2018 Edition

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 Taiwan’s first opposition party (the Democratic Progressive Party or DPP) in 1986 and the lifting of martial law the following year. Taiwan held legislative elections in 1992, the first in over forty 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, became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers," and after 2000 became a major investor in mainland China 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.

Area

land

32,260 sq km

note

includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy islands

total

35,980 sq km

water

3,720 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Climate

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

Coastline

1,566.3 km

Elevation

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: South China Sea

mean elevation

1,150 m

note

3952 highest point: Yu Shan

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

Geographic Coordinates

23 30 N, 121 00 E

Geography Note

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

Irrigated Land

3,820 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

arable land: 16.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 5.8% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

22.7% (2011 est.)

other

77.3% (2011 est.)

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

Natural Hazards

earthquakes; typhoonsvolcanism: Kueishantao Island (401 m), east of Taiwan, is its only historically active volcano, although it has not erupted in centuries

Natural Resources

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

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0-14 years

12.68% (male 1,535,365 /female 1,449,336)

15-24 years

12.52% (male 1,509,023 /female 1,438,278)

25-54 years

46.08% (male 5,412,487 /female 5,437,015)

55-64 years

14.36% (male 1,652,683 /female 1,729,571)

65 years and over

14.36% (male 1,541,716 /female 1,840,489) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

8.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

16.6 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

6 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

35.2 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

18.6 (2015 est.)

Ethnic Groups

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

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 populationnote 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 all of the rest of the Pacific islands over the next two millennia

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

NA

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

NA

Infant Mortality Rate

female

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

83.7 years (2018 est.)

male

77.2 years (2018 est.)

total population

80.4 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2014 est.)

female

97.3% (2014 est.)

male

99.7% (2014 est.)

total population

98.5% (2014 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

4.325 million New Taipei City, 2.706 million TAIPEI (capital), 2.19 million Taiyuan, 1.532 million Kaohsiung, 1.283 million Taichung, 836,000 Tainan (2018)

Median Age

female

42 years (2018 est.)

male

40.5 years

total

41.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Taiwan (or Taiwanese)

note

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

noun

Taiwan (singular and plural)

Net Migration Rate

0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Population

23,545,963 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.15% (2018 est.)

Religions

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

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.13 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.8% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

78.2% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

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 Yuancounties: 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

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

25 02 N, 121 31 E

name

Taipei

time difference

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

Citizenship

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

Constitution

amendments

proposed by at least one-fourth agreement 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; revised several times, last in 2005 (2017)

history

previous 1912, 1931; latest adopted 25 December 1946, promulgated 1 January 1947, effective 25 December 1947 (2017)

Country Name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Taiwan

etymology

"Tayowan" was the name of the coastal sandbank where the Dutch erected their colonial headquarters on the island in the 17th century; the former name "Formosa" means "beautiful" in Portuguese

former

Formosa

local long form

none

local short form

Taiwan

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Director William Brent CHRISTIENSEN (since 11 August 2018)

FAX

[886] 7-338-0551

note

none; 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

office

#7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei 10659, Taiwan

other offices

Kaohsiung (Branch Office)

telephone

[886] 7-335-5006

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

note

none; 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

office

4201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

representative

Stanley KAO (since 5 June 2016)

Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (branch offices)

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

telephone

[1] 202 895-1800

Executive Branch

cabinet

Executive Yuan - ministers appointed by president on recommendation of premier

chief of state

President TSAI Ing-wen (since 20 May 2016); Vice President CHEN Chien-jen (since 20 May 2016)

election results

TSAI Ing-wen elected president; percent of vote - TSAI Ing-wen (DPP) 56.1%, Eric CHU Li-lun (KMT) 31.0%, James SOONG Chu-yu (PFP) 12.8%; note - TSAI is the first woman elected president of Taiwan

elections/appointments

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); election last held on 16 January 2016 (next to be held in early 2020); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier

head of government

Premier LAI Ching-te (President of the Executive Yuan) (since 8 September 2017); Vice Premier SHIH Jun-ji, Vice President of the Executive Yuan (since 8 September 2017)

Flag Description

red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays; the blue and white design of the canton (symbolizing the sun of progress) dates to 1895; it was later adopted as the flag of the Kuomintang Party; blue signifies liberty, justice, and democracy, red stands for fraternity, sacrifice, and nationalism, and white represents equality, frankness, and the people's livelihood; the 12 rays of the sun are those of the months and the twelve traditional Chinese hours (each ray equals two hours)

note

similar to the flag of Samoa

Government Type

semi-presidential republic

International Law Organization Participation

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

International Organization Participation

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

note

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

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 100 judges organized into 8 civil and 12 criminal divisions, each with a division chief justice and 4 associate justices); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 13 justices)

judge selection and term of office

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

subordinate courts

high courts; district courts; hierarchy of administrative courts

Legal System

civil law system

Legislative Branch

description

unicameral Legislative Yuan (113 seats; 73 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 34 directly elected in a single island-wide constituency by proportional representation vote, and 6 directly elected in multi-seat aboriginal constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPP 68, KMT 35, NPP 5, PFP 3, NPSU 1, independent 1; compostion - men 70, women 43, percent of women 38.1%; note - this is the first non-KMT-led legislature in Taiwan's history

elections

last held on 16 January 2016 (next to be held in early 2020)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

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

name

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

note

adopted 1930; also the song of the Kuomintang Party; it is informally known as "San Min Chu I" or "San Min Zhu Yi" (Three Principles of the People); because of political pressure from China, "Guo Qi Ge" (National Banner Song) is used at international events rather than the official anthem of Taiwan; the "National Banner Song" has gained popularity in Taiwan and is commonly used during flag raisings

National Holiday

Republic Day (National Day), 10 October (1911); note - celebrates the anniversary of the Chinese Revolution, also known as Double Ten (10-10) Day

National Symbol S

white, 12-rayed sun on blue field; national colors: blue, white, red

Political Parties And Leaders

Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [LIN Yu-chang, acting chair]Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [WU Den-yih]New Power Party or NPP [HUANG Kuo-chang]Non-Partisan Solidarity Union or NPSU [LIN Pin-kuan]People First Party or PFP [James SOONG Chu-yu]

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal; note - in mid-2016, the Legislative Yuan drafted a constitutional amendment to reduce the voting age to 18, but it has not passed as of December 2017

Agriculture Products

rice, vegetables, fruit, tea, flowers; pigs, poultry; fish

Budget

expenditures

92.03 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

91.62 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

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

Central Bank Discount Rate

1.38% (31 December 2016)

1.63% (31 December 2015)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

2.63% (31 December 2017 est.)

2.63% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$82.88 billion (2017 est.)

$72.78 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$181.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$172.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

33.6 (2014)

32.6 (2000)

Economy Overview

Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy that is driven largely by industrial manufacturing, and especially exports of electronics, machinery, and petrochemicals. This heavy dependence on exports exposes the economy to fluctuations in global demand. Taiwan's diplomatic isolation, low birth rate, rapidly aging population, and increasing competition from China and other Asia Pacific markets are other major long-term challenges.Following the landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed with China in June 2010, Taiwan in July 2013 signed a free trade deal with New Zealand - Taipei’s first-ever with a country with which it does not maintain diplomatic relations - and, in November of that year, inked a trade pact with Singapore. However, follow-on components of the ECFA, including a signed agreement on trade in services and negotiations on trade in goods and dispute resolution, have stalled. In early 2014, the government bowed to public demand and proposed a new law governing the oversight of cross-Strait agreements, before any additional deals with China are implemented; the legislature has yet to vote on such legislation, leaving the future of ECFA uncertain. President TSAI since taking office in May 2016 has promoted greater economic integration with South and Southeast Asia through the New Southbound Policy initiative and has also expressed interest in Taiwan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership as well as bilateral trade deals with partners such as the US. These overtures have likely played a role in increasing Taiwan’s total exports, which rose 11% during the first half of 2017, buoyed by strong demand for semiconductors.Taiwan's total fertility rate of just over one child per woman is among the lowest in the world, raising the prospect of future labor shortages, falling domestic demand, and declining tax revenues. Taiwan's population is aging quickly, with the number of people over 65 expected to account for nearly 20% of the island's total population by 2025.The island runs a trade surplus with many economies, including China and the US, and its foreign reserves are the world's fifth largest, behind those of China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland. In 2006, China overtook the US to become Taiwan's second-largest source of imports after Japan. China is also the island's number one destination for foreign direct investment. Taiwan since 2009 has gradually loosened rules governing Chinese investment and has also secured greater market access for its investors on the mainland. In August 2012, the Taiwan Central Bank signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cross-Strait currency settlement with its Chinese counterpart. The MOU allows for the direct settlement of Chinese renminbi (RMB) and the New Taiwan dollar across the Strait, which has helped Taiwan develop into a local RMB hub.Closer economic links with the mainland bring opportunities for Taiwan’s economy but also pose challenges as political differences remain unresolved and China’s economic growth is slowing. President TSAI’s administration has made little progress on the domestic economic issues that loomed large when she was elected, including concerns about stagnant wages, high housing prices, youth unemployment, job security, and financial security in retirement. TSAI has made more progress on boosting trade with South and Southeast Asia, which may help insulate Taiwan’s economy from a fall in mainland demand should China’s growth slow in 2018.

Exchange Rates

New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar -

30.68 (2017 est.)

32.325 (2016 est.)

32.325 (2015 est.)

31.911 (2014 est.)

30.363 (2013 est.)

Exports

$349.8 billion (2017 est.)

$310.4 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

semiconductors, petrochemicals, automobile/auto parts, ships, wireless communication equipment, flat display displays, steel, electronics, plastics, computers

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

65.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption

14.1% (2017 est.)

household consumption

53% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-52.6% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

20.5% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.2% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

1.8% (2017 est.)

industry

36% (2017 est.)

services

62.1% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$572.6 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$50,500 (2017 est.)

$49,100 (2016 est.)

$48,500 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$1.189 trillion (2017 est.)

$1.156 trillion (2016 est.)

$1.14 trillion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

2.9% (2017 est.)

1.4% (2016 est.)

0.8% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

34.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

35.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

36.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

40.3% (2010)

lowest 10%

6.4% (2010)

Imports

$269 billion (2017 est.)

$239.3 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

oil/petroleum, semiconductors, natural gas, coal, steel, computers, wireless communication equipment, automobiles, fine chemicals, textiles

Industrial Production Growth Rate

3.9% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

1.1% (2017 est.)

1% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

11.78 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

4.9%

industry

35.9%

services

59.2% (2016 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$851.2 billion (31 December 2016)

$742.5 billion (31 December 2015)

$848.3 billion (31 December 2014)

Population Below Poverty Line

1.5% (2012 est.)

Public Debt

35.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

36.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

note

data for central government

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$456.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$439 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$560.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$501.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$332.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$354 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$78.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$80.68 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$880.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$778.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$560.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$501.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

16% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

3.8% (2017 est.)

3.9% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

348.8 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

846,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

196 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

2.38 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Consumption

237.4 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

11% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

49.52 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

246.1 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

22.45 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

22.14 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

237.9 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

6.229 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

962,400 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

349,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

418,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

924,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

24 (2017 est.)

total

5,713,568 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

5 nationwide television networks operating roughly 75 TV stations; about 60% of households utilize multi-channel cable TV; national and regional radio networks with about 171 radio stations (2016)

Internet Country Code

.tw

Internet Users

percent of population

88% (July 2016 est.)

total

20.601 million (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

thoroughly modern; completely digitalized (2016)

general assessment

provides telecommunications service for every business and private need (2016)

international

country code - 886; roughly 15 submarine fiber cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

58 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

13,565,064 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

122 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

28,777,408 (2017 est.)

Airports

37 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

10 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

7 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

8 (2013)

over 3,047 m

8 (2013)

total

35 (2013)

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

2 (2013)

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

B (2016)

Heliports

31 (2013)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 26, container ship 38, general cargo 59, oil tanker 24, other 203 (2017)

total

350 (2017)

National Air Transport System

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

221 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

8 (2015)

Pipelines

25 km condensate, 802 km gas, 241 km oil (2013)

Ports And Terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Kaohsiung (10,464,860), Taichung (1,535,011), Taipei (1,477,330) (2016)

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Yung An (Kaohsiung), Taichung

major seaport(s)

Keelung (Chi-lung), Kaohsiung, Hualian, Taichung

Railways

narrow gauge

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

note

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

standard gauge

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

total

1,613 km (2018)

Roadways

paved

42,969 km (includes 1,348 km of highways and 737 km of expressways) (2016)

total

43,365 km (2016)

unpaved

396 km (2016)

Military Branches

Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Military Police Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Coast Guard Administration (2016)

Military Service Age And Obligation

starting with those born in 1994, males 18-36 years of age may volunteer for military service or must complete 4 months of compulsory military training (or substitute civil service in some cases); men born before December 1993 are required to complete compulsory service for 1 year (military or civil); men are subject to training recalls up to four times for periods not to exceed 20 days for 8 years after discharge; women may enlist, but are restricted to noncombat roles in most cases; Taiwan is planning to transition to an all-volunteer military (2018)

Disputes International

involved in complex dispute with Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam over the Spratly Islands, and with China and the Philippines over Scarborough Reefthe 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 disputantsParacel Islands are occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnamin 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

Illicit Drugs

regional transit point for heroin, methamphetamine, and precursor chemicals; transshipment point for drugs to Japan; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin; rising problems with use of ketamine and club drugs