This report presents the results of a study of social deprivation in rural communities in three distinct areas of Myanmar. It grew out of a survey of 20,000 households in 23 townships conducted in 1995-96. It offers a series of five observable indicators for identifying the socially deprived in the rural areas of the country: roof type, land-holding, livestock, toilet facilities and gender-based household headship. Brief portraits of six villages in Northern Arakan State, two in the dry region of Myanmar, two in southern Shan State and two in the Irrawaddy delta area provide fascinating details of social change and the lack of it in rural Myanmar in the mid-nineties.