Background: In 1895 military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan 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 local 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 Taiwan's eventual status - as well as domestic political and economic reform.

Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N 121 00 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: 35,980 km²
Rank: 139
Land: 32,260 km²
Water: 3,720 km²
Note: includes the Pescadores Matsu and Quemoy islands
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1566.3 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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
Extremes highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m

Natural resources: small deposits of coal natural gas limestone marble and asbestos

Land use
Arable land: 24%
Permanent crops: 1%
Other: 75% (2001)

Irrigated land: NA

Total renewable water resources: 67 km³ (2000)

Natural hazards: earthquakes; typhoons
Volcanism: Kueishantao Island (elev. 401 m) east of Taiwan is its only historically active volcano although it has not erupted in centuries

Geography
Note: strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait

Population: 23,071,779 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 50
Growth rate: 0.193% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 181
Below poverty line: 1.16% (2010 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Taiwan
Note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan
Adjective: Taiwan

Ethnic groups: Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84% mainland Chinese 14% indigenous 2%

Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official) Taiwanese (Min) Hakka dialects

Religions: mixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93% Christian 4.5% other 2.5%

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.6%
15-64 years: 73.4% (male 8,538,881/female 8,406,716)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 1,198,591/female 1,320,225) (2011 est.)

Median age
Total: 37.6 years
Male: 36.9 years
Female: 38.3 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.193% (2011 est.)
Rank: 181

Birth rate: 8.9 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 210

Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 133

Net migration rate: 0.03 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 71

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
International agreements party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.084 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 5.18 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 181
Male: 5.46 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 4.88 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.32 years
Rank: 51
Male: 75.5 years
Female: 81.36 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.15 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 219

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 96.1%
Male: NA
Female: NA (2003)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education: NA

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Taiwan
Local long form: none
Local short form: Taiwan
Former: Formosa

Government type: multiparty democracy

Capital
Name: Taipei
Geographic coordinates: 25 03 N 121 30 E
Time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: includes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 14 counties (hsien singular and plural) 3 municipalities (shih singular and plural) and 5 special municipalities (chih-hsia-shih singular and plural)
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; names for administrative divisions that follow are taken from the Taiwan Yearbook 2007 published by the Government Information Office in Taipei.
Counties: Changhua Chiayi (county) Hsinchu (county) Hualien Kinmen Lienchiang Miaoli Nantou Penghu Pingtung Taitung Taoyuan Yilan Yunlin
Municipalities: Chiayi (city) Hsinchu (city) Keelung
Special municipalities: Kaohsiung New Taipei Taichung Tainan Taipei

National holiday: Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution) 10 October (1911)

Constitution: adopted 25 December 1946; promulgated 1 January 1947; effective 25 December 1947; amended many times

Legal system: civil law system

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President MA Ying-jeou ; Vice President Vincent SIEW (since 20 May 2008)
Head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) WU Den-yih (since 10 September 2009); Vice Premier (Vice President of Executive Yuan) Sean CHEN (since 17 May 2010)
Cabinet: Executive Yuan - ministers appointed by president on recommendation of premier
Elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 March 2008 (next to be held on 14 January 2012); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier
Election results: MA Ying-jeou elected president; percent of vote - MA Ying-jeou 58.45% Frank HSIEH 41.55%

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan (113 seats - 73 district members elected by popular vote 34 at-large members elected on basis of proportion of islandwide votes received by participating political parties 6 elected by popular vote among aboriginal populations; members to serve four-year terms); parties must receive 5% of vote to qualify for at-large seats
Elections: Legislative Yuan - last held on 12 January 2008 (next to be held on 14 January 2012)
Election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - KMT 53.5% DPP 38.2% NPSU 2.4% PFP 0.3% others 1.6% independents 4%; seats by party - KMT 81 DPP 27 NPSU 3 PFP 1 independent 1; note - following the 2008 elections several rounds of byelections were held to fill seats vacated as a result of corruption changes; seats by party as of December 2011 - KMT 72 DPP 32 NPSU 3 independent 2 vacant 4

Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent of the Legislative Yuan)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [TSAI Ing-wen]; Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [MA Ying-jeou]; Non-Partisan Solidarity Union or NPSU [LIN Pin-kuan]; People First Party or PFP [James SOONG]

International organization participation: ADB APEC BCIE ICC IOC ITUC WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none; commercial and cultural relations with the people in the United States 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
In the us representative: Jason C. YUAN
In the us office: 4,201 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington DC 20,016
In the us telephone: [1] 202 895-1800
In the us taipei economic and cultural offices: Atlanta Boston Chicago Guam Houston Honolulu Kansas City Los Angeles Miami New York San Francisco Seattle
From the us: none; commercial and cultural relations with the people on 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
From the us director: William A. STANTON
From the us office: #7 Lane 134 Hsin Yi Road Section 3 Taipei Taiwan
From the us telephone: [1] [886] (02) 2,162-2000
From the us fax: [1] [886] (07) 238-7,744
From the us other offices: Kaohsiung

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 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)

National symbols: white 12-rayed sun on blue field

National anthem
Name: 'Zhonghua Minguo guoge'
Lyricsmusic: HU Han-min TAI Chi-t'ao and LIAO Chung-k'ai/CHENG Mao-Yun
Note: adopted 1930; the anthem is 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

Economy overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing government guidance of investment and foreign trade. In keeping with this trend some large state-owned banks and industrial firms have been privatized. Exports led by electronics and machinery generate about 70% of Taiwan's GDP growth and have provided the primary impetus for economic development. This heavy dependence on exports exposes the economy to upturns and downturns in world demand. In 2009 Taiwan's GDP contracted 1.9% due primarily to a 20% year-on-year decline in exports. In 2010 GDP grew 10.5% as exports returned to the level of previous years. Taiwan's diplomatic isolation low birth rate and rapidly aging population are major long-term challenges. Free trade agreements have proliferated in East Asia over the past several years but so far Taiwan has been excluded from this greater economic integration largely because of its diplomatic status. 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 accounting for 10.9% of the island's total population as 2011. The island runs a large trade surplus and its foreign reserves are the world's fourth largest behind China Japan and Russia. Since President MA Ying-jeou took office in May 2008 cross-Strait economic ties have increased significantly. Since 2005 China has overtaken 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 has focused much of its efforts on improving the cross-Strait economic relationship. Three financial memorandums of understanding covering banking securities and insurance took effect in mid-January 2010 opening the island to greater investments from the mainland's financial firms and institutional investors and providing new opportunities for Taiwan financial firms to operate in China. Taiwan and the mainland in June 2010 signed the landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) an agreement that the Taiwan authorities hope will eventually lead to a free-trade arrangement that will increase cross-Strait economic ties by lowering tariffs on a number of goods and by reducing market access barriers for services. The Taiwan authorities have said that the ECFA will serve as a stepping stone toward trade pacts with other regional partners and they announced that formal negotiations towards an economic cooperation agreement with Singapore would begin in 2011. Closer economic links with the mainland brings greater opportunities for the Taiwan economy but also poses new challenges. For example FDI in China has resulted in Chinese import substitution away from Taiwan's exports and a restriction of potential job creation in Taiwan.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 19
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 4

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 32
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.4%
Industry: 31.1%
Services: 67.5% (2010 est.)

Agriculture products: rice vegetables fruit tea flowers; pigs poultry; fish

Industries: electronics communications and information technology products petroleum refining armaments chemicals textiles iron and steel machinery cement food processing

Industrial production growth rate: 26.9% (2010 est.)
Rank: 3

Labor force: 11.07 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 46
By occupation agriculture: 5.2%
By occupation industry: 35.9%
By occupation services: 58.8% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.9% (2009 est.)
Rank: 47

Population below poverty line: 1.16% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 6.4%
Highest 10: 40.3% (2010)

Distribution of family income gini index: 32.6 (2000)
Rank: 104

Budget
Revenues: $66.85 billion
Expenditures: $81.11 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -3.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 105

Taxes and other revenues: 15.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 183

Public debt: 33.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 86

Inflation rate consumer prices: -0.9% (2009 est.)
Rank: 23

Central bank discount rate: 1.25% (February 2009)
Rank: 129

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 2.563% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 183

Stock of narrow money: $328.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 12

Stock of broad money: $919.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 16

Stock of domestic credit: $671 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 18

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 18

Current account balance: $42.91 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 11

Exports: $203.4 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 17
Commodities: electronics flat panels machinery; metals; textiles plastics chemicals; optical photographic measuring and medical instruments
Partners: China 28.1% Hong Kong 13.8% US 11.5% Japan 6.6% Singapore 4.4% (2010 est.)

Imports: $172.8 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 19
Commodities: electronics machinery crude petroleum precision instruments organic chemicals metals
Partners: Japan 20.7% China 14.2% US 10% South Korea 6.4% Saudi Arabia 4.7% (2010 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $353 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 5

Debt external: $81.96 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 43

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $60.88 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 51

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $145.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 22

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 229.1 billion kWh (2009)
Production rank: 18
Consumption: 220.8 billion kWh (2009)
Consumption rank: 16
Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 310 million m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 73
Consumption: 12.1 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 43
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 193
Imports: 11.79 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 22
Proven reserves: 6.229 billion m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 86

Telephones
Main lines in use: 16.433 million (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 17
Mobile cellular: 27.84 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 35

Telephone system
General assessment: provides telecommunications service for every business and private need
Domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized
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

Broadcast media: 5 free-to-air nationwide television networks operating roughly 75 TV stations; about 85% of households utilize multi-channel cable TV; national and regional radio networks with about 170 radio stations broadcasting (2008)

Internet
Country code: .tw
Hosts: 6.336 million (2010)
Hosts rank: 15
Users: 16.147 million (2009)
Users rank: 24

Military expenditures: 2.2% of GDP; note - in 2009 the Taiwanese president pledged to maintain defense spending at 3.0% or higher; projected 2.73% for 2011 (2009)

Military service age and obligation: 19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service; service obligation - 2 years; women may enlist; women in Air Force service are restricted to noncombat roles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army); the Ministry of Defense is in the process of implementing a voluntary enlistment system over the period 2010-2015 although nonvolunteers will still be required to perform alternative service or go through 4 months of military training (2010)

Airports: 41 (2010)
Rank: 103
With paved runways total: 38
With paved runways over 3047 m: 8
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 8
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 11
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With paved runways under 914 m: 4 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 3
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Heliports: 4 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 412 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 1580 km
Rank: 79
Standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge (345 km electrified)
Narrow gauge: 1085 km 1.067-m gauge (685 km electrified); 150 km 0.762-m gauge
Note: the 0.762 gauge track belongs to three entities the Forestry Bureau Taiwan Cement and TaiPower (2010)

Roadways
Total: 41,475 km
Rank: 88
Paved: 41,033 km (includes 720 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 442 km (2009)

Merchant marine
Total: 101
Rank: 50
By type: bulk carrier 28 cargo 19 chemical tanker 2 container 27 passenger/cargo 4 petroleum tanker 12 refrigerated cargo 7 roll on/roll off 2
Foreign owned: 2 (France 1 Vietnam 1)
Registered in other countries: 574 (Cambodia 1 Honduras 2 Hong Kong 26 Indonesia 1 Italy 11 Kiribati 5 Liberia 88 Marshall Islands 2 Panama 337 Philippines 1 Sierra Leone 1 Singapore 79 Thailand 1 UK 11 unknown 8) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Chilung (Keelung) Kaohsiung Hualian Taichung

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 Reef; 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; Paracel Islands are occupied by China but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; 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

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