Taiwan

Code: TW | Region: East N Southeast Asia

Introduction

Background

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First inhabited by Austronesian people, Taiwan became home to Han immigrants beginning in the late Ming Dynasty (17th century). In 1895, military defeat forced China's Qing Dynasty to cede Taiwan to Japan, which then governed Taiwan for 50 years. Taiwan came under Chinese Nationalist (Kuomintang, KMT) control after World War II. With the communist victory in the Chinese civil war in 1949, the Nationalist-controlled Republic of China government and 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and continued to claim to be the legitimate government for mainland China and Taiwan, based on a 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Until 1987, however, the Nationalist Government ruled Taiwan under a civil war martial law declaration dating to 1948. Beginning in the 1970s, Nationalist authorities gradually began to incorporate the native population into the governing structure beyond the local level. The democratization process expanded rapidly in the 1980s, leading to the then-illegal founding of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan’s first opposition party, in 1986 and the lifting of martial law the following year. Taiwan held legislative elections in 1992, the first in over 40 years, and its first direct presidential election in 1996. In the 2000 presidential elections, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power with the KMT loss to the DPP and afterwards experienced two additional democratic transfers of power in 2008 and 2016. Throughout this period, the island prospered and turned into one of East Asia's economic "Tigers," becoming a major investor in mainland China after 2000 as cross-Strait ties matured. The dominant political issues continue to be economic reform and growth, as well as management of sensitive relations between Taiwan and China.

Geography

Location

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Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Geographic coordinates

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23 30 N, 121 00 E

Map references

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Southeast Asia

Area

total

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35,980 sq km

land

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32,260 sq km

water

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3,720 sq km

note

note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Kinmen islands

Area - comparative

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slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Land boundaries

total

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0 km

Coastline

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1,566.3 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

exclusive economic zone

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200 nm

Climate

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tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); persistent and extensive cloudiness all year

Terrain

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eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west

Elevation

highest point

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Yu Shan 3,952 m

lowest point

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South China Sea 0 m

mean elevation

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1,150 m

Natural resources

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small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos, arable land

Land use

agricultural land

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22% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest

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0% (2022 est.)

other

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78% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

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3,820 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

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distribution exhibits a peripheral coastal settlement pattern, with the largest populations on the north and west coasts

Natural hazards

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earthquakes; typhoons volcanism: Kueishantao Island (401 m), east of Taiwan, is the only historically active volcano, but it has not erupted in centuries

Geography - note

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strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait

People and Society

Population

total

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23,600,776 (2025 est.)

male

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11,596,835

female

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12,003,941

Nationality

noun

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Taiwan (singular and plural)

adjective

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Taiwan (or Taiwanese)

note

note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan

Ethnic groups

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Han Chinese (including Holo, who compose approximately 70% of Taiwan's population, Hakka, and other groups originating in mainland China) more than 95%, indigenous Malayo-Polynesian peoples 2.3%

note

note 1: there are 16 officially recognized indigenous groups: Amis, Atayal, Bunun, Hla'alua, Kanakaravu, Kavalan, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Sakizaya, Seediq, Thao, Truku, Tsou, and Yami; Amis, Paiwan, and Atayal are the largest and account for roughly 70% of the indigenous population note 2: although not definitive, the majority of current genetic, archeological, and linguistic data support the theory that Taiwan is the ultimate source for the spread of humans across the Pacific to Polynesia; the expansion (ca. 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1200) took place via the Philippines and eastern Indonesia and reached Fiji and Tonga by about 900 B.C.; from there voyagers spread across the rest of the Pacific islands over the next two millennia

Languages

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Mandarin (official), Min Nan, Hakka dialects, approximately 16 indigenous languages

major-language sample(s)

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世界概況 – 不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Mandarin) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

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Buddhist 35.3%, Taoist 33.2%, Christian 3.9%, folk religion (includes Confucian) approximately 10%, none or unspecified 18.2% (2005 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years

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12.1% (male 1,472,059/female 1,391,031)

15-64 years

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69% (male 8,132,356/female 8,155,582)

65 years and over

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18.8% (2024 est.) (male 2,002,076/female 2,442,170)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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46.5 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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17.7 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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28.7 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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3.5 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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45.1 years (2025 est.)

male

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43.6 years

female

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45.5 years

Population growth rate

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0.02% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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7.22 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

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8.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

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1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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distribution exhibits a peripheral coastal settlement pattern, with the largest populations on the north and west coasts

Urbanization

urban population

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80.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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4.504 million New Taipei City, 2.754 million TAIPEI (capital), 2.319 million Taoyuan, 1.553 million Kaohsiung, 1.369 million Taichung, 863,000 Tainan (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.82 male(s)/female

total population

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0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

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3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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4.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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3.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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81.6 years (2024 est.)

male

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78.6 years

female

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84.7 years

Total fertility rate

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1.12 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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0.54 (2025 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal

Climate

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tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); persistent and extensive cloudiness all year

Land use

agricultural land

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22% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest

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0% (2022 est.)

other

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78% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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80.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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289.109 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

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140.734 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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92.014 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

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56.361 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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7.336 million tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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13.8% (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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67 cubic meters (2011)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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none

conventional short form

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Taiwan

local long form

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none

local short form

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Taiwan

former

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Formosa

etymology

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the name may derive from the Chinese words tai (terrace) and wan (bay), referring to the island's terrain; in 1590, the Portuguese named it Formosa, meaning "beautiful"

Government type

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semi-presidential republic

Capital

name

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Taipei

geographic coordinates

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25 02 N, 121 31 E

time difference

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UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology

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the name means "Northern Taiwan," from the Chinese words tai (a short form of Taiwan) and bei (north), reflecting the city's position in the far north of the island

Administrative divisions

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includes main island of Taiwan, plus smaller islands nearby and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 13 counties (xian, singular and plural), 3 cities (shi, singular and plural), and 6 special municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the Executive Yuan counties: Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Hualien, Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung, Taitung, Yilan, Yunlin cities: Chiayi, Hsinchu, Keelung special municipalities: Kaohsiung (city), New Taipei (city), Taichung (city), Tainan (city), Taipei (city), Taoyuan (city)

note

note: Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems for names; a modified Wade-Giles system still dominates, but the city of Taipei has adopted a Pinyin romanization for street and place names; other local authorities use different romanization systems

Legal system

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civil law system

Constitution

history

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previous 1912, 1931; latest adopted 25 December 1946, promulgated 1 January 1947, effective 25 December 1947

amendment process

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proposed by at least one fourth of the Legislative Yuan membership; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote of at least three fourths of the Legislative Yuan membership and approval in a referendum by more than half of eligible voters

International law organization participation

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

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citizenship by descent only

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at least one parent must be a citizen of Taiwan

dual citizenship recognized

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yes, except that citizens of Taiwan are not recognized as dual citizens of the People's Republic of China

residency requirement for naturalization

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5 years

Suffrage

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20 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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President LAI Ching-te (since 20 May 2024)

head of government

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Premier CHO Jung-tai (President of the Executive Yuan) (since 20 May 2024)

cabinet

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Executive Yuan; ministers appointed by president on recommendation of premier

election/appointment process

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president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier

most recent election date

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13 January 2024

election results

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2024: LAI Ching-te elected president; percent of vote - LAI Ching-te (DPP) 40.1%, HOU Yu-ih (KMT) 33.5%, KO Wen-je (TPP) 26.5%) 2020: TSAI Ing-wen reelected president; percent of vote - TSAI Ing-wen (DPP) 57.1%, HAN Kuo-yu (KMT) 38.6%, James SOONG (PFP) 4.3%

expected date of next election

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2028

Legislative branch

legislature name

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Legislative Yuan

legislative structure

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unicameral

number of seats

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113 (directly elected)

electoral system

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plurality/majority

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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4 years

most recent election date

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13 January 2024

parties elected and seats per party

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Kuomintang (KMT) 52, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 51, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) 8, independent 2

percentage of women in chamber

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41.6%

expected date of next election

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January 2028

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 100 judges organized into civil and criminal panels, each with a chief justice and 4 associate justices); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 13 justices)

judge selection and term of office

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Supreme Court justices appointed for life by the president; Constitutional Court justices appointed by the president, with approval of the Legislative Yuan, for 8-year terms, with half the membership renewed every 4 years

subordinate courts

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high courts; district courts; hierarchy of administrative courts

Political parties

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Democratic Progressive Party or DPP Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) Taiwan People's Party or TPP

note

note: the DPP and the KMT are the two major political parties; more than 30 parties garnered votes in the 2024 election

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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none

Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (branch offices)

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Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver (CO), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC

note

Note: commercial and cultural relations with its citizens in the US are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), a private nonprofit corporation that performs citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts, represented by Ambassador Alexander YUI (since 11 December 2023); office: 4201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016; telephone: [1] (202) 895-1800; fax: [1] (202) 363-0999

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

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the US does not have an embassy in Taiwan; commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a private nonprofit corporation that performs citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts; it is managed by Director Raymond F. GREENE (since 8 July 2024)

mailing address

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4170 AIT Taipei Place, Washington DC  20521-4170

telephone

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[886] 2-2162-2000

FAX

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[886] 2-2162-2251

email address and website

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TaipeiACS@state.gov https://www.ait.org.tw/

branch office(s)

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American Institute in Taiwan No. 100, Jinhu Road, Neihu District 11461, Taipei City

other offices

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Kaohsiung (Branch Office)

International organization participation

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ADB (Chinese Taipei), APEC (Chinese Taipei), BCIE, CABEI, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), SICA (observer), WTO (Chinese Taipei)

note

note: separate customs territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu

National holiday

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Republic Day (National Day), 10 October (1911)

note

note: celebrates the anniversary of the Chinese Revolution, also known as Double Ten (10-10) Day

Flag

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description: red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper-left corner, bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays meaning: blue stands for liberty, justice, and democracy; red for fraternity, sacrifice, and nationalism; white for equality, frankness, and the people's livelihood; the 12 rays represent the months of the year and the traditional Chinese hours (each ray equals two hours) history: the blue-and-white design of the canton (symbolizing the sun of progress) dates to 1895

note

note: similar to the flag of Samoa

National symbol(s)

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white sun with 12 rays on a blue field

National color(s)

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blue, white, red

National anthem(s)

title

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"Zhonghua Minguo guoge" (National Anthem of the Republic of China)

lyrics/music

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HU Han-min, TAI Chi-t'ao, and LIAO Chung-k'ai/CHENG Mao-yun

history

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adopted 1937; also the song of the Kuomintang Party; informally known as "San Min Chu I" or "San Min Zhu Yi" (Three Principles of the People); the anthem is banned from performance in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau

Economy

Economic overview

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high-income East Asian economy; most technologically advanced computer microchip manufacturing; increasing Chinese interference threatens market capabilities; minimum wages rising; longstanding regional socioeconomic inequality

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

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$1.743 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

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$1.664 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

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$1.512 trillion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2023

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1.28% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

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2.59% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

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6.62% (2021 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2023

text

$32,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

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$32,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

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$32,900 (2021 est.)

note

note: data are in current dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

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$611.391 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

text

2.2% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

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2.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

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2.9% (2022 est.)

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note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

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48.3% (2023 est.)

government consumption

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13.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

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23.7% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

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-0.6% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services

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64% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

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-49.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

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rice, vegetables, pork, chicken, cabbages, milk, sugarcane, tropical fruits, pineapples, eggs (2023)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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electronics, communications and information technology products, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

text

3.4% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

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3.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

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3.7% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

text

33.9 (2023 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Average household expenditures

on food

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13.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco

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2.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues

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$94.943 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures

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$105.833 billion (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

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35.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data for central government

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023

text

$105.076 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

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$101.032 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2021

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$118.298 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

Exports 2023

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$432.432 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

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$479.415 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2021

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$446.371 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: figures complied according to the General Trade System - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

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China 20%, USA 17%, Hong Kong 13%, Singapore 9%, Japan 7% (2023)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

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integrated circuits, machine parts, broadcasting equipment, computers, plastics (2023)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2023

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$351.441 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

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$428.083 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2021

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$381.958 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: figures complied according to the General Trade System - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

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China 21%, Japan 13%, USA 11%, S. Korea 9%, Australia 5% (2023)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

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integrated circuits, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, coal (2023)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

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New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

32.108 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

31.15 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

29.777 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

28.022 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

28.211 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity

installed generating capacity

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64.535 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption

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270.648 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

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7.907 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

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84.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

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6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

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4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

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2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

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1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste

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1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors

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1 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

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0.94GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production

text

6.9% (2023 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

text

5 (2025)

Coal

production

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5.212 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption

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64.609 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

text

47,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

text

58.15 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

text

1 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production

text

800 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

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954,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

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2.38 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production

text

60.761 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption

text

27.222 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

text

26.997 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

text

6.23 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

text

206.102 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

10 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

43 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

text

29.8 million (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

128 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

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5 national TV networks with about 22 stations; over 300 satellite TV channels available; about half of households use multi-channel cable TV; almost all subscribe to digital cable TV; national and regional radio networks with about 171 radio stations (2023)

Internet country code

text

.tw

Internet users

percent of population

text

90% (2021 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

text

5,831,470 (2019 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

25 (2019 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

text

Airports

text

57 (2025)

Heliports

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56 (2025)

Railways

total

text

1,613.1 km (2018)

standard gauge

text

345 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (345 km electrified)

narrow gauge

text

1,118.1 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (793.9 km electrified)

note

150 0.762-m gauge note: the 0.762-gauge track belongs to three entities: the Forestry Bureau, Taiwan Cement, and TaiPower

Merchant marine

total

text

465 (2023)

by type

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bulk carrier 29, container ship 53, general cargo 58, oil tanker 35, other 290

Ports

total ports

text

8 (2024)

large

text

medium

text

small

text

very small

text

ports with oil terminals

text

key ports

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Chi-Lung, Hua-Lien Kang, Kao-Hsiung, Su-Ao

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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Taiwan Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Information Communication and Electronic Force (ICEF) Ocean Affairs Council: Coast Guard Administration (CGA) Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)

note

note: the CGA is a law enforcement organization with homeland security functions during peacetime and national defense missions during wartime

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024

text

2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

text

2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

text

2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

text

2.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

text

2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

text

approximately 170,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

text

the military's inventory is a mix of domestically produced and foreign-supplied armaments, mostly from the US either as secondhand or direct acquisitions; Taiwan's domestic defense industry produces weapons systems such as aircraft, armored vehicles, missiles, and naval platforms (2025)

Military service age and obligation

text

men 18-36 years of age may volunteer or must complete 12 months of compulsory military service; civil service can be substituted for military service in some cases; women can volunteer (2025)

note

note: in January 2024, Taiwan extended compulsory service from 4 to 12 months for men born in 2005 and thereafter

Military - note

text

the military’s primary responsibility is external security, including the defense and protection of the country’s air space, maritime claims, sea lines of communications, sovereignty, and territory; its main focus is the challenge posed by the People’s Republic of China (2025)

Space

Space agency/agencies

text

Taiwan Space Agency (TASA; renamed and reorganized in 2023 from the former National Space Program Organization or NSPO, which was established in 1991) (2025)

Space launch site(s)

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sounding rockets launched from Jui Peng Air Base (Pingtung); has announced intentions to build a future national space port on the southeast coast (Pingtung) (2025)

Space program overview

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has had a national space program since the early 1990s, with a focus on acquiring satellites and developing independent space capabilities, such as rocket manufacturing and satellite launch services; manufactures and operates satellites and sounding rockets; researching and developing other space technologies, including remote sensing, telecommunications, small satellites, satellite payloads and ground station components, spacecraft components, navigational control, and rocket propulsion systems; has bilateral relations with the space programs of France, India, Japan, Paraguay, Poland, the UK, and the US; has a commercial space industry that provides components and expertise for the Taiwan Space Agency and is independently developing satellites and a small satellite launch vehicle; the government passed a space promotion act in 2021 to encourage private investment in the space industry (2025)

Key space-program milestones

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1997 - launched first sounding rocket 1999 - first scientific satellite (FORMOSAT-1) built and launched by the US 2004 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (FORMOSAT-2) built by France and launched by US 2017 - first domestically built RS satellite (FORMOSAT-5) launched by US 2021 - initiated development of a commercial 3-stage, hybrid-engine rocket (Hapith-5) 2023 - first domestically made RS/meteorological satellite (FormoSat-7R/Triton) launched on European rocket

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

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380 (2024 est.)

Illicit drugs

USG identification

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major precursor-chemical producer (2025)