Located in one of the most remote regions of the world, Tibet is sometimes seen as mysterious. These fast facts give a clearer picture of this extraordinary and important place.
Size
1 million square miles — the 10th largest country in the world
Capital
Lhasa
Population
Around 6 million Tibetans, plus an unknown number of Chinese settlers
Religion
Tibetan Buddhism practiced by about 99% of Tibetans; Bon, Islam, and Christianity also present
Language
Tibetan (Tibeto-Burmese family); Chinese enforced as the official language since occupation
Staple Food
Tsampa (roasted barley flour)
National Drink
Salted butter tea
Wildlife
Common animals: yak, dzo/dzomo, blue sheep, musk deer, Tibetan antelope, gazelle, wild ass, pika
Common birds: black-necked crane, bearded vulture, bar-headed goose, ruddy shelduck, ibisbill
Environment
Major issues: receding glaciers, damming of rivers, mining, deforestation, desertification, poaching
Altitude
Average: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
Mountains
Highest: Chomo Langma (Mt. Everest) — 29,028 ft (8,848 m)
Climate
Average temperatures: 24°F in January, 58°F in July
Resources
Minerals: borax, uranium, iron, chromite, lithium, gold
Rivers
Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra), Dza Chu (Mekong), Drichu (Yangtze), Gyalmo Ngulchu (Salween), Ma Chu (Yellow), Senge Tsangpo (Indus), Mapcha Khabab (Karnali)
Economy
For Tibetans: primarily agriculture and animal husbandry
For Chinese settlers: government, commerce, services
Regions
U-Tsang (Central Tibet), Amdo (Northeast), Kham (Southeast)
Borders
India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), China
National Flag
Snow lions with red and blue rays (banned inside Tibet)
Leadership
Religious leader: the 14th Dalai Lama, in exile in Dharamsala, India
Political leader: Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Central Tibetan Administration (Dharamsala, India)
Government
Inside Tibet: Chinese communist control since 1950
In exile: democratic governance under the Central Tibetan Administration
Legal Status
Occupied. Tibet’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China is colonial in nature.
👉 Learn more about Tibet’s past and present by reading our reports and supporting ICT’s advocacy to help us share the truth.
