#1What the 2010 China Census Reveals about Health and Education in Tibet summary of results on population, health, and education By Dr. Rikzang Drolma Research assistants: Dorjee Dhondup, Paldon Tsomo TCHRD, December 10, 2014#2INTRODUCTION The goal of this report is to provide a critical analysis of the Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China (2010) as it pertains to the current state of health and education within Tibetan populated areas. The national census is taken every ten years and reveals significant benchmarks regarding the ethnic make-up, health, education, and economic status of regional populations. This ambitious nationwide effort was heavily promoted by the central government, which spent approximately 700 million RMB and mobilized over 6 million enumerators to visit over 400 million households and to record a total of 1.34 billion people. Overall, we found that the 2010 census reveals extreme disparities between Tibetan populated regions and the rest of the PRC in regards to all major health and education indicators, such as life expectancy, infant mortality rates, illiteracy rates, and educational attainment. Despite the state's much touted “modernization and development" of Tibet, the government's official data shows Tibetans falling far behind the rest of the PRC in terms of health and education. The following slides summarize our findings in the areas of Tibetan population, health, and education.#3The Population of Tibet Key census findings on: population of Tibetans population gender ratio distribution of Tibetans by region concentration of Tibetan and Han populations number of non-agricultural households decline in average household sizes Before delving into the regional data, let's take a look at the general Tibetan population data provided by the 2010 census. In 2010, the total population of Tibetans living in the PRC was 6,282,187, or 6.3 million people. This represents an increase of 866,166 people since the 2000 census, which recorded 5, 416,021, or 5.4 million Tibetans. The 2010 regional breakdown shows that more than half of all Tibetans are actually living outside the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). This study is based on the census results for the TAR and the seven Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures with a majority Tibetan population.#4TAR + Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures (TAPS) with over 50% Tibetan Population in 2010 (fig. 1) Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) - 90% Yushu TAP 96% Guoluo (Golog) TAP - 92% Hainan (Tsolho) TAP - 66% XINJIANG Are disputed TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION India and Ngari China Nagchu Tsonub M&TAR ojang TAPO Huangnan (Malho) TAP - 69% ari QINGHAI Tsolho Tsoshar TAP Area under Golmud Administration Malho TAR GANSU Kanlho Yushu TAP Golog TAP Gannan (Kanlho) TAP -55% Ngaba Q&TAP Shigatse Chamdo Kardze Lhasa TAP SICHUAN Ngawa (Ngaba) TAP - 54% Kongpo Lhoka Ganzi (Kardze) TAP - 78% NEPAL BHUTAN INDIA Area disputed between India and China Dechen M BURMATAYUNNAN + INDIA * This study will focus primarily on the census statistics for the TAR and these 7 TAPS to identify key trends in health and education that impact regions with a majority Tibetan population.* (enlarged area) This study is based on the census results for the TAR and the seven Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures with a majority Tibetan population as shown here.#5Distribution of Tibetan Population by Region (fig. 2) Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) 43% 2.7 million Gansu Qinghai 23% 7% .5 million SEX RATIO: 1.3 million 50.3% male 49.7% female Sichuan Total Tibetan Population inside the P.R.C.: 24% Yunnan 2% 2010: 6.3 million 1.5 million 0.14 million 2000: 5.4 million In 2010, the total population of Tibetans living in the PRC was 6,282,187, or 6.3 million people. This represents an increase of 866,166 people since the 2000 census, which recorded 5, 416,021, or 5.4 million Tibetans. Only 43% of all Tibetans live inside the TAR while the majority is spread across four other provinces. The 2010 sex ratio for the total Tibetan population is 101.08, with a slightly greater number of males (50.3%) compared to females (49.7%).#6Tibetan and Han population concentrations, 2000-2010 (fig. 3) REGION % TIBETAN % HAN 2000 2010 2000 2010 Tibet Aut. Region (TAR) 93% 90% 6% 8% The Tibetan population in the TAR dropped 3% and the Han increased 2%. Qinghai Province 23% 24% 54% 53% Sichuan Province 1.5% 1.8% 95% 94% The other regions saw little change in the % of Tibetan population. Gansu Province 1.8% 1.9% 91% 91% Source: 2000 and 2010 National Population Census of China. There was decline in the percentage of Tibetans living in the TAR, dropping three percentage points from 93% in 2000 to 90% in 2010 (fig. 3). This represents a continuous decline since 1965, when the concentration of Tibetans inside the TAR was at 96%. In Qinghai, Sichuan, and Gansu, the 2010 percentage of Tibetans remained approximately the same or slightly higher than 2000. A notable exception is in the Gannan TAP of Gansu, where the percentage of Tibetans increased from 51% to 55%.#72000-2010% of non-agricultural household registrations (fei nongye hukou) (fig. 4) Tibetan Aut. Region (TAR) Hainan Huangnan Guoluo Yushu Ngawa Ganzi Gannan 50 2000 2006 2010 Ngawa and Ganzi, both TAPS in Sichuan, show a dramatic jump in non-agricultural households. reaching over 55% in 10 years. 100 Source: 2000, 2006, 2010 PRC Statistical Yearbooks, images copyright of TCHRD, 2014. When a household switches from agricultural to nonagricultural status, it involves surrendering land-use rights and may result in the loss of permission to have a second-child. In the TAR and the TAPS of Sichuan, the census shows a big jump in the number of such nonagricultural households. In Ngawa and Ganzi, nonagricultural households surpassed the majority for the first time.#8Decline in Average Household Size, 2000-2010, in persons per household (fig. 5) Tibetan Aut. Region (TAR) 2000 6.8 persons 2010 4.2 persons Gansu Province 2000 4.7 persons - 2010 3.5 persons Qinghai Province 2000 5.3 persons 2010 3.5 persons Sichuan Province - 2000 3.9 persons - 2010 2.9 persons Yunnan Province 2000 4.6 persons 2010 3.5 persons The average Tibetan household in the TAR shrank from 7 to 4 people in just ten years. The rapidly shrinking household size, most evident in the TAR, is a major trend tied to urbanization and the one-child family policy in the PRC. Another sign of urbanization is the dramatic decrease in average household sizes for all five provinces with large Tibetan populations. In the TAR, it shrank from 6.78 persons in 2000 to 4.23 persons in 2010. In Tibetan rural and nomadic areas, the family is a "basic economic unit" that needs enough members to carry out essential activities in livestock care, agriculture, trade, and domestic labor. Thus the shrinking family size among Tibetans is a cause for concern.#9Health in Tibet Key census findings on: life expectancy infant mortality rates maternal health percentage of children receiving healthcare percentage of malnourished children elderly health hospitals and doctors The 2010 census results reveal sharp inequalities between Tibet and the rest of the PRC when it comes to the health and wellness data. For all major health indicators, the TAR consistently comes in last place for all the regions of the PRC. The TAR has the lowest average life expectancy, the highest rate of infant mortality, the lowest percentage of mothers and young children receiving health care, and one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition among the young.#10TIBET (TARN YUNNAN Average Life Expectancy by Region, 2010 (fig. 6) 74 yrs 74 yrs 72 yrs 72 yrs 72 yrs 71 yrs 67 yrs 66 yrs SICHUAN GANSU QINGHAI INNER MONGOLIA XINJIANG The average life span of a Tibetan person living in the TAR is 66 years, the LOWEST life expectancy in the entire PRC. BEIJING SHANGHAN 84 yrs 74 yrs NATIONAL AVERAGE Source: PRC Provincial Statistical Yearbooks, 2000, 2010, image copyright of TCHRD, 2014. Over the past 30 years, Tibet (TAR) has consistently shown the lowest life expectancy in the entire PRC: 59.64 years in 1990, 64.37 years in 2000, and 66.33 years in 2010. This data, which is drawn from the official statistical yearbooks, shows the TAR life expectancy slipping far behind the other inland provinces and the national average.#11Tibet (TAR) Infant Mortality Rates (%) by Region, 2010 (fig. 7) Tibet has the HIGHEST infant Qinghai mortality rate in the PRC, nearly three times the national average. Sichuan 7.1% Gansu Yunnan Inner Mongolia Xinjiang Shanghai 2.6% Beijing National Average 4.9% 9.4% 9.5% 8.6% 23.5% 11.8% in 2010, 23.5% of Tibetan infants in the TAR died during the late stages of pregnancy or shortly after birth. 10.7% 16.8% Infant mortality % refers to fetus deaths that occur 6 months after pregnancy and within one week of birth. On the other end of the spectrum, the official data shows the TAR with an extremely high infant mortality rate (IMR) of 23.5%, the highest in all regions of the PRC. This shocking number means that nearly 1 in 4 Tibetan infants in the TAR are dying at birth. The TAR has one of the highest IMR in the world, attracting the attention of medical professionals around the world who have called on China to address this humanitarian crisis. (Statistics Source: Sixth National Population Census of China 2010)#12120 100 80 80 09 60 40 40 20 20 3 Maternal Health Indicators by Region 2010 (fig. 8) ■% Received Systematic Maternal Healthcare % Received Health Care After Giving Birth 1% Received Health Care Before Giving Birth *% Stayed in Hospital to Give Birth 0 Nat'l Beijing Shanghai Xinjiang Sichuan Yunnan Gansu Qinghai Average Tibet Source: 2010 China Population and Family Planning Yearbook. pg. 508-513, image copyright of TCHRD, 2014. Only 33% of mothers in the TAR received systematic health care during pregnancy and giving birth. This is far below the national average of 80% and the results of other inland provinces. The numbers for the TAR are slightly better if individual hospital visits are counted, with 66% of TAR mothers having at least one hospital visit before giving birth, and 55% having at least one hospital visit after giving birth.#13Percentage of Children Receiving Health Care Services, 2010 (fig. 9) Tibet (TAR) Qinghai Sichuan Only 41% of Tibetan children in the TAR Gansu have received health care Yunnan services, the lowest percentage in the PRC. Inner Mongolia Xinjiang Shanghai Beijing National Average 25 50 75 100 % children under 3 yrs. old who received health care services % of children under 7 yrs old who received health care services Only 41% of the children aged 7 and under and 43.5% of children aged 3 and under received health care in the TAR while the national average is over 75%. Neighboring provinces such as Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan fared much better, with roughly 75% or more of the children (aged 7 and under) having received health care services. Source: 2010 China Population and Family Planning Yearbook, image copyright of TCHRD, 2014.#14Malnourished Children Under 5 Years Old (%), 2010 (fig. 10) Shanghai (lowest) - 0.1% Tianjin - 0.2% Beijing - 0.2% Inner Mongolia - 0.7% Sichuan 1.1% Gansu - 1.9% Xinjiang - 2.9% The TAR has one of the highest rates of malnourished children. Qinghai - 3% Maternal & Child Health In 2009, there were 35,740 live births in the TAR. Only 33% of the mothers received systematic healthcare during the pregnancy. 52% mothers gave birth in a hospital. 6.5% suffered "high-risk" pregnancies with health complications. Tibet (TAR) 3.6% Yunnan 3.8% - Guangxi (highest) - 4% While fewer children are receiving health care in the TAR, it appears that they also need it the most. As published by the state's 2010 China Population and Family Planning Yearbook, the TAR has one of the highest rates of malnourished children, with 3.6% of the children under 5 years old suffering from malnutrition. The only two places with a higher percentage in the PRC are Yunnan (3.8%) and Guangxi (4%).#15Indicators of Elderly Health by Region, age 60 up, 2010, (fig. 11) Elderly Population Working Labor In Good Health In Poor Health But Living Not Receiving Retirement Cannot Live Independently Region (age 60 up) Jobs % % Independently % Pensions % % Tibet (TAR) 20828 24.7 26.4 21.5 30.4 22 Hainan TAP 3494 19.1 33 17.1 6.6 4.2 Huangnan TAP 2138 17.4 28.9 16.1 4.7 8.5 Guoluo TAP 1358 17.9 18 25.3 2.9 4.7 Yushu TAP 2672 14.3 11.1 39 2.2 11 Ngawa TAP 10149 26.7 41.2 14.9 6.4 4 Ganzi TAP 10718 25.9 33.7 19.8 6.9 5.7 Gannan TAP 8530 19.8 30.2 18.4 4.1 3.8 What the census says about elderly health: * Ngawa has the highest percentage of elders working labor jobs (27%) as well as the highest percentage of elders in GOOD health (41%). * Guoluo and Yushu have the POOREST elder health signs, lagging far behind other areas. Only 18% of elders in Guoluo and 11 % in Yushu reported good health. * The TAR has by far the highest number of elderly who are NOT receiving pensions (30%), whereas more than 90% in the other regions are receiving pensions. * The TAR also has the highest number of elders who cannot live independently (22%). Statistics Source: Sixth National Population Census of China 2010#16# Hospitals Region # Hospital Beds per 1000 persons Hospitals and Doctors by Region, 2006-2010, (fig. 12) # Doctors per 1000 persons # Doctors 2006 2010 2006 2010 2006 2010 2006 2010 Tibet (TAR) 97 5368 2.44 2.95 2864 3395 1.07 1.1 Hainan TAP 12 12 1.5 3.35 447 495 1.1 1.1 Huangnan TAP 8 8 5.2 3 272 273 1.2 1.06 Golog TAP 11 11 3.3 3 237 242 1.6 1.3 Yushu TAP 12 12 1.8 1.9 275 306 0.9 0.8 Ngawa TAP 35 25 3.2 3 1522 1171 1.8 1.3 Garze TAP 46 40 3.04 2.7 1301 1245 1.4 1.1 Not 617 Not Gannan TAP 19 19 2.48 2.9 available available 0.9 Between, 2006-2010, the only region that saw a significant increase in hospitals and doctors was the TAR, where thousands of hospitals were built. But the number of beds and doctors per person in the TAR barely increased, with only 1 doctor and 3 beds serving 1000 people. Infrastructure building does not appear to boost healthcare services. Source: Sixth National Population Census of China 2010, image copyright TCHRD, 2014#17Education in Tibet Key census findings on: average years of schooling percentage receiving an education and comparisons with the national average gender disparities in education illiteracy rates educational facilities and teachers workers' education levels With the release of the 2010 census and other state-led statistical studies, it is now possible to see China's official numbers on educational attainment, illiteracy, average years of schooling, and the growth of educational facilities and resources across different regions. As the charts below will show, there are undeniable inequalities in China's lauded education system, especially when it comes to the TAR. On all major indicators of education, the TAR scores among the lowest in the PRC and often the lowest by a large margin.#18Education Gini Coefficient and Average Years of Schooling (AYS)¹, fig. 13 Region 2000 Gini 2000 AYS 2008 Gini 2008 AYS National Average for PRC .2377 7.62 .2255 8.27 Beijing .2109 9.99 .1977 10.97 Sichuan .2422 7.06 .2413 7.51 Yunnan .2946 6.33 .2565 6.9 Gansu Qinghai TAR .3273 6.54 .2963 7.17 .3954 6.12 .3072 7.26 .5946 3.43 .4271 4.71 The Gini coefficient measures the relative inequality of the schooling distribution, with higher numbers indicating a higher level of inequality. The average years of schooling per person (AYS) also serves as an indicator of education inequality, with more years indicating a better distribution of educational resources. In surveys conducted in 2000 and 2008, the TAR came in last place for both categories, with a high Gini coefficent of .4271 and a low average of 4.71 years of schooling per person for 2008. The neighboring regions of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Qinghai all perform much better than the TAR, with about 7 years AYS, a discrepancy that deserves more research.#19Fig. 14 - 2010 Population of Tibetans Receiving an Education (with % out of total Tibetan population, age 6 up) Region Total Never Attended Tibetan Population School Attended Elementary School Attended Middle School Attended High School Attended Post- Secondary age 6 up TAR 2,429,830 907,134 37% Qinghai 1,225,771 Sichuan 1,360,758 Gansu 443,182 Yunnan 131,486 Total 5,591,027 1,041,572 43% 292,345 12% 81,002 3% 338,806 28% 605,923 49% 156,016 13% 59,656 5% 375,848 28% 639,579 47% 196,644 14% 78,705 6% 83,234 19% 234,225 53% 62,485 14% 29,698 7% 20,623 16% 62,769 48% 25,457 19% 10,738 8% 11,899 1,725,645 31% 2,584,068 46% 732,947 13% 259,799 5% 288,568 107,777 4% 65,370 5% 69,982 5% 33,540 8% 9% 5% In 2010, 37% of eligible school-aged Tibetan children (ages 6 and up) in the TAR never attended school. This is much a higher percentage than the neighboring areas of Qinghai (28%), Gansu (19%), Sichuan (28%) and Yunnan (16%). (Statistics Source: Sixth National Population Census of China 2010)#20Fig. 14 (cont.) Nat'l Average for PRC Tibetans in Sichuan Tibetans in Yunnan Tibetans in Gansu Tibetans in Qinghai Tibetans in Tibet (TAR) Comparison with the PRC National Average 0 20 40 60 80 100 Never Attended School Elementary School Middle School High School Source: 2010 National Population Census of China As a whole, the TAR and these inland provinces fall far behind the national average of the PRC, which is only 5% of the population having never attended school.#212010 Gender Disparities Among Tibetans Receiving an Education (fig. 15) Tibetan females are more far likely to have never attended school. Never Attended School 41% male, 59% female Primary School 53% male, 47% female Middle School 58% male, 42% female High School 54% male, 46% female Post-Secondary School 53% male, 47% female Based on census results for Tibetans, age 6 up. living in the TAR and 7 TAPS with over 50% Tibetan population. Source: Sixth National Population Census of China 2010, image copyright TCHRD, 2014.#2215 and up 2010 Illiteracy Rates by Region and Gender (fig. 16) Tibetan Region (over 50% Tibetan) Total population age % of illiterate % male % female wwwwwwwww wwwwwww persons TAR 2,270,481 32.29 39 61 Hainan 332429 23.19 33 67 Huangnan 189645 30.28 32 68 Guoluo 130555 16.62 34 66 Yushu 257865 26.19 41 59 Ngawa 720211 12.39 35 65 Ganzi 838524 30.17 43 Gannan 537914 17.89 34 $| གྲྭ 57 66 Source: Sixth National Population Census of China, 2010 This chart, which is based only on those who are aged 15 years old and up, shows the TAR with the highest percentage of illiterate persons (32%) compared to the other seven TAPS. Huangnan and Ganzi also have high percentages in the 30% range. All other regions have significantly lower percentages of illiteracy, ranging from the lowest in Ngawa (12%) to Yushu (26%). In all regions, we see that females are far more likely to be illiterate, comprising 57% or more of all illiterate adults aged 15 and up.#23Illiteracy Rates by Region, 1990 - 2010 (fig. 17) National Average Shanghai Beijing Xinjiang Inner Mongolia Yunnan Gansu Qinghai Sichuan Tibet (TAR) 0 5 10 15 20 Since 1990, illiteracy has dropped dramatically in the TAR, but is still the highest in the PRC at 24.4%. 25 30 30 35 40 45 2010 2000 1990 The TAR has maintained the highest illiteracy rate in the PRC since 1990. The 2010 census lists the TAR's illiteracy rate at 32% because it only counts the population aged 15 and up, but the Major Figures of the 2010 Population Census lists it at 24% because it takes the percentage out of the entire population. Either way, the TAR has an extraordinarily high rate of illiteracy compared to the rest of the PRC. (Statistics Source: Sixth National Population Census of China 2010)#24Educational Facilities, Personnel, and Student-Teacher Ratios by Region, 2006-2013 2006 - 2013 (fig. 18) # kindergarten # enrolled #kindergarten student-teacher Region schools kindergarten students teachers ratio 2006 2013 2006 2013 2006 2013 2006 2013 Tibet (TAR) 42 480 9596 61495 378 1593 25.4 38.6 Qinghai Hainan TAP 11 252 3144 16811 89 584 35.3 28.8 Huangnan TAP Guoluo TAP 55 5 74 1249 6209 52 121 24 51.3 6 740 3173 31 39 23.9 81.4 Yushu TAP 5 26 749 2076 47 38 15.9 54.6 Sichuan Ngawa TAP 27 64 8961 729 289 564 31 1.3 Ganzi TAP 30 332 6063 667 321 580 18.9 1.2 Gansu Gannan TAP 12 3999 In the TAR, we see a dramatic jump of 42 kindergartens in 2006 to 480 in 2013. With an increase of over 400 schools, the student to teacher did not drop but actually rose. from one teacher per 25 students in 2006 to one teacher per 39 students in 2013. It appears that the new schools are poorly staffed to handle the increased volume of students. This trend also holds true for Huangnan, Guoluo, and Yushu. The worst case is Guoluo, where only one kindergarten teacher was available per 81 students in 2013. (Statistics Source: Provincial Statistical Yearbooks, 2006-2013)#25Educational Facilities, Personnel, and Student-Teacher Ratios by Region, 2006-2013 (fig. 18) # primary schools # enrolled primary # primary student-teacher Region students teachers ratio 2006 2013 2006 2013 2006 2013 2006 2013 Tibet (TAR) 890 857 327497 292016 14267 18853 22.9 15.5 Qinghai Hainan TAP 344 54 51000 45141 2585 2563 17.6 Huangnan TAP 191 142 34000 27882 1910 1636 17 Guoluo TAP 59 53 14000 20694 943 1042 19.9 Yushu TAP 187 131 33000 50923 1444 2102 24.2 Sichuan Ngawa TAP 1195 286 99000 74995 6,269 6204 12.1 Ganzi TAP 927 588 97000 107090 5364 6784 15.8 Gansu Gannan TAP 640 461 84713 89673 4394 5419 16.5 While kindergarten schools increased, primary and middle schools declined in number. This likely reflects the widespread closing of village schools, which are consolidated into large boarding schools located in townships and cities. This forces young children to either travel long distances or to leave their families and live on campus to gain an education. In Hainan TAP, 344 elementary schools declined to just 54. In Ngawa, 1195 elementary schools declined to 286. The closing of these schools did lead to a significant decline in the number of enrolled students. In Hainan, 51,000 elementary students declined to just over 45,000. In Ngawa, 99,000 enrolled elementary students declined to 75,000.#26Educational Facilities, Personnel, and Student-Teacher Ratios by Region, 2006-2013 (fig. 18) Region # middle & secondary schools # enrolled middle & # middle & student-teacher secondary students secondary teachers ratio 2006 2013 2006 2013 2006 2013 2006 2013 Tibet (TAR) 118 122 154048 178091 8161 12640 18.9 14 Qinghai Hainan TAP 42 19 23167 26474 1179 1652 16 Huangnan TAP 20 20 10777 15369 589 818 18.8 Guoluo TAP 14 9 3188 9679 328 406 23.6 Yushu TAP 16 12 6213 15606 448 686 22.8 Sichuan Ngawa TAP 66 57 43468 49381 2865 3836 12.9 Ganzi TAP 36 46 28678 49892 1970 3009 16.6 Gansu Gannan TAP 56 51 32805 50930 1822 2745 18.6 The decline in middle and high schools is less pronounced, but still significant. On one hand, the state is expanding access to kindergarten, bringing Tibetan children into the educational system at a much younger age. On the other hand, the shrinking number of elementary, middle, and high schools reflects the widespread closing of village schools, which are consolidated into large boarding schools located in townships and cities. This consolidation is widely used to encourage nomads to take on a sedentary lifestyle by moving closer to towns and cities. ח#272010 Workers' Education Levels by Major Industry (fig. 19) Education Level Agriculture Never Attended School 30,852 Livestock 19,790 Manufacturing Forestry Mining 467 77 30 Elementary School 36,111 12,000 1071 127 90 Middle School 7918 2353 931 61 99 High School 706 210 405 18 65 Higher Education 232 96 322 3 40 The above chart shows worker education levels in the TAR, where the vast majority of laborers in the major industries of agriculture and livestock have not gained more than an elementary school education. For instance, the agriculture industry mostly hires those who have never attended school (30,852 laborers) or those with an elementary school education (36,111 laborers) compared to just 232 individuals with post-secondary degrees. With far fewer jobs for those with a middle school education or higher, there is little incentive for Tibetan families to send their children away for school. Many families may choose to keep the youth at home, as they are often needed to carry out essential work such as caring for livestock, farming, trading, or other forms of labor. (Statistics Source: Sixth National Population Census of China 2010)#28CONCLUSION So what does the 2010 census reveal about health and education in Tibet? On one hand, it reveals substantial increases in health and education infrastructure and personnel, such as a greater number of hospitals, doctors, schools, and teachers, especially in the TAR. On the other hand, it reveals strikingly disproportionate regional inequalities and the lack of improved access to basic health and education services. The TAR, in particular, lags far behind its neighbors and the PRC national averages on all major indicators of health and education. The TAR scored the lowest for average life expectancy, maternal health indicators, and child health indicators. The TAR also has the highest rate of illiteracy in the PRC, with nearly a third of the adult population being illiterate. The census results can only legitimize the development policies in the TAR data in terms of infrastructure building. Literally hundreds of schools and thousands of hospitals were built in the TAR since 2000, far surpassing the health and education infrastructure building in the other provinces with large Tibetan populations. Yet despite these large-scale building projects, the 2010 census clearly shows that the TAR is nowhere near catching up with any of the inland provinces on the major indicators of health and education. Clearly, the lauded campaigns for developing a peaceful and prosperous Tibet haven't been successful in providing the most fundamental needs in health and education enjoyed by the rest of the PRC, such as proper nutrition, access to health care, and basic literacy.