[10] The Burmese government estimated the population to be 60.98 million in October 2012, based on approximate reproduction rates.

These include the Rohingya in northern Rakhine State, who are officially classified as stateless,[10] as well as hundreds of thousands of immigrants from China, who have illegally entered the country since the last census.

[15] On 29 March 2014, the government banned the word Rohingya and asked Muslims to register themselves as Bengalis despite UN assurances.

Furthermore, according to The Economist, "There are also fears of a backlash from Buddhist nationalists, should the census show, as many think it will, that the Muslim population is more than double the official estimate of 4 million.

"[20] The United Nations has agreed to assist the Burmese government in conducting the census.

The provisional results provided the total population by sex and administrative unit, from national, state/region, district down to township level.

The results showed a nationwide population density of 76 per square kilometre (200/sq mi).

[13] It contains text, tables, graphs and maps on the size and geographical distribution of the population by sex and age, marital status, education, economic characteristics, fertility, mortality, migration and the characteristics of housing units and household amenities.

The publication of main census results that require manual coding and further consultations is planned for early 2016.

This publication will contain thematic analysis reports on the major topics covered in the census.

[25] Migrants who had left to neighboring nations for work were naturally not included in population reports.

A fair percentage had returned after the census due to undocumented labor crackdowns.