Myanmar asks people to respond correctly to census

Myanmar's Minister for Immigration and Population U Khin Yi has urged the country's people to answer questions on the 2014 national census correctly to ensure the country's development, state media reported Tuesday.

U Khin Yi said at a press conference in Yangon Monday that all data answered by the people are confidential, Xinhua reported citing the New Light of Myanmar.

He said the census would be carried out from March 30 to April 10, 2014, based on two points -- international norms and human rights.

The rough report on results of the national census will be released in early 2015.

All armed groups were ready to cooperate with the government, he added.

Myanmar started the census process in 1891. Till 1941, it was carried out once every 10 years.

The last two census processes were held in 1973 and 1983 which registered Myanmar's population as 28.92 million and over 35 million respectively.

After 1983, the once-a-decade nationwide census could not be taken for various reasons, including conflict in some areas as well as some areas becoming inaccessible.

Myanmar announced that its population was 60.98 million in October 2012.