Taiwan

multiparty democratic regime

Taiwan as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalTaipei

Position23 30 N, 121 00 E

Area35,980 sq km

LocationEastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea,

Populationas each edition published it

21.47 million July 1996 est. · 20.55m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.89% 1996 est. · 1% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 33.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

76.02 years 1996 est. · 75.04 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.76 children per woman 1996 est. · 1.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 17 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$13,510 1995 est. · $10,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6% 1995 est. · 6.7% in 1993

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 35,980 sq km

arable land 24%permanent crops 1%meadows and pastures 5%forest and woodland 55%other 15%

Area

35,980sq km

land area: 32,260 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combinednote: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy

Coastline

1,448km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

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

International disputes

involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei;
Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan;
Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan

Climate

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

Terrain

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

lowest point:: South China Sea 0 m
highest point:: Yu Shan 3,997 m

Natural resources

small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos

Environment

current issues:: water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage;
air pollution;
contamination of drinking water supplies;
trade in endangered species
natural hazards:: earthquakes and typhoons
international agreements:: signed, but not ratified - Marine Life Conservation

People

15 fields

Population

21,465,881

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 0.89% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

15.01Death

5.52Net migration

-0.61

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years76.02

73.43 · 78.82

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy86%

93% · 79%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Taiwanese 84%mainland Chinese 14%aborigine 2%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23% (male 2,605,495; female 2,436,864)
15-64 years:: 69% (male 7,505,344; female 7,252,188)
65 years and over:: 8% (male 907,310; female 758,680) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.2 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective:: Chinese

Religions

mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Languages

Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

Government

Multiparty democratic regime; Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN Chan (since 23 February 1993) and Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993) were appointed by the president

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

55%

KMT 55%DPP 30%CNP 14%other 1%

Legislature, 164 seatsone dot, one seat

KMT 85DPP 54CNP 21independents 4

Legislature, 334 seatsseats by party

KMT 183DPP 99CNP 46other 6

Name of country

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Taiwan
local long form:: none
local short form:: T'ai-wan

Data code

Type of government

multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties legalized in March 1989

Capital

Taipei

Administrative divisions

some of the ruling party in Taipei claim to be the government of all China;
in keeping with that claim, the central administrative divisions include 2 provinces (sheng, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural) - Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands);
note - the more commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural);
Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin;
the provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un

note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization

National holiday

National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of the Revolution)

Constitution

1 January 1947, amended in 1992, presently undergoing revision

Legal system

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President LI Teng-hui (succeeded to the presidency following the death of President CHIANG Ching-kuo 13 January 1988, elected by the National Assembly 21 March 1990, reelected by popular vote in the first-ever direct elections for president 23 March 1996);
election last held 23 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000);
results - LI Teng-hui 54%, PENG Ming-min 21%, LIN Yang-kang 15%, and CHEN Li-an 10%;
Vice President-elect LIEN Chan (to be inaugurated 20 May 1996)
head of government:: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN Chan (since 23 February 1993) and Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993) were appointed by the president;
note - LIEN Chan will continue to serve as premier until 20 May 1996 when he will be inaugurated as vice president;
a new premier is expected to be appointed sometime in May 1996
cabinet:: Executive Yuan was appointed by the president

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral National Assembly

Legislative Yuan

elections last held 2 December 1995 (next to be held NA December 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (164 total) KMT 85, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 4;
note - since the election, there has been a change in the distribution of seats - KMT 83, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 6

National Assembly

elections last held 23 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000);
results - KMT 55%, DPP 30%, CNP 14%, other 1%;
seats - (334 total) KMT 183, DPP 99, CNP 46, other 6

Judicial branch

Judicial Yuan, justices nominated and appointed for nine-year terms by the president

Political parties and leaders

Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman;
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), leader NA;
Chinese New Party (CNP), leader NA;
Labor Party (LP), leader NA

Other political or pressure groups

Taiwan independence movement, various environmental groups

note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity;

advocates of Taiwan independence, both within the DPP and the ruling Kuomintang, oppose the ruling party's traditional stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; the aims of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN;

other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, IOC, WCL, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US

none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 10 other US cities

US diplomatic representation

none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has offices in Taipei at #7, Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, telephone [886] (2) 709-2000, FAX [886] (2) 702-7675, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road, telephone [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, FAX [886] (7) 223-8237, and the American Trade Center at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (2) 720-1550

Flag

red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Economy

Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with | considerable government guidance of investment and foreign trade and | partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial | firms.

21 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$13,510

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 4.5% (1994 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.6%

(1995)

GDP composition by sector(1994 est.)

agriculture 3.6%industry 37.3%services 59.1% (1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$30.3 billionExpenditures

$30.1 billion (1991 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 21,460,000 kW

Electricity production

108 billionElectricity consumption per capita

4,789 (1993)

Economic overview

Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable government guidance of investment and foreign trade and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 9% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization.

Inflation and unemployment are low. Agriculture contributes about 4% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Taiwan currently ranks as number 13 among major trading countries. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries.

Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $290.5 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

8.874 million; by occupation: services 49%, industry 39%, agriculture 11% (1993 est.)

Industries

electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining

Agriculture

rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables, fruit, tea;
pigs, poultry, beef, milk;
fish catch increasing, reached 1.4 million metric tons in 1988

Illicit drugs

an important heroin transit point; also a drug money laundering center

Exports

$93 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: electrical machinery 19.7%, electronic products 19.6%, textiles 10.9%, footwear 3.3%, foodstuffs 1.0%, plywood and wood products 0.9% (1993 est.)
partners:: US 27.6%, Hong Kong 21.7%, EU countries 15.2%, Japan 10.5% (1994 est.)

Imports

$85.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994)

commodities:: machinery and equipment 15.7%, electronic products 15.6%, chemicals 9.8%, iron and steel 8.5%, crude oil 3.9%, foodstuffs 2.1% (1993 est.)
partners:: Japan 30.1%, US 21.7%, EU countries 17.6% (1993 est.)

External debt

$620 million (1992 est.)

Economic aid

$NA

Currency

1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

New Taiwan dollars per US$1 - 27.4 (1995), 26.2 (1994), 26.6 (1993), 25.4 (1992), 25.748 (1991)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 38 in all

over 3 047 m

2 438 to 3 047 m

1 524 to 2 437 m

914 to 1 523 m

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

19,860Railways

4,600

Highways: paved: 17,119 km (including 382 km of expressways) · unpaved: 2,741 km (1990 est.) · Railways: ; note - 1,075 km in common carrier service and about 3,525 km is dedicated to industrial use · narrow gauge: 4,600 km 1.067-m

Railways

total:: 4,600 km; note - 1,075 km in common carrier service and about 3,525 km is dedicated to industrial use
narrow gauge:: 4,600 km 1.067-m

Highways

total:: 19,860 km
paved:: 17,119 km (including 382 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 2,741 km (1990 est.)

Pipelines

petroleum products 615 km; natural gas 97 km

Ports

Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung

Merchant marine

total:: 198 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,812,534 GRT/8,885,092 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 50, cargo 29, combination bulk 3, combination ore/oil 1, container 83, oil tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Heliports

1 (1995 est.)

Communications

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Coastal Patrol | and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service | Forces

9 fields

Fixed lines

10,253,773

(1993 est.)

Telephone system

best developed system in Asia outside of Japan

domestic:: extensive microwave radio relay trunk system on east and west coasts
international:: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean);
submarine cables to Japan (Okinawa), Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

males age 15-49:: 6,278,159
males fit for military service:: 4,849,057
males reach military age (19) annually:: 204,313 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $11.5 billion, 3.6% of GDP (FY96/97)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Taiwan.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/taiwan/1996.

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