CapitalTaipei
Population23,600,776
Area35,980 km²
GDP per capita$32,300
LanguagesMandarin , Min Nan, Hakka dialects, and around 16 indigenous languages
CurrencyNew Taiwan dollars
Life Expectancy81.6 yr
Governmentsemi-presidential system
Introduction
Background
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
Area
land
32,260 sq km
water
3,720 sq km
total
35,980 sq km
Climate
tropical; marine; experiences a rainy season during the southwest monsoon from June to August; characterized by consistent and extensive cloud cover throughout the year
Terrain
the eastern two-thirds predominantly feature rugged mountainous terrain; while the western region consists of flat to gently rolling plains
Land use
other
78% (2022 est.)
forest
0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land
22% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Location
Eastern Asia, with islands situated along the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, located north of the Philippines and off the southeastern coast of China
Coastline
1,566.3 km
Elevation
lowest point
South China Sea 0 m
highest point
Yu Shan 3,952 m
mean elevation
1,150 m
Irrigated land
3,820 sq km (2012)
Map references
Southeast Asia
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
earthquakes; typhoons
volcanism: Kueishantao Island (401 m), positioned east of Taiwan, is noted as the only historically active volcano, yet it has remained dormant for centuries
Geography - note
strategically positioned near both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait
Natural resources
small reserves of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos, and cultivable land
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than the combined area of Maryland and Delaware
Geographic coordinates
23 30 N, 121 00 E
Population distribution
population distribution shows a peripheral coastal settlement pattern, with the highest concentrations located along the northern and western coastlines
People & Society
Languages
Languages
Mandarin (official), Min Nan, Hakka dialects, and around 16 indigenous languages
major-language sample(s)
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
Buddhist 35.3%, Taoist 33.2%, Christian 3.9%, folk religion (including Confucianism) approximately 10%, none or unspecified 18.2% (2005 estimate)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1 male(s)/female
total population
0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.82 male(s)/female
Birth rate
7.22 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
8.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
43.6 years
total
45.1 years (2025 est.)
female
45.5 years
Population
male
11,596,835
total
23,600,776 (2025 est.)
female
12,003,941
Nationality
noun
Taiwan (singular and plural)
adjective
Taiwan (or Taiwanese)
Urbanization
urban population
80.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
12.1% (male 1,472,059/female 1,391,031)
15-64 years
69% (male 8,132,356/female 8,155,582)
65 years and over
18.8% (2024 est.) (male 2,002,076/female 2,442,170)
Ethnic groups
Han Chinese (including Holo, who represent about 70% of Taiwan's populace, Hakka, and other groups from mainland China) constitute over 95%, while indigenous Malayo-Polynesian communities make up 2.3%
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
46.5 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
17.7 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
3.5 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
28.7 (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.12 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
total
3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.02% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.54 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the settlement pattern shows a coastal distribution, with the highest populations located on the northern and western shores
Life expectancy at birth
male
78.6 years
female
84.7 years
total population
81.6 years (2024 est.)
Major urban areas - population
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)
Environment
Climate
tropical; marine; wet season coinciding with the southwest monsoon (June to August); constant and widespread cloud cover throughout the year
Land use
other
78% (2022 est.)
forest
0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land
22% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
80.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
7.336 million tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
13.8% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
air contamination; water contamination resulting from industrial discharges, untreated sewage; pollution of potable water sources; trafficking in endangered species; disposal of low-level radioactive waste
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
289.109 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
56.361 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
140.734 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
92.014 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Total renewable water resources
67 cubic meters (2011)
Government
Flag
description: a red backdrop featuring a dark blue rectangle in the upper-left section, which displays a white sun with 12 triangular rays
meaning: the blue symbolizes liberty, justice, and democracy; red signifies fraternity, sacrifice, and nationalism; white represents equality, openness, and the welfare of the populace; the 12 rays signify the months of the year and the traditional Chinese timekeeping system (each ray corresponds to two hours)
history: the blue-and-white configuration of the canton (representing the sun of progress) has its origins in 1895
Capital
name
Taipei
etymology
the term translates to "Northern Taiwan," derived from the Chinese words tai (an abbreviation of Taiwan) and bei (north), indicating the city's location in the northernmost part of the island
time difference
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
25 02 N, 121 31 E
Suffrage
20 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Taiwan
dual citizenship recognized
yes, with the exception that residents of Taiwan are not acknowledged as dual citizens by the People's Republic of China
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previously established in 1912 and 1931; most recent adoption was on 25 December 1946, promulgated on 1 January 1947, and effective from 25 December 1947
amendment process
proposals must originate from at least one-fourth of the Legislative Yuan's members; for passage, a three-fourths majority vote from at least three-fourths of the Legislative Yuan members and a referendum approval from more than half of eligible voters are required
Country name
former
Formosa
etymology
the name may originate from the Chinese terms tai (terrace) and wan (bay), referencing the island's geographical features; in 1590, the Portuguese referred to it as Formosa, which translates to "beautiful"
local long form
none
local short form
Taiwan
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Taiwan
Legal system
civil law framework
Government type
semi-presidential system
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (comprising the court president, vice president, and around 100 judges arranged into civil and criminal panels, each led by a chief justice and four associate justices); Constitutional Court (consisting of the court president, vice president, and 13 justices)
subordinate courts
superior courts; district courts; a hierarchy of administrative courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court justices serve lifetime appointments, made by the president; Constitutional Court justices are appointed by the president with the Legislative Yuan's consent for eight-year terms, with half of the members renewed every four years
Executive branch
cabinet
Executive Yuan; ministers selected by the president based on the premier's recommendations
chief of state
President LAI Ching-te (since 20 May 2024)
election results
2024: LAI Ching-te was elected president; voting percentages - LAI Ching-te (DPP) 40.1%, HOU Yu-ih (KMT) 33.5%, KO Wen-je (TPP) 26.5%)
2020: TSAI Ing-wen was re-elected president; voting percentages - TSAI Ing-wen (DPP) 57.1%, HAN Kuo-yu (KMT) 38.6%, James SOONG (PFP) 4.3%
head of government
Premier CHO Jung-tai (President of the Executive Yuan) (since 20 May 2024)
most recent election date
13 January 2024
election/appointment process
the president and vice president are elected directly on a shared ballot by simple-majority popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); the premier is appointed by the president, and vice premiers are appointed by the president upon the premier's recommendation
expected date of next election
2028
National holiday
Republic Day (National Day), 10 October (1911)
National color(s)
blue, white, red
Political parties
Democratic Progressive Party or DPP
Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party)
Taiwan People's Party or TPP
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
113 (directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Legislative Yuan
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
13 January 2024
expected date of next election
January 2028
percentage of women in chamber
41.6%
parties elected and seats per party
Kuomintang (KMT) 52, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 51, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) 8, independent 2
National anthem(s)
title
"Zhonghua Minguo guoge" (National Anthem of the Republic of China)
history
adopted in 1937; also the anthem of the Kuomintang Party; informally referred to as "San Min Chu I" or "San Min Zhu Yi" (Three Principles of the People); the anthem is prohibited from being performed in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau
lyrics/music
HU Han-min, TAI Chi-t'ao, and LIAO Chung-k'ai/CHENG Mao-yun
National symbol(s)
white sun with 12 rays on a blue field
Administrative divisions
encompasses the main island of Taiwan, along with smaller islands in proximity and those off the coast of Fujian Province in China; Taiwan is organized into 13 counties (xian, both singular and plural), 3 cities (shi, both singular and plural), and 6 special municipalities directly under the Executive Yuan's authority
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)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
none
Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (branch offices)
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver (CO), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[886] 2-2162-2251
telephone
[886] 2-2162-2000
other offices
Kaohsiung (Branch Office)
mailing address
4170 AIT Taipei Place, Washington DC 20521-4170
branch office(s)
American Institute in Taiwan
No. 100, Jinhu Road,
Neihu District 11461, Taipei City
chief of mission
the US maintains no embassy in Taiwan; commercial and cultural interactions with the people of Taiwan are facilitated through an unofficial body, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a private nonprofit organization that provides citizen and consular services comparable to those at diplomatic posts; it is overseen by Director Raymond F. GREENE (since 8 July 2024)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.ait.org.tw/
International organization participation
ADB (Chinese Taipei), APEC (Chinese Taipei), BCIE, CABEI, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), SICA (observer), WTO (Chinese Taipei)
International law organization participation
has not presented an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; not a party state to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$94.943 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures
$105.833 billion (2019 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021
$446.371 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$479.415 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$432.432 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021
$381.958 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$428.083 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$351.441 billion (2023 est.)
Industries
electronics, communication and information technology products, petroleum refining, chemical products, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals
Public debt
Public debt 2017
35.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
28.211 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
28.022 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
29.777 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
31.15 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
32.108 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
high-income economy in East Asia; leading in advanced computer microchip production; increasing interference from China poses risks to market capabilities; rising minimum wage levels; persistent regional socioeconomic disparities
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3.7% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
3.4% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 20%, USA 17%, Hong Kong 13%, Singapore 9%, Japan 7% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 21%, Japan 13%, USA 11%, S. Korea 9%, Australia 5% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2021
$32,900 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$32,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$32,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2021
6.62% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
2.59% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.28% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products
rice, vegetables, pork, chicken, cabbages, milk, sugarcane, tropical fruits, pineapples, eggs (2023)
Exports - commodities
integrated circuits, machine components, broadcasting devices, computers, plastics (2023)
Imports - commodities
integrated circuits, crude oil, machinery, natural gas, coal (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021
$118.298 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
$101.032 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$105.076 billion (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$611.391 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
48.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption
13.3% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
-0.6% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
23.7% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
64% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-49.1% (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
13.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
2.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$1.512 trillion (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.664 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.743 trillion (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
33.9 (2023 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
47,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
58.15 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production
5.212 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
64.609 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
1 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
800 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
2.38 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
954,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
270.648 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
64.535 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
7.907 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
imports
26.997 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
60.761 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
27.222 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
6.23 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors
1 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production
6.9% (2023 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
0.94GW (2025 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
5 (2025)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
206.102 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear
6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
84.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
90% (2021 est.)
Broadcast media
Five national television networks operating approximately 22 stations; more than 300 satellite television channels accessible; nearly 50% of households utilize multi-channel cable television; virtually all have subscriptions to digital cable television; national and regional radio networks comprising around 171 radio stations (2023)
Internet country code
.tw
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
10 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
43 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
29.8 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
128 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
5,831,470 (2019 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
25 (2019 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
1
small
2
medium
3
key ports
Chi-Lung, Hua-Lien Kang, Kao-Hsiung, Su-Ao
very small
2
total ports
8 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
8
Airports
57 (2025)
Railways
total
1,613.1 km (2018)
narrow gauge
1,118.1 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (793.9 km electrified)
standard gauge
345 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (345 km electrified)
Heliports
56 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
465 (2023)
by type
bulk carrier 29, container ship 53, general cargo 58, oil tanker 35, other 290
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
B
Military & Security
Military - note
the primary duty of the military encompasses external security, which includes safeguarding and defending the nation's air space, maritime rights, sea routes, sovereignty, and land; a significant concern is the threat from the People’s Republic of China (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
2.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Taiwan Armed Forces consist of the Army, Navy (which includes the Marine Corps), Air Force, and the Information Communication and Electronic Force (ICEF)
Ocean Affairs Council: Coast Guard Administration (CGA)
Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
Military service age and obligation
men aged 18-36 have the option to volunteer or are required to fulfill 12 months of mandatory military service; in certain instances, civil service may replace military service; women have the option to volunteer (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's arsenal comprises a combination of domestically manufactured and imported weapons, primarily sourced from the US, either as previously used or direct purchases; Taiwan's domestic defense sector manufactures weapon systems such as aircraft, armored vehicles, missiles, and naval vessels (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 170,000 personnel are active in the Armed Forces (2025)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
USG identification
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
380 (2024 est.)
Space
Space launch site(s)
sounding rockets have been launched from Jui Peng Air Base located in Pingtung; plans have been revealed to construct a national space port on the southeastern coastline in Pingtung by 2025.
Space agency/agencies
The Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), which was restructured and renamed in 2023 from the previous National Space Program Organization (NSPO) that was founded in 1991, will be operational by 2025.
Space program overview
Since the early 1990s, Taiwan has maintained a national space program aimed at acquiring satellites and fostering autonomous space capabilities, including the production of rockets and satellite launch services. The program is involved in the manufacture and operation of satellites and sounding rockets and is engaged in research and development of various space technologies, such as remote sensing, telecommunications, small satellites, satellite payloads, ground station components, spacecraft components, navigational control systems, and rocket propulsion technologies. It has established bilateral partnerships with the space programs of France, India, Japan, Paraguay, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Additionally, Taiwan has a commercial space sector that supplies components and expertise to the Taiwan Space Agency while also independently developing satellites and a small satellite launch vehicle. In 2021, the government enacted a space promotion act to stimulate private investment in the space industry, with full implementation expected by 2025.
Key space-program milestones
1997 - the inaugural sounding rocket was launched
1999 - the first scientific satellite, FORMOSAT-1, was constructed and launched by the US
2004 - the first remote sensing satellite, FORMOSAT-2, was developed by France and launched by the US
2017 - the first domestically produced remote sensing satellite, FORMOSAT-5, was launched by the US
2021 - the development of a commercial three-stage hybrid-engine rocket, Hapith-5, was initiated
2023 - the first domestically manufactured remote sensing/meteorological satellite, FormoSat-7R/Triton, was launched aboard a European rocket.
