as man made disasters like land erosion and severe pollution also recorded in some townships.
Waves of extreme weather events
People are also experiencing the severe impacts of the climate crisis along with the conflict. Myanmar people faced extreme temperatures in April 2024. Out of 110 townships surveyed by ISP-Myanmar, 48 townships experienced extreme heatwaves. Even in May, when temperatures slightly decreased, 26 townships still endured extreme heat. When the heat subsided, heavy rainfalls and floods continued to occur. In July 2024, 45 townships out of 110 townships experienced heavy rainfalls. The number decreased to 21 townships in August, but heavy rainfalls and floods returned with the arrival of Typhoon Yagi in September.
There was no severe climate disasters in the period: Dec 2024 - Feb 2025.
Added Burdens On the People
As Myanmar’s majority population rely on the agricultural sector, people’s livelihoods are tangent to the good weather conditions required for farming and therefore are highly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and extreme temperatures. According to the UNOSAT S-1 Flood AI Monitoring Dashboard data, at least 10 million acres of agricultural land were flooded due to the climate disaster across the country in 2024. Our survey findings also showed that the heaviest impacts fall on the agricultural sector causing losses of agricultural output. It was followed by challenges in transportation, livelihoods, loss of livestocks and insufficient public services. Flooding and heavy rainfalls in July and September 2024 caused the most damage through agricultural damages, transportation difficulties, livelihood challenges and livestock losses.
Agricultural damages were the most frequently adverse effects suffered across the country
The interactive graph shows the aggregate scope of impact on each category of challenges and monthly data can be viewed through the filter. The most severely hard hit area was the agricultural sector, followed by transportation, livelihood and public services.
There was no severe climate disasters in the period: Dec 2024 - Feb 2025. Duplicate counts occur where townships faced several challenges at the same time.
Scrambling for help
People impacted by climate disasters like floods had few sources of support. They depended on local, ad hoc disaster relief groups for assistance; however, in some areas, no help was available. In other locations, civil society organizations (CSOs) provided aid. The SAC’s Relief teams’ efforts were few and far between. The capability of public administrations under the NUG was also limited. Based on the findings, it seems that more help was available for disasters like flash flood, heavy rainfall while there was little help or aid to prevent losses caused by extreme heat.
Who Answers in a Crisis?
The figure showed the levels of help available to the residents of the surveyed townships from different groups including state support systems like SAC welfare department, NUG administration and charity organizations, NGOs and CSOs to local ad hoc groups. Local ad hoc disaster relief groups and charity were the most commonly found help across most regions especially for flood rescue and relief.
There was no severe climate disasters in the period: Dec 2024 - Feb 2025. Duplicate counts occur where townships received assistance from multiple organizations.
Survey Methodology
This Climate Shocks and Response Capacity in Myanmar - A Survey was part of the larger socioeconomic study that ISP Research Network program conducts monthly socioeconomic surveys across 110 townships (one-third of total townships) in Myanmar covering all states and regions. The study inquired about Myanmar’s socioeconomic conditions impacted by armed conflict, various economic and other policies as well as international events. The survey employs an observational method over a 12-month time series survey conducted from March 2024 to February 2025.
The townships categorized in this study were based on the original 75 districts and 330 townships defined by the 2008 Constitution which were later changed by the State Administration Council (SAC) in 2022. Among the 110 townships studied, 75 were district townships where the General Administration Department offices are located. This allows for a more comprehensive assessment on the levels of public service provisions which is part of the socioeconomic studies. The remaining 35 were selected to those townships that have high population density and economic significance. The selected townships span all states and regions, including the Naypyitaw Union Territory.
The socioeconomic survey aimed to examine the trends in daily challenges and changes in socioeconomic conditions affecting the population, assess the adverse effects of drug abuse and gambling, and evaluate SAC’s governance effectiveness at the local level. To achieve these three goals, 92 questions were formulated. The questionnaire development and technical implementation were conducted in collaboration with the People’s Alliance on Credible Elections (PACE). Focus group discussions were also conducted regularly online during the data collection period. Data validation was conducted by analyzing and cross-checking between the monthly local field data and the contents recorded in focus group discussions. Data collection adhered strictly to the security protocol established by ISP-Myanmar, with respective team leaders ensuring the data collectors followed these guidelines meticulously.
The collected data was securely stored in compliance with ISP-Myanmar’s data storage and security policies and procedures.
