| Abstract: | The population of the Tibet Autonomous Region which is thinly scattered, is almost entirely Tibetan. The unique high and cold climate, varied and changeable topography and social economic and human environment restrict population mobility in the region. Historically there were little statistic documents and the early data about population scale is poorly reliable. After the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951, its population went up continuously, and the growth rate has been higher than the national average level since 1964. The general tendency was that the pattern of population increase had changed within a short period. At first, the death rate was lowered quickly and the natural population increase speed was quickened, then, the death rate was lowered further, and the birth rate began to rise at a quick speed. After 1970, both the death rate and birth rate was generally stable, the level was relatively lower than before, the death rate slowed down at a quicker speed than the birth rate. The natural population increase rate rose extremely slowly, which formed the population development situation of fast but steady increase. The future population development tendency is that, the quick increase tendency characterized by young population will continue for quite a long time, and the pressure of future population increase upon resources environment will become increasingly great. The age structure and sex composition of population in Tibet, rather low since long time ago, became increasingly high upon entering the 1980s, but it was still the lowest one compared to other provinces or regions in China. The main reason is due to the low sex ratio of Tibetan infants and children caused by the low sex ratio of newly born infants and the high death rate of male infants, which will slow down the population increase in a limited way. There are few barren lands appropriate for farming and there exist many restricting factors for cultivation or utilization. With further increase in Tibetan population, it is inevitable that per capita available cultivated land will drop continuously. The problem of food supply in Tibet will still be the main issue in its regional development with the increase of population. It is impossible to support a quickly increasing population with the limited agricultural resources in Tibet. Therefore, the population development direction of Tibet can only be to tighten quantity control and to popularize family planning knowledge among Tibetan people. It is a fundamental strategic policy for the social and economic development in Tibet if family planning can be followed progressively on a voluntary basis. |
