A Portrait of the Burmese Americans in the United States: Statistical Report 2024

Network of Myanmar American Association (NetMAA).

Burmese migration to the United States has been shaped by various historical and political factors. The significant waves of Burmese migration occurred in different periods. Here in the United States, the Burmese are descendants of at least three documented waves of migration to the United States over the last 60 years. During the first wave of migration in the late 1960s and mid-1980s, many Burmese expatriates arrived in the United States. Many Burmese, primarily of Anglo, Indian, and Chinese origins, began to migrate abroad after 1962, when General Ne Win established a military coup. The military coup in Burma in 1962 led to political instability and economic challenges.

A second influx occurred during the late 1980s and early 1990s after the 1988 national uprising, also known as the “8888” movement. It saw a more significant wave of Burmese refugees coming to the U.S., driven by political repression and human rights abuses in Burma (Myanmar). Many Burmese, including the majority of Bamar people, left the country in large numbers, seeking better opportunities.

A third wave of migration, from 2007 to 2016, has primarily been comprised of ethnic minorities, in particular Karen and Chin refugees from the Thai-Burma border and Malaysia. The U.S. government implemented refugee resettlement programs in 2005 to assist Burmese refugees in Thailand. Since then, the Burmese population in the United States increased significantly through these programs. The military ruled Burma from 1962 to 2011 and again seized power in 2021 after a brief period of democratization in the country.

Trends in recent data suggest the possibility of a fourth wave of migration that began to emerge in the U.S. as a result of the military coup in Burma/Myanmar. In February 2021, the democratically elected government was overthrown by the military in a coup, which led to a refugee influx. The refugee arrival data indicated that more than 6,178 Burmese refugees were admitted to the U.S. during the Fiscal Year 2023, which represents a significant increase of 189% from the previous year’s admission of 2,141.

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