China's population watchdog says the health of people living in China's Tibet Autonomous Region has greatly improved since 1951, thanks to free medical treatment offered by the central government to local farmers and herdsmen and the upgrading of medical equipment there.

The China Development and Research Center, which is part of the central government's Population and Family Planning Commission, released this information on Friday.

Its report says the Tibetan population has more than doubled in the region and that average life expectancy has risen to 67 years-old, up from 35 years-old in the 1950s.

The mortality rate for pregnant women and babies has dropped sharply and Tibet now boasts the largest number of centenarians in China.

China's other ethnic minorities have also benefited from the central government subsidies.

A total of 117 million yuan or US$14.15 million was channeled to regions containing 22 Chinese ethnic minorities between 2002 and 2004. Many of these regions contain populations of less than 100,000. The Commission says this money was mainly used to construct infrastructure and public facilities.

(CRI May 27, 2005)