Tibet

Tibet

Tibet (Xizang) 西藏
		POPULATION						CHRISTIANS					Total
							Evangelicals			Catholics			Christians
		Census	Census			Estimate			TOTAL			TOTAL		% of 2020
Location [1]		2000	2010	Growth		2020	TSPM	House church	Evangelicals	CPA	House church	Catholics	TOTAL	Population

Lhasa Prefecture	拉萨市
Chengguan District	城关区	223,001	279,074	56,073	25.14%	335,147	0	1,676 [2]	1,676	0	101	101	1,776	0.53%
Dagze (Dazi) District	达孜县	24,906	26,708	1,802	7.24%	28,510	0	86	86	0	9	9	94	0.33%
Damxung (Dangxiong) County	当雄县	39,169	46,463	7,294	18.62%	53,757	0	161	161	0	16	16	177	0.33%
Doilungdeqing District	堆龙德庆区	40,543	52,249	11,706	28.87%	63,955	0	192	192	0	19	19	211	0.33%
Lhunzhub (Linzhou) County	林周县	50,895	50,246	-649	-1.28%	49,597	0	149	149	0	15	15	164	0.33%
Maizhokunggar (Mozhugongka) County	墨竹工卡县	38,920	44,674	5,754	14.78%	50,428	0	151	151	0	15	15	166	0.33%
Nyemo (Nimu) County	尼木县	27,375	28,149	774	2.83%	28,923	0	87	87	0	9	9	95	0.33%
Quxu (Qushui) County	曲水县	29,690	31,860	2,170	7.31%	34,030	0	102	102	0	10	10	112	0.33%
		474,499	559,423	84,924	17.90%	644,347	0	2,603	2,603	0	193	193	2,797	0.43%

Lhoka (Shannan) Prefecture	山南市
Comai (Cuomei) County	措美县	13,529	13,641	112	0.83%	13,753	0	4	4	0	0	0	4	0.03%
Cona (Cuona) County	错那县	15,277	15,124	-153	-1.00%	14,971	0	4	4	0	0	0	4	0.03%
Gonggar (Gongga) County	贡嘎县	44,624	45,708	1,084	2.43%	46,792	0	14	14	0	0	0	14	0.03%
Gyaca (Jiacha) County	加查县	18,263	23,434	5,171	28.31%	28,605	0	9	9	0	0	0	9	0.03%
Lhozhag (Luozha) County	洛扎县	18,407	18,453	46	0.25%	18,499	0	6	6	0	0	0	6	0.03%
Lhunze (Longzi) County	隆子县	32,184	34,141	1,957	6.08%	36,098	0	11	11	0	0	0	11	0.03%
Nagarze (Langkazi) County	浪卡子县	32,635	34,767	2,132	6.53%	36,899	0	11	11	0	0	0	11	0.03%
Nedong (Naidong) District	乃东区	58,808	59,615	807	1.37%	60,422	0	18	18	0	0	0	18	0.03%
Qonggyai (Qiongjie) County	琼结县	17,031	17,093	62	0.36%	17,155	0	5	5	0	0	0	5	0.03%
Qusum (Qusong) County	曲松县	16,037	14,280	-1,757	-10.96%	12,523	0	4	4	0	0	0	4	0.03%
Sangri County	桑日县	16,033	17,261	1,228	7.66%	18,489	0	6	6	0	0	0	6	0.03%
Zhanang County	扎囊县	35,278	35,473	195	0.55%	35,668	0	11	11	0	0	0	11	0.03%
		318,106	328,990	10,884	3.42%	339,874	0	102	102	0	0	0	102	0.03%

Nagqu (Naqu) Prefecture	那曲地区
Amdo (Anduo) County	安多县	32,843	37,802	4,959	15.10%	42,761	0	13	13	0	0	0	13	0.03%
Baingoin (Bange) County	班戈县	35,895	36,842	947	2.64%	37,789	0	11	11	0	0	0	11	0.03%
Baqen (Baqing) County	巴青县	32,287	48,284	15,997	49.55%	64,281	0	19	19	0	0	0	19	0.03%
Biru County	比如县	45,222	60,179	14,957	33.07%	75,136	0	23	23	0	0	0	23	0.03%
Lhari (Jiali) County	嘉黎县	32,356	32,356	0	0.00%	32,356	0	10	10	0	0	0	10	0.03%
Nyainrong (Nuerong) County	聂荣县	28,192	32,376	4,184	14.84%	36,560	0	11	11	0	0	0	11	0.03%
Nyima (Nima) County	尼玛县	34,309	29,856	-4,453	-12.98%	25,403	0	8	8	0	0	0	8	0.03%
Nagau (Naqu) District	那曲县	81,786	108,781	26,995	33.01%	135,776	0	41	41	0	0	0	41	0.03%
Shuanghu County	双湖县	10,000	11,999	1,999	19.99%	13,998	0	4	4	0	0	0	4	0.03%
Sog County	索县	34,736	43,621	8,885	25.58%	52,506	0	16	16	0	0	0	16	0.03%
Xainza (Shenzha) County	申扎县	16,487	20,285	3,798	23.04%	24,083	0	7	7	0	0	0	7	0.03%
		384,113	462,381	78,268	20.38%	540,649	0	162	162	0	0	0	162	0.03%

Ngari (Ali) Prefecture	阿里地区
Burang (Pulan) County	普兰县	7,919	9,657	1,738	21.95%	11,395	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00%
Coqen (Cuoqin) County	措勤县	12,083	14,626	2,543	21.05%	17,169	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00%
Gar (Ga'er) County	噶尔县	13,364	16,901	3,537	26.47%	20,438	0	16	16	0	0	0	16	0.08%
Ge'gyai (Geji) County	革吉县	12,826	15,483	2,657	20.72%	18,140	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00%
Gerze (Gaize) County	改则县	17,502	22,177	4,675	26.71%	26,852	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00%
Rutog (Ritu) County	日土县	7,175	9,738	2,563	35.72%	12,301	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00%
Zanda (Zhada) County	札达县	6,384	6,883	499	7.82%	7,382	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00%
		77,253	95,465	18,212	23.57%	113,677	0	16	16	0	0	0	16	0.01%

Nyingchi (Linzhi) Prefecture	林芝市
Bayi District	巴宜区	38,960	54,702	15,742	40.41%	70,444	0	42	42	0	35	35	77	0.11%
Bome (Bomi) County	波密县	26,748	33,480	6,732	25.17%	40,212	0	24	24	0	0	0	24	0.06%
Gongbo'gyamda (Gongbujiangda) County	工布江达县	24,971	29,929	4,958	19.86%	34,887	0	21	21	0	0	0	21	0.06%
Mainling (Milin) County	米林县	18,047	22,834	4,787	26.53%	27,621	0	17	17	0	0	0	17	0.06%
Medog (Motuo) County	墨脱县	9,699	10,963	1,264	13.03%	12,227	0	7	7	0	0	0	7	0.06%
Nang (Lang) County	朗县	14,283	15,946	1,663	11.64%	17,609	0	11	11	0	0	0	11	0.06%
Zayu (Chayu) County	察隅县	25,939	27,255	1,316	5.07%	28,571	0	200 [3]	200	0	126	126	326	1.14%
		158,647	195,109	36,462	22.98%	231,571	0	322	322	0	161	161	483	0.21%

Qamdo (Chamdo) Prefecture	昌都市
Banbar (Bianba) County	边坝县	30,818	35,767	4,949	16.06%	40,716	0	8	8	0	0	0	8	0.02%
Baxoi (Basu) County	八宿县	38,170	39,021	851	2.23%	39,872	0	12	12	0	0	0	12	0.03%
Dengqen (Dingqing) County	丁青县	60,586	69,888	9,302	15.35%	79,190	0	16	16	0	0	0	16	0.02%
Gonjo (Gongjue) County	贡觉县	43,160	40,434	-2,726	-6.32%	37,708	0	8	8	0	0	0	8	0.02%
Jomda (Jiangda) County	江达县	68,993	76,026	7,033	10.19%	83,059	0	25	25	0	0	0	25	0.03%
Karub (Karuo) District	卡若区	94,419	116,500	22,081	23.39%	138,581	0	69	69	0	35	35	104	0.08%
Lhorong (Luolong) County	洛隆县	41,144	47,491	6,347	15.43%	53,838	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00%
Markam (Mangkang) County	芒康县	73,155	81,399	8,244	11.27%	89,643	0	36	36	6,723 [4]	359	7,082	7,118	7.94%
Riwoqe (Leiwuqi) County	类乌齐县	40,895	49,870	8,975	21.95%	58,845	0	24	24	0	0	0	24	0.04%
Zhag'yab (Chaya) County	察雅县	53,009	56,789	3,780	7.13%	60,569	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00%
Zogang (Zuogong) County	左贡县	41,803	44,320	2,517	6.02%	46,837	0	9	9	0	0	0	9	0.02%
		586,152	657,505	71,353	12.17%	728,858	0	206	206	6,723	393	7,116	7,323	1.00%

Xigaze (Shigatse) Prefecture	日喀则市
Bainang (Bailang) County	白朗县	40,111	42,551	2,440	6.08%	44,991	0	13	13	0	0	0	13	0.03%
Dinggye (Dingjie) County	定结县	17,691	20,319	2,628	14.86%	22,947	0	7	7	0	0	0	7	0.03%
Gamba (Gangba) County	岗巴县	9,201	10,464	1,263	13.73%	11,727	0	4	4	0	0	0	4	0.03%
Gyantse (Jiangzi) County	江孜县	61,431	63,503	2,072	3.37%	65,575	0	20	20	0	0	0	20	0.03%
Gyirong (Jilong) County	吉隆县	12,174	14,972	2,798	22.98%	17,770	0	5	5	0	0	0	5	0.03%
Kangmar (Kangma) County	康马县	19,501	20,522	1,021	5.24%	21,543	0	6	6	0	0	0	6	0.03%
Lhatse (Lazi) County	拉孜县	45,895	49,286	3,391	7.39%	52,677	0	16	16	0	0	0	16	0.03%
Namling (Nanmulin) County	南木林县	69,214	74,930	5,716	8.26%	80,646	0	24	24	0	0	0	24	0.03%
Ngamring (Angren) County	昂仁县	45,172	51,472	6,300	13.95%	57,772	0	17	17	0	0	0	17	0.03%
Nyalam (Nielamu) County	聂拉木县	15,479	17,568	2,089	13.50%	19,657	0	6	6	0	0	0	6	0.03%
Rinbung (Renbu) County	仁布县	28,255	27,826	-429	-1.52%	27,397	0	8	8	0	0	0	8	0.03%
Saga County	萨嘎县	11,947	14,036	2,089	17.49%	16,125	0	5	5	0	0	0	5	0.03%
Sa'gya (Sajia) County	萨迦县	42,590	47,304	4,714	11.07%	52,018	0	16	16	0	0	0	16	0.03%
Samshubze (Sangzhuzi) District	桑珠孜区	99,863	120,374	20,511	20.54%	140,885	0	211	211	0	28	28	240	0.17%
Tingri (Dingri) County	定日县	46,585	50,818	4,233	9.09%	55,051	0	17	17	0	0	0	17	0.03%
Xaitongmoin (Xietongmen) County	谢通门县	39,955	42,280	2,325	5.82%	44,605	0	13	13	0	0	0	13	0.03%
Yadong County	亚东县	12,038	12,920	882	7.33%	13,802	0	4	4	0	0	0	4	0.03%
Zhongba County	仲巴县	17,860	22,147	4,287	24.00%	26,434	0	8	8	0	0	0	8	0.03%
		634,962	703,292	68,330	10.76%	771,622	0	401	401	0	28	28	429	0.06%

Totals		2,633,732	3,002,165	368,433	13.99%	3,370,598	0 [5]	3,813 [6]	3,813 [7]	6,723	776	7,499 [8]	11,312	0.34%
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[1]

Place names in Tibet are complicated by attempts to transliterate Tibetan words into Chinese characters. The spelling of many names in Pinyin Chinese has been changed over time. The counties, cities and districts on this page use the name as it appeared in the 2010 Chinese census returns, followed by the Chinese Pinyin transliteration if different.

[2]

Lambert, "Counting Christians in China: A Cautionary Report," International Journal of Missionary Research (January 2003), p.8, estimates 100 house church Christians in the Lhasa area.

400 Christians in Lhasa: Hattaway, China's Unreached Cities , vol. 2 (2003), p.54. In the past 10-15 years an increasing number of Han Christians from other parts of China have migrated to Lhasa and surrounding areas for work and outreach.

[3]

Zayu County is near the border with Myanmar (Burma). There are a number of Christian women from tribal groups in Myanmar such as the Rawang and Lisu who have married Tibetan men and now live in the border areas.

[4]

6,500: UCAN (July 10, 1998). All of these Catholics live in the extreme southeast of Tibet near the borders of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. The main center for Catholic work is Yanjing, where more than 600 Catholics live in the main village, with many more scattered throughout the surrounding countryside.

[5]

The official TSPM figure for Tibet remains zero, as there are no TSPM churches or meeting places allowed to operate in the region. Although there are a small number of Han Evangelicals in Lhasa and other main cities, it is thought the government does not want to risk offending the Buddhist leaders by granting permission for a TSPM church to be built in Tibet.

[6]

1,300: Mandryk, Operation World (2010), p.247.
Many of the believers are Han evangelists who have moved to Tibet for ministry. Others are Christians who volunteered to work in Tibet. There are generally believed to be less than 100 ethnic Tibetan Evangelical Christians in Tibet.

[7]

Evangelicals in Tibet
30 (1993 - Lambert, Resurrection of the Chinese Church , p.312)
1,300 (2010 - Mandryk, Operation World , p.247)

[8]

Catholics in Tibet
1,000 (1890 - in 18 churches including Tibetan areas of Sichuan and Yunnan: Chinese Recorder , March 1890)
2,050 (1907 - in 14 churches including Tibetan areas of Sichuan: Wolferstan, The Catholic Church in China , p.451)
3,910 (1922 - in 18 churches including Tibetan areas of Sichuan and Yunnan: Stauffer, The Christian Occupation of China , p.lxvii)
6,500 (1998 - UCAN, 10 July 1998)
8,000 (2010 - Mandryk, Operation World , p.247)