Overview: Tibetan peoples share cultural and linguistic roots originating from the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding Himalayan highlands. Tibetan Buddhism is central to cultural identity, shaping daily life, art, social structures, and worldview. These groups have adapted to high-altitude environments and maintain connections to historical Tibetan kingdoms and cultural traditions. Tibetan peoples are found primarily in the Tibet Autonomous Region and other provinces of China (Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu), as well as Bhutan, Nepal, and India (Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh). Bhutan is the only nation where Tibetan-related peoples (the Drukpa) constitute a national majority. Significant diaspora communities exist in India, Nepal, and Western countries. The Tibetan language family includes numerous dialects and related languages. Buddhist monasteries have historically served as centers of learning, preserving religious texts, medical knowledge, and cultural traditions across generations.

  ROP Editor

People clusters: Bhutanese; Nosu; Other Tibeto-Burmese; Tibetan

Countries where they are found: Bhutan; Canada; China; India; Laos; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; Sweden; Taiwan; Thailand; United States; Vietnam