Year | Population | Male % | Female % | Urban Pop. | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,650,000 | - | - | Source | |
| 2022 | 3,640,000 | - | - | 1,360,000 | Source |
| 2021 | 3,660,000 | - | - | 1,340,000 | Source |
| 2020 | 3,660,000 | - | - | 1,310,000 | Source |
| 2019 | 3,610,000 | - | - | 1,250,000 | Source |
| 2018 | 3,540,000 | - | - | 1,200,000 | Source |
| 2017 | 3,490,000 | - | - | 1,160,000 | Source |
| 2016 | 3,400,000 | - | - | 1,070,000 | Source |
| 2015 | 3,300,000 | - | - | 950,000 | Source |
| 2014 | 3,250,000 | - | - | 850,000 | Source |
Tibet is an autonomous region located in the People’s Republic of China. Tibet was established in 1965 and replaced the administrative division known as the Tibet Area. The borders of the region were established during the 18th century, and it is the second-largest province-level division in China. Its total area is 474,300 square miles. However, despite being one of the largest by area, the rugged terrain is uninhabitable. The population of the region is 3,180,000 per estimates taken in 2014. It is the 32nd most populous region. Its population density is 6.7 people per square mile. This is the lowest density of any province-level region in China.
Ethnic Tibetans make up over 90% of the population. Over 78% of the total population follows the religion of Tibetan Buddhism. Other religions observed in the region include Bon, Chinese folk religions, Islam and Christianity.
For many years, agriculture was the primary economy. While agriculture and animal husbandry are still the top industries, other jobs including driving taxis and working in hotels have helped to contribute to the economy. Tourism is also a growing industry. An interesting fact about Tibet is that foreign tourists were not allowed to visit the region until the 1980s. Even though foreigners are now allowed to visit the region, a Tibet Entry Permit is required. There are many popular tourist destinations in Tibet, including Potala Palace, Namtso Lake, and Mount Everest.
Tibet has seen its population grow significantly in recent years. The population prior to the 1950s had already reached one million. This number had more than doubled by the 1990s. Since the early 1980s, the percentage of population growth has been in the double digits every ten years. In 2010, the population grew by over 14% since 2010 to surpass 3 million. Based on these trends, it can only be expected that Tibet’s population will continue to rise until it hits its next milestone.
There are a lot of people who are wondering, is Tibet a country? This is a matter of significant debate. Tibet is still claimed by China. Tibet claims that it is free and independent. There are a lot of countries in the world that have already recognized the freedom and independence of Tibet. Right now, the realistic status of Tibet is that it is free and independent but still claimed by China. This means that Tibet is free to make its own decisions, but China has not formally recognized the area as being independent of its rule.
China is exerting a lot of control over previous free and autonomous areas. For example, China has reigned in Hong Kong during the past few years. China is also making aggressive moves toward Taiwan. Even though Tibet is still autonomous, China has never formally relinquished control of Tibet. Therefore, China may start to make more aggressive moves towards Tibet in the near future.
The capital of Tibet is Lhasa. It is a large, free, and vibrant city that has a lot of culture, history, and delicious food. There are a lot of people who visit Lhasa from all over the world every year. People love to hike the Tibetan steps.