民族区域自治，是中国特色社会主义的一项基本政治制度，是中国解决民族问题的基本政策。

　　中国的民族区域自治，是指在国家的统一领导下，各少数民族聚居地方实行区域自治，设立自治机关，行使自治权。中国民族自治地方的设立是根据当地民族关系、经济发展等条件，并参酌历史情况而确定的。目前，中国的民族自治地方依据少数民族聚居区人口的多少、面积的大小分为自治区、自治州、自治县三级，行政地位分别相当于省、设区的市和县。

　　在中国，西藏是一个藏族占多数的民族聚居区，目前总人口317.55万，其中藏族占92%以上；除藏族外，西藏还有汉族、蒙古族、回族、纳西族、怒族、独龙族、门巴族、珞巴族以及僜人、夏尔巴人等40多个民族成分。根据中国宪法，国家在西藏实行民族区域自治制度，建立西藏自治区，并设有门巴、珞巴、纳西等民族乡，依法保障西藏各族人民平等参与管理国家和地方事务的政治权利。

Regional ethnic autonomy is a fundamental political system under socialism with Chinese characteristics - a basic policy through which to solve problems relating to ethnic minorities.

Regional ethnic autonomy in China means, under the unified leadership of the central government, that regional autonomy is exercised and organs of self-government are established for the exercise of the right of autonomy in areas where various ethnic minorities live in compact communities. The establishment of ethnic autonomous areas is determined by local ethnic relations, economic development and other conditions, with reference to historical background. China's ethnic autonomous areas are divided, according to the population and size of the compact communities in which ethnic minorities live, into autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures, and autonomous counties at three levels equivalent to provinces, cities divided into districts, and counties in the administrative division.

Tibet is an ethnic region mostly inhabited by Tibetans, who account for more than 92 percent of its present 3,175,500 population, which also includes 40 other ethnic groups, including the Han, Mongolian, Hui, Naxi, Nu, Drung, Monba, Lhoba, Deng and Sherpa people. According to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China (PRC), regional ethnic autonomy has been exercised in Tibet, and Tibet Autonomous Region, under which are the Monba, Lhoba and Naxi ethnic townships, has been founded, protecting by law the political rights of various ethnic groups in Tibet to participate as equals in administering state and local affairs.