Tibetan DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · China (Tibet) · East Asia
The Tibetan Plateau, at an average height of more than 4,000 metres, is one of the highest inhabited regions on earth. Tibetan belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family, and from the 7th to the 9th centuries the Tibetan Empire ruled much of Inner Asia. In our model, the Tibetan average is 76.7% East Asian, 14.1% Ancient Northeast Asian and 9.2% South Asian hunter-gatherer related; that last share may partly stand for old local ancestry for which the model has no better source. The fit (0.0525) is loose. The ancient results point to deep continuity on the plateau: the closest groups are medieval Tibetans from Latuotanggu and Longsangquduo (0.0134 and 0.0135), an early medieval cemetery of the Tubo (Tibetan Empire) period at Dulan in Qinghai, and Neolithic people from Mabu Co in Tibet (0.0163). The closest modern averages are other Tibetan samples, from Lhasa and from McLeod Ganj in India, followed closely by the Sherpa of Nepal.
- Ancient components in our model: East Asian 76.7%, Ancient Northeast Asians 14.1%, South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) 9.2%
- Closest modern population in our data: Tibetan (McLeod Ganj), distance 0.0106
- Closest ancient group in our data: Tibet Medieval Latuotanggu, distance 0.0134
Where does Tibetan DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Tibetan individuals sampled in China (Tibet) and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Tibetan average
Modelled as a mix of deep ancestral reference populations, the Tibetan average comes out as 76.7% East Asian, 14.1% Ancient Northeast Asians and 9.2% South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy). The East Asian component reflects ancestry most common today in East Asia. With well over half of the total, this single source dominates the profile.
The fit is loose (fit distance 0.053), which usually means that none of the available reference populations is a close stand-in for part of this ancestry, so read the percentages as rough. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Closest modern populations to Tibetan
Genetically, the Tibetan average sits nearest to Tibetan (McLeod Ganj) at 0.011, Tibetan (Lhasa) at 0.011 and Sherpa (Khumbu) at 0.012. On our scale, a distance of 0.011 counts as very close. Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Sherpa (Khumbu) (0.012), Sherpa (0.014) and Sherpa (Rolwaling Himal) (0.014). By the tenth closest (Pumi) the distance grows to 0.034, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tibetan (McLeod Ganj) | 0.0106 | Very close |
| 2 | Tibetan (Lhasa) | 0.0106 | Very close |
| 3 | Sherpa (Khumbu) | 0.0124 | Very close |
| 4 | Sherpa | 0.0137 | Very close |
| 5 | Sherpa (Rolwaling Himal) | 0.0140 | Very close |
| 6 | Sherpa (West Bengal) | 0.0193 | Very close |
| 7 | Rai | 0.0231 | Very close |
| 8 | Qiang (Daofu) | 0.0239 | Very close |
| 9 | Tamang (Tashinam) | 0.0305 | Close |
| 10 | Pumi | 0.0337 | Close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Tibetan
If we search ancient DNA for the best match to Tibetan, Tibet Medieval Latuotanggu (Medieval, c. 500-1500 AD) comes first, at 0.013, with Tibet Medieval Longsangquduo next. That is a very close match, which suggests strong genetic continuity between those ancient people (or close relatives of theirs) and the modern population. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tibet Medieval Latuotanggu | Medieval, c. 500-1500 AD | 0.0134 |
| 2 | Tibet Medieval Longsangquduo | Medieval, c. 500-1500 AD | 0.0135 |
| 3 | China Qinghai Early Medieval Tubo Dulan | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0154 |
| 4 | Tibet N Mabu Co | Neolithic | 0.0163 |
| 5 | Tibet IA Jiesang | Iron Age | 0.0178 |
| 6 | Tibet Medieval Kangyu | Medieval, c. 500-1500 AD | 0.0202 |
| 7 | Tibet IA Ounie | Iron Age | 0.0202 |
| 8 | Tibet Medieval Yushu | Medieval, c. 500-1500 AD | 0.0209 |
| 9 | Tibet Medieval Dama | Medieval, c. 500-1500 AD | 0.0213 |
| 10 | Tibet Medieval Shigou | Medieval, c. 500-1500 AD | 0.0220 |
Ancient DNA from China
Our ancient DNA database holds 2,865 individuals excavated in present-day China, dated from about 100,550 BC to 1823 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are O2a (168), C2b (74) and N1b (59), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are D4 (208), C4 (121) and B4 (72). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Tibetan population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
Most frequent mtDNA haplogroups
| Haplogroup | Individuals | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| D4 | 208 | NE34 NE-5 NE5_AmurRiver |
| C4 | 121 | WQM4 NE9 NE-9 |
| B4 | 72 | Tianyuan BS Dushan4-1 |
| F1 | 68 | NE19 WGM35 18R21265 |
| D5 | 50 | BLSM14 BLSM27S BLSM45 |
| U5 | 49 | NLKG218_M5-1 G218M5-3N C3340 |
| G2 | 45 | NE56 JZ24089582-C24-22 S96 |
| A | 35 | M89_Houtaomuga JZ24089566-C8-28 ZJG7 |
Ancient DNA studies on China
- Ancient DNA unveils distinctive ancestries in the Bronze and Iron Ages of East Tianshan (2026)
- Ancient DNA unveils distinctive ancestries in the Bronze and Iron Ages of East Tianshan (2026)
- Genomic characterization of historical Jinlingnan individuals: insights into genetic continuity and trans-Eurasian signals in eastern China (2026)
- Go north: Isotope and aDNA analysis reconstructing the life history of a first-generation immigrant in the early Western Zhou Yan state (2026)
- A prehistoric East-Asian Yersinia pestis genome and a ~5.3 ka trans-Eurasian expansion of plague (2026)
- Genomic signatures of female exogamy and cultural interaction in a Tang Dynasty patrilineal clan (2026)
- Genetic continuity and dietary change during the emergence of millet farming in northern China (2026)
- Genetic continuity and dietary change during the emergence of millet farming in northern China (2026)
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 2,865 from China.
Compare yourself with Tibetan
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Tibetan average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Tibetan and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
Keep in mind that a population average is a statistical summary of a limited number of sampled individuals. Real people inside any group vary, some carry more of one ancestry and some less, and no genetic profile decides who is or is not Tibetan. Use these numbers as a map of deep ancestry, not as a label.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Tibetan average. For your own DNA, Advanced Ancestry Report (16€) gives a full ancestry breakdown with no regional focus, in a personal PDF report.
Comprehensive DNA analysis comparing your genetics to over 2,000 modern reference populations.
More populations from East Asia
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Tibetan?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Tibetan average is about 76.7% East Asian, 14.1% Ancient Northeast Asians and 9.2% South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy). These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Tibetan?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Tibetan (McLeod Ganj)), the closest modern populations to the Tibetan average are Sherpa (Khumbu), Sherpa and Sherpa (Rolwaling Himal). The closest ancient matches are Tibet Medieval Latuotanggu, Tibet Medieval Longsangquduo and China Qinghai Early Medieval Tubo Dulan.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Tibetan?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Tibetan average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Tibetan ancestry?
Our regional report for this part of the world does not fit the Tibetan average closely, so the full Advanced Ancestry Report (no regional focus) is the better choice. The DNA Mega-Analysis adds Neanderthal %, traits and closest ancient populations. The free Report Finder checks every report against your own DNA first.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.