Nighttime Lights in Myanmar#
This notebook has been prepared for the Myanmar Economic Monitor (Spring 2026). It uses data from the NASA VIIRS BlackMarble dataset available from 2012 till March 2026.
Sections:
National Nighttime Lights Trends
1.1 Annual Trends in Nightlights
1.2 Quarterly Trends in Nightlights
1.3 Annual % Change in Nightlights
1.4 Monthly Trends in Nightlights (comparing 2024, 2025, 2026)
Nightlights in Industrial Areas
2.1 Quarterly Trends in Industrial vs Non-Industrial Areas
2.2 Percentage Change in Industrial vs Non-Industrial Areas
2.3 Monthly Trends in Industrial Areas (comparing 2024, 2025, 2026)
Nightlights in Regions
3.1 Quarterly Trends in Nightlights in Regions
3.2 Monthly Trends in Nightlights in Regions (comparing 2024, 2025, 2026)
3.3 Monthly Trends in Regional Industrial Areas (comparing 2024, 2025, 2026)
Spatial Distribution of Nightlights
4.1 Quarterly Nightlights in Regions
4.2 Quarterly Nightlights in Districts
1. National Nighttime Lights Trends#
This section highlights the natiobnal change in nightlights. The last available anual dataset is for 2025.
1.1 Annual Trends in Nightlights#
Myanmar saw an earthquake in 2025 which likely contributed to the reduction in overall nightlights.
1.2 Quarterly Trends in Nightlights#
However, if the average lights in the period of January to March are compared, it is seen that 2026 shows signs of recovery with the second highest nightlights since 2012, closely following 2023.
1.3 Annual % Change in Nightlights#
2025 saw a 7.8% reduction in light compared to 2024. However, in the first quarter of 2025 (earthquake period), there was a ~29% reduction in light. In comparison, there is a 47% increase in light in 2026 compared to 2025.
1.4 Monthly Trends in Nightlights (comparing 2024, 2025, 2026)#
The monthly nightlights in 2026 surpassed 2024 for January and February. There was a slight dip in lights in March 2026 compared to 2024.
2. Nightlights in Industrial Areas#
There are 97 industrial zones in Myanamr classified as Special Economic Zones. The majority are in Yangon. The analysis for nightlights in industrial zones is done by assuming a 5km buffer zone around the points.
2.1 Quarterly Trends in Industrial vs Non-Industrial Areas#
The nighttime lights in the first quarter of 2026 has surpassed that of 2024 for both Industrial and non industrial zones.
2.2 Percentage Change in Industrial vs Non-Industrial Areas#
Overall, in 2025, there a 2% reduction in nightlights in industrial areas and 11% reduction in non industrial areas compared to 2024. 2026 has recovered in both industrial and non industrial zones
2.3 Monthly Trends in Industrial Areas (comparing 2024, 2025, 2026)#
Nightlights in industrial zones in the first quarter have been higher across all months Jan-Mar in 2026 compared to 20265 and 2024.
3. Nightlights in Regions#
3.1 Quarterly Trends in Nightlights in Regions#
Both Mandalay and Yangon saw ~20% increase in lights compared to 2024.
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return points[1, 0] - points[0, 0]
Most areas saw an increase in nighlights in industrial areas in 2026 compared to 2025 and 2024. However, Nay Pyi Taw saw a decrease in lights in 2026 compared to 2024.
