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 governed Taiwan for 50 years. Taiwan came under Chinese Nationalist control after World War II. In the four years leading to the communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government under the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. The Nationalist government established authoritarian rule under martial law in 1948. Beginning in the late 1970s, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the local population within the governing structure. This process expanded rapidly in the 1980s, with the founding of the first opposition party (the Democratic Progressive Party or DPP) in 1986 and the lifting of martial law in 1987. Taiwan held its first direct presidential election in 1996. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang or KMT) to the DPP. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be management of sensitive relations between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of Taiwan's sovereignty - as well as domestic priorities for economic reform and growth.

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

23 30 N, 121 00 E

Southeast Asia

slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

0 km

1,566.3 km

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

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

highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m

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

arable land 16.9%; permanent crops 5.8%; permanent pasture NA

3,820 sq km (2012)

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

earthquakes; typhoons

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

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

23,508,428 (July 2017 est.)

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

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

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

0.17% (2017 est.)

8.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

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

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

TAIPEI (capital) 2.666 million; Kaohsiung 1.523 million; Taichung 1.225 million; Tainan 815,000 (2015)

1.13 children born/woman (2017 est.)

NA

NA

NA

semi-presidential republic

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 Yuan

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

previous 1912, 1931; latest adopted 25 December 1946, promulgated 1 January 1947, effective 25 December 1947; amended/revised several times, last in 2005 (2016)

civil law system

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

20 years of age; universal; note - in mid-2016, the Legislaitve Yuan drafted a constitutional amendment to reduce the voting age to 18

Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [TSAI Ing-wen]

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]

environmental groups; independence movement; various business groups

ADB (Taipei, China), APEC (Chinese Taipei), BCIE, ICC (national committees), IOC, ITUC (NGOs), SICA (observer), WTO (Taipei, China)

none; commercial and cultural relations with iats 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

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; Director Kin W. MOY (since June 2015)

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)

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

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.

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. Domestic economic issues loomed large in public debate ahead of the January 2016 presidential and legislative elections, including concerns about stagnant wages, high housing prices, youth unemployment, job security, and financial security in retirement.

$1.133 trillion (2016 est.)

$1.102 trillion (2015 est.)

$1.083 trillion (2014 est.)

$529.6 billion (2016 est.)

1.5% (2016 est.)

0.7% (2015 est.)

4% (2014 est.)

$48,100 (2016 est.)

$47,500 (2015 est.)

$47,300 (2014 est.)

35.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

36.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

34.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

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

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

1.9% (2016 est.)

11.73 million (2016 est.)

3.9% (2016 est.)

3.8% (2015 est.)

1.5% (2012 est.)

33.6 (2014)

32.6 (2000)

15.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

-0.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

31.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

31.6% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

1.4% (2016 est.)

-0.3% (2015 est.)

1.38% (31 December 2016)

1.63% (31 December 2015)

2.63% (31 December 2016 est.)

2.83% (31 December 2015 est.)

$501.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$462.5 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.311 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

$1.255 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$778.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$734 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$851.2 billion (31 December 2016)

$742.5 billion (31 December 2015)

$848.3 billion (31 December 2014)

$74.28 billion (2016 est.)

$75.18 billion (2015 est.)

$310.4 billion (2016 est.)

$336.9 billion (2015 est.)

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

$239.7 billion (2016 est.)

$264.1 billion (2015 est.)

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

$439 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$430.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$172.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$159 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$80.68 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$72.34 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$354 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$336.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar -

32.325 (2016 est.)

32.325 (2016 est.)

31.911 (2014 est.)

30.363 (2013 est.)

29.62 (2012 est.)

264.1 billion kWh (2016 est.)

255.3 billion kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

48.61 million kW (2015 est.)

75.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

10.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

4.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

5.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

196 bbl/day (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

858,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)

2.38 million bbl (1 January 2017 es)

917,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

955,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

350,300 bbl/day (2014 est.)

416,200 bbl/day (2014 est.)

340 million cu m (2015 est.)

31.71 billion cu m (2015 est.)

0 cu m (2016 est.)

19.39 billion cu m (2015 est.)

6.229 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

25.05 million Mt (2015 est.)

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 170 radio stations (2016)

.tw

B (2016)

37 (2013)

31 (2013)

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

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

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); women may enlist; women in Air Force service are restricted to noncombat roles; for men born before December 1993, compulsory service (military or civil) is 1 year; for 8 years after discharge, men are subject to training recall four times for periods not to exceed 20 days (2016)

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

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