Over the years, countless attempts have been made to estimate the size of Myanmar’s armed forces (or Tatmadaw). However, the fact remains that no one really knows. Despite the Tatmadaw’s critical role in Myanmar’s national affairs, its size has always been for observers one of the great “known unknowns”. Similar questions arise over the membership of the various armed opposition groups.
Ordinarily, such a count would be largely an academic exercise. However, the military coup in February 2021 and Myanmar’s rapid and unexpected slide into a bitter nationwide civil war have made answers to these puzzles of greater interest.
After Myanmar (then known as Burma) regained its independence in 1948, its armed forces grew steadily. However, despite constant challenges from a wide range of ethnic, ideological and economic insurgents, its formal strength never exceeded 186,000. This picture changed dramatically after the 1988 pro-democracy uprising when the new military regime launched a massive expansion and modernisation program.
Please click here to read the full “Myanmar’s military numbers” article published at The Interpreter, written by Griffith Asia Institute Adjunct Professor Andrew Selth.
