Capital

Taiwan

name: Taipei

geographic coordinates: 25 02 N, 121 31 E

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

etymology: the Chinese meaning is "Northern Taiwan," reflecting the city's position in the far north of the island

Citizenship

Taiwan

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Taiwan

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

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Legal system

Taiwan

civil law system

Suffrage

Taiwan

20 years of age; universal; note - in March 2022, the Legislative Yuan approved lowering the voting age to 18, but the change will require a constitutional amendment that must be submitted to a referendum

Area

Taiwan

total: 35,980 sq km

land: 32,260 sq km

water: 3,720 sq km

note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Kinmen islands

Land use

Taiwan

agricultural land: 22.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 16.9% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 5.8% (2018 est.)

other: 77.3% (2018 est.)

Location

Taiwan

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

Age structure

Taiwan

0-14 years: 12.22% (male 1,482,120/female 1,399,336)

15-64 years: 69.72% (male 8,211,973/female 8,233,667)

65 years and over: 18.07% (2023 est.) (male 1,922,365/female 2,339,152)

Birth rate

Taiwan

7.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Taiwan

8 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Taiwan

Mandarin (official), Min Nan, Hakka dialects, approximately 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.

Life expectancy at birth

Taiwan

total population: 81.4 years (2023 est.)

male: 78.4 years

female: 84.5 years

Major urban areas - population

Taiwan

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)

Median age

Taiwan

total: 44 years (2023 est.)

male: 43 years

female: 45 years

Net migration rate

Taiwan

1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Taiwan

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

Population growth rate

Taiwan

0.03% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Taiwan

1.09 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Taiwan

urban population: 80.1% of total population (2023)

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

Education expenditures

Taiwan

NA

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Taiwan

-0.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Taiwan

3.9% (2017 est.)

Labor force

Taiwan

11.498 million (2020 est.)

Population below poverty line

Taiwan

1.5% (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

Taiwan

3.73% (2019 est.)

3.69% (2018 est.)

Public debt

Taiwan

35.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

36.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: data for central government

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Taiwan

0.5% (2019 est.)

1.3% (2018 est.)

0.6% (2017 est.)

Exports

Taiwan

$388.49 billion (2019 est.)

$383.484 billion (2018 est.)

$382.736 billion (2017 est.)

Exports - partners

Taiwan

China 26%, United States 14%, Hong Kong 12%, Japan 7%, Singapore 7%, South Korea 5% (2019)

Imports

Taiwan

$308.744 billion (2019 est.)

$305.428 billion (2018 est.)

$303.067 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - partners

Taiwan

China 21%, Japan 16%, United States 11%, South Korea 6% (2019)

Airports

Taiwan

37 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Taiwan

total: 5,831,470 (2019 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2019 est.)

Internet users

Taiwan

total: 21.6 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 90% (2021 est.)

Railways

Taiwan

total: 1,613.1 km (2018)

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

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

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

Roadways

Taiwan

total: 43,206 km (2017)

paved: 42,793 km (2017) (includes 1,348 km of highways and 737 km of expressways)

unpaved: 413 km (2017)

Telephones - fixed lines

Taiwan

total subscriptions: 13 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Taiwan

total subscriptions: 30 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2021 est.)

Disputes - international

Taiwan

Taiwan-Brunei-China-Malaysia-Philippines-Vietnam: involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea that are thought to have large oil and natural gas reserves, as well as being located amidst prime fishing grounds and busy commercial shipping traffic; the Spratly Islands also are in a strategic position for establishing a military presence to monitor activity in the South China Sea; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants

Taiwan-China-Philippines: border dispute over the Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea; Scarborough Reef, like the Spratly Islands, is strategically located and is surrounded by abundant fishing grounds; it may also be ripe for oil and natural gas exploration

Taiwan-China-Vietnam: the Paracel Islands are occupied by China but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

Taiwan-Japan-China: in 2003, China and Taiwan became more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea where all parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting; Senkaku-shoto is situated near key shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds, and possibly significant oil and natural gas reserves