The Tibet Autonomous Region recently published its socio-economic development report for the year of 2006. Based on a 1% population sampling method, it is calculated that by the end of 2006, the population of Tibet reached 2.81 million, increasing by 40,000 from the previous year. The birth rate in Tibet was 17.4 ‰,while its death rate and natural growth rate were 5.7 ‰ and 11.7 ‰, respectively.

In 1951 when Tibet was liberated peacefully by the People's Liberation Army, the population in the region was 1.14 million. Compared with that time, Tibet population has now increased by 1.67 million. The population of the Tibetan ethnic group increased from 1.21 million in 1964 to 2.51 million in 2003. Tibetan ethnic group now accounts for 92% of the total population in the region. In addition, people's average life expectancy has risen from 35.5 years to 67 years now.

Information from the Tibet Autonomous Region Health Bureau shows that in Tibet, the maternity mortality rate decreased from 50‰ in 1959 to 2.47‰ in 2006, while infant mortality rate dropped from 430‰ to 24.38‰.

In Tibet, there are many different ethnic groups living there, with Tibetans being the major ethnic group in the region. Unlike the Han majority, the central government implemented a different birth control policy among Tibetans and other ethnic minorities in the region. For herdsmen in Tibet, whose number accounts for 88% of the total population in the region, the central government doesn't set a limitation on the number of babies they can have. Instead, through various publicity ways, the central government tries to let Tibetan herdsmen know the advantages of having fewer, and healthier babies.

(Chinanews.cn April 10, 2007)