2.5 million square kilometres, which includes Ü-Tsang, Kham and Amdo provinces. “Tibet Autonomous Region”, consisting of Ü-Tsang and a small portion of Kham, consists of 1.2 million square kilometres. The bulk of Tibet lies outside the “TAR”.
TIBET AT A GLANCE
Land Size
Population:
The total Tibetan population in Tibet is 6 million. Of them, 2.09 million live in the “TAR” and the rest in the Tibetan areas outside the “TAR”.
Political Status:
Occupied country and without United Nations’ representation.
Administration:
Under Chinese rule, Tibet is divided into the following administrative units:
Tibet Autonomous Region,
Qinghai Province,
Tianzu Tibetan Autonomous County and Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province,
Aba Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Mili Tibetan Autonomous County in Sichuan Province,
Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province.
Major Rivers:
Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra in India), Machu (Yellow River in China), Drichu (Yangtse in China), Senge Khabab (Indus in India), Phungchu (Arun in India), Gyalmo Ngulchu (Salween in Burma) and Zachu (Mekong in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos)
Native Wildlife:
Tibetan antelope, wild yak, wild ass and Tibetan argali, blue sheep, black-necked crane, Tibetan gazelle, giant panda, red panda, golden monkey
Average Altitude:
4,000 metres or 13,000 feet above sea level.
Literacy Rate:
Approximately 25 per cent.
Economy:
Agriculture & animal husbandry.
Major Rivers originating from TIBET and its watershed regions in the lower riparian.
| Comman Name | Tibetan Name | Watershed Regions/Countries | Outflow |
| Yellow River | Machu | Tibet, Inner Mongolia and China | Yellow Sea |
| Yangtze River | Drichu | Tibet and China | East China Sea |
| Mekong River | Zachu | China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand | South China Sea |
| Salween River | Gyalmo Ngulchu | Tibet, China, Myanmar, Thailand | Andaman Sea |
| Bhramaputra River | Yarlung Tsangpo | Tibet, India, Bangladesh | Bay of Bengal |
| Karnali river | Macha Khabab | Tibet, Nepal, India | Bay of Bengal |
| Sutlej River | Langchen Khabab | Tibet, India, Pakistan | Arabian Sea |
| Indus River | Senge Khabab | Tibet, India, Pakistan | Arabian Sea |
| Arun River | Bhumchu | Tibet, Nepal, India | Bay of Bengal |
| Manas River | Lhodrak Sharchu | Tibet, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh | Bay of Bengal |