The county has an area of 3,276 square kilometres (1,265 sq mi), and as of 2011 had a population of 30,844 people, mostly engaged in agriculture or herding.

It is mainly agricultural and pastoral, with an area of 3,276 square kilometres (1,265 sq mi) and an average elevation of 4,000 metres (13,000 ft).

[2] Nyêmo was the birthplace of the great translator Vairocana, and the place where the teacher Padmasambhava subjugated local spirits during his journey from Nepal to Lhasa.

[4] In late 1968 a revolt in the rural areas of Tibet began in Nyêmo, caused by shortages of food and the chaos of the Cultural Revolution.

[6] In the 1969 "Nyemo incident" the followers of Nyêmo nun Trinley Chödrön combined with the forces of the Maoist Gyenlo party organization.

[7] Tinley Chodron, who was said to be an emanation of the holy bird Labja Gongmo from the Epic of King Gesar, was executed in Lhasa later that year.

[8] Nyêmo County includes 2 towns and 6 townships:[2] As of 2011 the total population was 30,844 people, of whom 28,474 were engaged in agriculture or herding.

[citation needed] In the 7th century Nyêmo was producing printing materials, clay-based incense and wooden-sole shoes.

[12] Nyêmo's long tradition of making paper and printing texts using woodblocks dates back to this period.