2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

the central administrative divisions include the provinces of Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu) and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); Taiwan is further subdivided into 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.1% (male 2,366,560; female 2,175,886) 15-64 years: 70.6% (male 8,095,741; female 7,871,954) 65 years and over: 9.3% (male 1,074,112; female 1,018,747) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish

Airports

39 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 8

total

37

under 914 m

2 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m

1 (2002)

Area

land

32,260 sq km

note

includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy

total

35,980 sq km

water

3,720 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Background

In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan. It reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the native population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic reform. Geography Taiwan

Birth rate

12.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$36.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)

revenues

$36 billion

Capital

Taipei

Climate

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

Coastline

1,566.3 km

Constitution

1 January 1947, amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, and 1999

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Taiwan

former

Formosa

local long form

none

local short form

T'ai-wan

Currency

new Taiwan dollar (TWD)

Currency code

TWD

Death rate

6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$24.7 billion (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - which has offices in the US and Taiwan; US office located at 1700 N. Moore St., Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209-1996, telephone: [1] (703) 525-8474, FAX: [1] (703) 841-1385); Taiwan offices located at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (2) 2709-2000,

Diplomatic representation in the US

none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the US with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 12 other US cities

Disputes - international

involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does China

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.6 (2000)

Economy - overview

Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities. In keeping with this trend, some large government-owned banks and industrial firms are being privatized. Exports have provided the primary impetus for industrialization. The trade surplus is substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. Agriculture contributes 2% to GDP, down from 32% in 1952. While Taiwan is a major investor throughout Southeast Asia, China has become the largest destination for investment and has overtaken the US to become Taiwan's largest export market. Because of its conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbors from the Asian financial crisis in 1998. The global economic downturn, combined with problems in policy coordination by the administration and bad debts in the banking system, pushed Taiwan into recession in 2001, the first year of negative growth ever recorded. Unemployment also reached record levels. Output recovered moderately in 2002 in the face of continued global slowdown, fragile consumer confidence, and bad bank loans. Growing economic ties with China are a dominant long-term factor. Exports to China - mainly parts and equipment for the assembly of goods for export to developed countries - drove Taiwan's economic recovery in 2002.

Electricity - consumption

140.5 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

151.1 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

71.4%

hydro

6%

nuclear

22.6%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Yu Shan 3,952 m

lowest point

South China Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status

Ethnic groups

Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%

Exchange rates

34.88 (2002), 34.74 (2001), 33.09 (2000), 31.6 (1999)

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Yuan appointed by the president

chief of state

President CHEN Shui-bian (since 20 May 2000) and Vice President Annette LU (LU Hsiu-lien) (since 20 May 2000)

election results

CHEN Shui-bian elected president; percent of vote - CHEN Shui-bian (DPP) 39.3%, James SOONG (SOONG Chu-yu) (PFP) 36.84%, LIEN Chan (KMT) 23.1%, HSU Hsin-liang (independent) 0.63%, LEE Ao (CNP) 0.13%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 18 March 2000 (next to be held NA March 2004); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier

head of government

Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) YU Shyi-kun (since 1 February 2002) and Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) LIN Hsin-yi (since 1 February 2002)

Exports

$130 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 54%, metals, textiles, plastics, chemicals (2002)

Exports - partners

Hong Kong 23.9%, US 20.8%, Japan 9.3%, China 7.7% (2002)

FAX

[886] (2) 2702-7675; #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th Floor,

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June (up to FY98/99); 1 July 1999 - 31 December 2000 for FY00; calendar year (after FY00) Communications Taiwan

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $406 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2%

industry

31%

services

67% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

23 30 N, 121 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly-elected president and unicameral legislature

Heliports

3 (2002) Military Taiwan

Highways

paved

31,583 km (including 608 km of expressways)

total

35,931 km

unpaved

4,348 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

41.1% (2002 est.)

lowest 10%

6.4%

Illicit drugs

regional transit point for heroin and methamphetamine; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$113 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 44.5%, minerals, precision instruments (2002)

Imports - partners

Japan 24.3%, US 16.1%, China 7.1%, South Korea 6.9% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2002)

Industries

electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing

Infant mortality rate

female

5.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

7.34 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.65 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.2% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, ICFTU, IFRCS, IOC, WCL, WTrO

Internet country code

.tw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

8 (2000)

Internet users

11.6 million (2001) Transportation Taiwan

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly; note - beginning in 2003, justices will be appointed by the president with consent of the Legislative Yuan)

Kao-hsiung, Taiwan, telephone

[886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, FAX: [886] (7) 223-8237; and the American Trade Center, Room 3208 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan 10548, telephone: [886] (2) 2720-1550, FAX: [886] (2) 2757-7162

Labor force

10 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

services 58%, industry 35%, agriculture 7% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

24%

other

75%

permanent crops

1%

Languages

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168 elected by popular vote, 41 elected on the basis of the proportion of islandwide votes received by participating political parties, eight elected from overseas Chinese constituencies on the basis of the proportion of islandwide votes received by participating political parties, eight elected by popular vote among the aboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms) and unicameral National Assembly (300 seat nonstanding body; delegates nominated by parties and elected by proportional representation within three months of a Legislative Yuan call to amend the Constitution, impeach the president, or change national borders)

election results

Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - DPP 39%, KMT 30%, PFP 20%, TSU 6%, independents and other parties 5%; seats by party - DPP 87, KMT 68, PFP 46, TSU 13, independents and other parties 11

elections

Legislative Yuan - last held 8 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2004); note - the National Assembly is a nonstanding body and is called into session

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.88 years (2003 est.)

male

74.12 years

total population

76.87 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

79% (1980)

male

93%

note

literacy for the total population has reportedly increased to 94% (1998) Government Taiwan

total population

86%

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

33.6 years (2002)

male

32.9 years

total

33.2 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Hong Kong 3, Japan 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 41, cargo 22, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 3, container 45, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 2

total

142 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,973,958 GRT/6,306,361 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy (including Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$7.574 billion (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.7% (FY02) Transnational Issues Taiwan

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

6,583,604 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

5,019,268 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

189,967 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)

Nationality

adjective

Chinese/Taiwanese

noun

Chinese/Taiwanese (singular and plural)

Natural gas - consumption

6.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

410 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

6.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

750 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

38.23 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

earthquakes and typhoons

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

988,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

1,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

2 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

condensate 25 km; gas 435 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [CHEN Shui-bian, chairman]; Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [LIEN Chan, chairman]; People First Party or PFP [James SOONG (SOONG Chu-yu), chairman]; Taiwan Solidarity Union or TSU [HUANG Chu-wen, chairman]; other minor parties including the Chinese New Party or CNP

Political pressure groups and leaders

Taiwan independence movement, various business and 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 opposition parties in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; a broad popular consensus has developed that Taiwan currently enjoys de facto independence and - whatever the ultimate outcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan's people must have the deciding voice; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; goals 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

Population

22,603,001 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

1% (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.65% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 218, FM 333, shortwave 50 (1999)

Radios

16 million (1994)

Railways

narrow gauge

1,108 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified)

note

there also are 1,255 km of 1.067-m gauge routes belonging to the Taiwan Sugar Corporation and to the Taiwan Forestry Bureau used to haul products and limited numbers of passengers (2002)

total

1,108 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.1 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

thoroughly modern; completely digitalized

general assessment

provides telecommunications service for every business and private need

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 (1999)

Telephones - main lines in use

12.49 million (September 2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

16 million (September 2000)

Television broadcast stations

29 (plus two repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

8.8 million (1998)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.57 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.2% (2002 est.)

Waterways

NA