Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region is expected to reduce its population living in poverty by 45 percent compared with 2010 by the end of this year, according to sources with the region's Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

The number of people living below the national poverty line of 2,300 yuan ($375) annual per-capita income in Tibet's rural and pastoral areas should be reduced to 457,000 at the end of 2013, which is 55 percent of 2010 levels, said Qoi'nyi Yarphel, an official with the office.

So far, central and regional governments have allocated 3.9 billion yuan (640 million) in poverty alleviation funds to the plateau region, with this figure covering aid for education, financing and technology for Tibetans, he said.

Tibet had the highest poverty rate in China in 2010, with 34.42 percent of its rural and pastoral population living below the country's poverty line.

Much of Tibet's success in boosting livelihood has come from improving agriculture.