Corruption in Myanmar is among the worst in the world. Owing to failures in regulation and enforcement, corruption flourishes in every sector of government and business. Many foreign businesspeople consider corruption "a serious barrier to investment and trade in Myanmar." A U.N. survey in May 2014 concluded that corruption is the greatest hindrance to business in Myanmar. The ongoing civil war has significantly set back anti-corruption efforts, exacerbating the problem.
Transparency International's 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, which scored 182 countries on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"), gave Myanmar a score of 16. When ranked by score, Myanmar ranked 169th among the 182 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector. For comparison with regional scores, the best score among those countries of the Asia Pacific region that appeared in the Index was 84, the average score was 45 and the worst score was 15. For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 89 (ranked 1), the average score was 42, and the worst score was 9 (ranked 181, in a two-way tie).
In the Myanmar Business Survey 2014, corruption was the most frequently identified obstacle to business, especially with respect to obtaining firm registration, business licenses and permits from government authorities.
It is common in Myanmar to charge illicit payments for government services, to bribe tax collectors to secure a lower tax payment, and to bribe customs officials to avoid paying customs duties.
Background
Saffron Revolution
In 2007 the then-Burmese government revoked several subsidies for various fuel industries, causing prices to soar throughout the nation. This sparked widespread protests due to the public's dissatisfaction with the military government. It was noted that the average citizen was displeased with the immense levels of kleptocracy in the nation, allowing members of the military dictatorship to live in a "state within a state"The hardship that sparked Burma's unrest BBC News 2 October 2007Burma leader's lavish lifestyle aired BBC, 2 November 2006 with accumulated wealth far beyond that of the people. The government reacted harshly to the protests through violence and arbitrary detentions. While the official death count tallied thirteen killed, it is widely surmised that the true number far exceeded this figure. The government had even taken steps to censor internet access within the country, though to no avail. UN envoy warns of Myanmar crisis Challenging the Authoritarian State: Buddhist Monks and Peaceful Protests in Burma. vol.32:1 winter 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2009. 16 May 2009.
Although the demonstrations were dispersed and suppressed by the military junta, the public would later vote for a new government and wrest power from Senior General Than Shwe by 2011. Nonetheless, elements of the military government retained power. BurmaNet News, 23 April 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2007. Burma riot police beat back monks BBC, 26 September 2007.Groups struggle to tally Myanmar's dead Yahoo News, 1 October 2007
Myanmar spent five decades under military rule. This period ended in 2011, when a semi-civilian government took power and sought to regenerate the economy and draw foreign investment. Among its objectives was the reduction of endemic corruption. As of May 2014, however, those reforms were viewed as having had a minimal effect on corruption.
Every leading official in the former military regime is said to have "committed thousands of offenses related to corruption." Most high-level officials in the civil service were related to military officials.
Since the end of military rule, Myanmar has been implementing economic reforms and developing a free market, but according to one source, "its nascent market economy remains bound by myriads of regulations," which make possible rampant corruption that "hinders the functioning of the price mechanism, upon which the proper functioning of the market economy is based." Kim Ninh of the Asia Foundation said in May 2015 that despite efforts to reduce corruption after military rule, the country's business environment remained essentially the same, with few new companies emerging since 2011.
An October 2015 article in Wired stated that, notwithstanding attempts by the US and other Western countries to promote transparency, the majority of Myanmar's economy remains in control of a corrupt elite. During the privatization process, according to a report by the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre that was updated in October 2014, "numerous state assets were sold to the military, family members, and associates of senior government officials at fire sale prices."
According to several reports, moreover, the military influenced the results of the 2010 and 2012 elections by means of fraud, restrictions on political participation, and prohibition of international monitoring.
2021 coup
Since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar and the rise of the military-led State Administration Council (SAC), corruption has worsened across the country. Anti-corruption laws are enforced selectively, predominantly against the SAC's political opposition and those who have fallen out of favour with the regime.
In 2021, Myanmar's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) was 28 (scored out of 100); it fell to 23 in 2022, and was 16 in 2025. This was the lowest score for any country in Southeast Asia.
Factors Some reasons for the high levels of corruption in Myanmar include multiple exchange rates, which enable officials to demand bribes for providing favorable rates; low civil-service pay rates; and a tradition of nepotism. "As there are no competitive selection processes to enter the public sector," notes one report, "personal connections and bribery are maybe more important than qualifications. For instance, it is common practice to select ministers and high-level civil servants from the military ranks rather than based on expertise."
It has been observed that post-2011 Myanmar has an expanding informal economy, and that such economies are notoriously vulnerable to corruption.
Political and judicial corruption
Political corruption Political corruption exists at higher levels of government, and comes into play especially "when large infrastructural works or other 'mega-projects' are being negotiated or implemented." Companies pay bribes "to avoid trouble or delays," and often "establish illicit networks of patronage which can be exploited in future deals." Companies that establish such networks "are often given monopoly control over the markets or sectors they win by 'bidding,'" and this monopoly control stifles competition and growth.
In the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2013–2014, business executives rated the incidence of corrupt diversion of public funds to companies, individuals, or groups at 2.3 on a 7-point scale (1 being "very common" and 7 "never occurs"). They rated the favoritism of government officials towards well-connected companies and individuals, as reflected in policies and contracts, a score of 2.2 on a 7-point scale (1 meaning "always show favouritism" and 7 "never show favouritism").
Government ministries often fail to report their own expenditures on projects.
Judiciary The judiciary is corrupt and subject to government and military influence. Judiciary officials in Myanmar accept bribes for various services, such as providing access to detainees and rendering a favorable verdict. Judiciary corruption "represents a major challenge to businesspeople looking to do business in Myanmar." In disputes with foreign firms, local businesses can use bribes to secure favorable judgments. On the World Economic Forum's 2013–14 Global Competitiveness Report, business executives rate the independence of the judiciary at 2.8 on a 7-point scale (1 being "heavily influenced" and 7 "entirely independent").
Judicial decisions about land and buildings are often affected by government influence, personal relationships, and bribery. It can take years to enforce a contract in the Myanmar courts.
Lobbying groups
There are many lobbying groups in Myanmar, but they are unregulated, and "regularly resort to bribes and concessions to secure favor," which is "abetted by the lack of transparency and accountability in Myanmar."
Law enforcement and security corruption
Police and security forces On the World Economic Forum's 2013–14 Global Competitiveness Report, business executives scored the reliability of police services to enforce law and order at 3.0 on a 7-point scale (1 being "cannot be relied upon at all" and 7 being "can always be relied upon").
Police officers "reportedly often ask victims of crimes to pay substantial amounts to ensure police investigate crimes; in addition, police routinely extort money from civilians." Police are said to be involved in human trafficking, accepting bribes from drug lords, and extorting local businessmen. When a curfew was imposed following riots that took place in Mandalay in 2004, police extorted bribes from people who wanted to break the curfew.
One reason for police corruption is that police officers were expected for many years to pay for their own investigations, without any reimbursement or compensation. This policy not only encouraged corruption but also discouraged serious investigation of crimes.
Security forces "generally act with impunity in Myanmar." The Human Rights Report 2013 noted that a police escort for a UN rapporteur's convoy "stood by" while the convoy was attacked.
Drugs
Myanmar is one of the world's four major producers of opium and heroin. The government has expanded counter-narcotic efforts, but is "reluctant to investigate, arrest, and prosecute high-level international traffickers," according to the CIA.
Economic and resource exploitation
Jade industry
The jade trade accounts for 48% of Myanmar's official GDP. An October 2015 report by Global Witness noted that Myanmar's jade industry is exploited by the nation's elites, including military leaders, drug traffickers, and business leaders. This was the finding of a year-long investigation entitled "Jade: Myanmar's 'Big State Secret,'" which identified that several leading members of the nation's government and economy had siphoned US$31 billion worth of jade in 2014, a figure nearly half of Myanmar's economy.
Global Witness estimated that illegal networks in Myanmar had stolen a total of US$122.8 billion worth of jade over the previous decade, and claimed that Myanmar's jade industry is possibly the greatest natural resource racket in recent history. In addition, the nearly one hundred active jade mining deposits are located in areas controlled by about 10 to 15 military-connected businessmen, and as a result, the people living in those areas remain in poverty while a few businessmen profit greatly.
Logging
As of 2006, illegal logging accounted for at least half of the logging in the country. The smuggling of timber across the Chinese border is a major activity.
Land
Under the military government, which ruled Myanmar until 2011, land was nationalized. According to an October 2015 report in The Wall Street Journal, land in Myanmar remains largely under the control of the military and their allies. In addition, allegations of forced evictions are still common across Myanmar.
Business and financial corruption
Business sector "The problem of corruption in Myanmar is particularly severe in the area of business activity," states one source. A firm wishing a construction permit must go through an application process involving (on average) 16 procedures, a 159-day wait, and a cost of about 567% of income per capita. A firm wishing to get electricity must undergo 5 procedures, wait 91 days, and spend over 3000% of income per capita.