More Than 10,000 Military Personnel, Police, and Militia Members Have Left Military Council Forces Since 2023

According to data compiled by People's Goal, a total of 10,317 soldiers, police officers, and militia members have left the ranks of Myanmar's military council aligned forces through defection, surrender, or capture as prisoners of war (POWs) between 2023 and May 2026.

The figures include:

• 8,768 soldiers

• 866 police officers

• 683 militia members

Of the total:

• 4,183 individuals defected from military council aligned forces.

• 1,087 individuals surrendered to resistance organizations.

• 5,047 individuals were captured as prisoners of war (POWs).

Soldiers account for the largest share of personnel losses, with 3,544 defections, 977 surrenders, and 4,247 POWsrecorded during the reporting period. Police officers and militia members also represent a significant portion of the overall manpower decline.

The data highlights the continuing depletion of military council affiliated forces amid Myanmar's ongoing armed conflict and reflects a growing number of personnel leaving military service through various pathways.

Disclaimer: The figures presented are compiled from publicly available information and secondary data sources, including open source reporting, media coverage, and publicly documented announcements. Due to the limitations of conflict related reporting and verification challenges, the actual numbers on the ground may differ.