Taiwan
Background
In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan, however 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 its governing structure. Throughout this period, the island has prospered to become one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issue continues to be the relationship between Taiwan and China and the question of eventual reunification.
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In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan, however 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 its governing structure. Throughout this period, the island has prospered to become one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issue continues to be the relationship between Taiwan and China and the question of eventual reunification.
Geography
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
Geographic coordinates
23 30 N, 121 00 E
Area
total: 35,980 sq km
land: 32,260 sq km
water: 3,720 sq km
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Border countries
None
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
Elevation extremes
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
Land use
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 55%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
People
Population: 22,370,461 (July 2001 est.)
Population growth rate
0.8% (2001 est.)
Birth rate
14.31 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate
6 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate
6.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.54 years
male: 73.81 years
female: 79.51 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.76 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Nationality
noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups
Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%
mainland Chinese 14%
aborigine 2%
Religions
mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%
Christian 4.5%
other 2.5%
Languages
Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94% (1998 est.)
male: 93% (1980 est.)
female: 79% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: None
conventional short form: Taiwan
local long form: None
local short form: T'ai-wan
Government type
multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly elected president
Capital
Taipei
National Holiday
Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)
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. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8% during the past three decades. Exports have grown even faster and have provided the primary impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are low; the trade surplus is substantial; and foreign reserves are the world's fourth largest. Agriculture contributes 3% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being moved offshore and 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. 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 1998-99. Growth in 2001 will depend largely on conditions in Taiwan's export markets and may be about 5%.
GDP by sector
agriculture: 3%
industry: 33%
services: 64% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line
1% (1999 est.)
Inflation rate
1.3% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 9.8 million (2000 est.)
agriculture: 8%
services: 37%
industry: 55% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate
3% (2000 est.)
Communications
Telephones: 12.49 million (September 2000)
Mobile Phones: 16 million (September 2000)
Radios: 16 million (1994)
Televisions: 8.8 million (1998)
Internet users: 6.4 million (2000)
Transportation
Railways: total: 4,600 km
Highways: total: 34,901 km
Waterways: Not Applicable
Airports: 39 (2000 est.)
