GDP annual growth rate: 12.5%

GDP ratio (1st, 2nd and tertiary industries):

The ratio of the three industries in GDP is about 24.6 : 24.9 : 50.5. The added values of the three industries are 3.91 billion yuan, an increase of 3.5 percent; 3.95 billion yuan, an increase of 17.3 percent; and 8.04 billion yuan, an increase of 15.2 percent, respectively.

Revenues: 731 million yuan (2002)

Industrial output value: 2.16 billion yuan (2002)

Agricultural output value: 4.78 billion yuan (2000)

Unemployment rate: 5% (2002)

Living standard

Local people's living standard has continued to improve with per capita disposable income of urban residents reaching 7,762 yuan in 2002, an increase of 9 percent over the previous year. The per capita net income of rural residents was 1,521 yuan, an increase of 8.3 percent over the previous year. Besides, local people's housing conditions have also been greatly improved with the per capita housing area of urban residents being 18.88 square meters while that of rural residents being 20.56 square meters.

Foreign trade

By 2002, the region's total imports and exports stood at US$130.32 million. It has taken advantage of state preferential policies to actively expand exports of animal by-products, local traditional handicrafts and some other industrial products. State-run foreign trade enterprises have expanded their operations and border trade markets have developed. Presently, Tibet has become China's doorway to South Asian continues.

Foreign investment

At the end of 1998, the number of registered foreign-funded enterprises totaled 74. Foreign investors came from the United States, Japan, Germany, Malaysia, Nepal, Macao, and Hong Kong.

International aid programs

Since 1981, UNDP has provided US$ 4 million for the construction of the Yangbajain geothermal power plant. In 1989, UN's WFP provided financial aid for comprehensive agricultural development projects geared to drought resistance and prevention and improving irrigation conditions in the four counties of the Lhasa River valley, all of which has already been used. UNICEF provided US$ 3.22 million in aid for ten projects including health centers for women and children. In 1995 UNDP decided to provide US$822,000 in aid to four counties of Nyalam, Tingri, Dinggye and Gyirong in the Qomolangma Nature Reserve in western Tibet for projects involving agriculture, housing, school, wind power and household handicraft production.

Pillar industries

Tibet's pillar industries involve tourism, Tibetan medicine, biological products and health food (beverage), farm and animal product processing and traditional handicrafts, mining, and building materials.