Not a member or observer state of the UN
Not among the 193 UN member states or the two observer states. Since 1971, China's seat at the UN has been held by the People's Republic of China, under General Assembly Resolution 2758.
DisputedGoverned by the Republic of China (Taiwan). Claimed by the People's Republic of China.
National Identity
- Official name
- Republic of China
- Official name (in Chinese, Traditional Chinese script)
- 中華民國
- Official name (in Chinese, Romanized)
- Zhōnghuá Mínguó
- Name etymology
the name may derive from the Chinese words tai (terrace) and wan (bay), referring to the island's terrain; in 1590, the Portuguese named it Formosa, meaning "beautiful"
Sources:- Constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan) ↗ - Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China (Taiwan)
- The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- National emblem
- National flag
- National anthem
- Zhōnghuá Míngúo gúogē (中華民國國歌)0:57
- Title (in Chinese, Traditional Chinese script)
- 中華民國國歌
- Title (in Chinese, Romanized)
- Zhōnghuá Míngúo gúogē
- Title (in English, translated)
- National Anthem of the Republic of China
- Unofficial title (in Chinese, Traditional Chinese script)
- 三民主義
- Unofficial title (in Chinese, Romanized)
- San Min Chu I
- Unofficial title (in English, translated)
- The Three Principles of the People
- Lyrics
三民主義，吾黨所宗， 以建民國，以進大同。 咨爾多士，為民前鋒， 夙夜匪懈，主義是從。 矢勤矢勇，必信必忠， 一心一德，貫徹始終！
- Citizens
- Taiwan
- Official name:Constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan) ↗ - Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
- National anthem:Recording credit
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
- Total area
- 35,980 km²
- Land area
- 32,260 km²
- Water area
- 3,720 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 1,566.3 km
- Terrain
Eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west - Mean elevation
- 1,150 m
- Highest point
- 3,952 mYu Shan
- Lowest point
- 0 mSouth China Sea
- Climate
Tropical marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); persistent and extensive cloudiness all year - Avg. temperature
- 20.3 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 17.9 to 23.4 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 2,829 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 17.6 14.3 11.8 137 February 18.4 15.2 12.6 141 March 20.6 17.3 14.8 156 April 23.3 20.2 17.7 189 May 25.5 22.6 20.2 296 June 27.3 24.3 21.8 341 July 28.1 25 22.4 361 August 27.6 24.7 22.3 443 September 26.7 23.8 21.4 308 October 24.5 21.5 19.2 194 November 22.1 19 16.7 134 December 18.9 15.8 13.3 129 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
Demographics
- Population change2026
- −0.44% per year−101,501 people/yearWorld Rank203rdof 237
- Birth rate
- 5.3 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 9.1 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −0.7 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 45.4 yearsWorld Rank21stof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years11.3%15-64 years67.8%65 years +20.9%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 20.9%
- Share aged under 18
- 13.7%
- Total dependency ratio
- 48
- Youth dependency ratio
- 17
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 31
- Sex ratio
- 0.98 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 1.7% 2.5% 70-79 4.5% 5.2% 60-69 7.1% 7.7% 50-59 7.5% 7.8% 40-49 8.1% 8.3% 30-39 6.9% 6.4% 20-29 5.6% 5.2% 10-19 4.6% 4.2% 0-9 3.4% 3.2% - 2026
- 1.24 below the replacement level for Taiwan ()0.86 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank233rdof 237
- 0.41 daughters per woman0.59 below replacement, long-run each generation smaller than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- −3.8 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 3.8 more deaths than births a year
- 2026
- −0.7 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 78.9% live in cities18,166,986 urban residents
- Largest cities2020
- New Taipei City, Taichung, Kaohsiung, TaipeiRankCity or Urban TownshipPopulation (2020 census)1New Taipei City4,365,9472Taichung3,033,8403Kaohsiung2,734,2754Taipei2,594,5815Taoyuan2,441,0646Tainan1,875,0767Hsinchu499,4688Keelung367,2649Chiayi252,02810Zhubei223,017Source:
- Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan and National Statistics, Taiwan (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Distribution exhibits a peripheral coastal settlement pattern, with the largest populations on the north and west coasts.
- Ethnic groups
- Han Chinesemore than 95%Indigenous Malayo-Polynesian peoples2.3%
Taiwan recognizes 16 indigenous groups. Amis, Paiwan, and Atayal are the largest and account for roughly 70% of the indigenous population.Han Chinese includes Holo, who compose approximately 70% of Taiwan's population, along with Hakka and other groups originating in mainland China.
Source:- The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Religions2005
- Buddhist35.3%Taoist33.2%Christian3.9%Folk religionapproximately 10%None or unspecified18.2%
Folk religion includes Confucian practice.
Source:- The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Languages
- Chinese (中文, Traditional Chinese script)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan and National Statistics, Taiwan (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe Constitution of the Republic of China calls it "a democratic republic of the people"; the President is elected jointly with the Vice President by direct vote of the populace of the free area (Art. 1; Additional Articles, Art. 2).Sources:
- 中華民國憲法 (Constitution of the Republic of China) ↗, Art. 1; Additional Articles, Art. 2
- 中華民國憲法增修條文 (Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China) ↗, Art. 1; Additional Articles, Art. 2
- System of government
- Semi-presidentialThe President appoints the president of the Executive Yuan (cabinet) without legislative consent; the Executive Yuan is responsible to the Legislative Yuan (parliament), whose majority no-confidence vote forces the premier to resign and lets the President dissolve it (Additional Articles, Arts. 2, 3).Sources:
- 中華民國憲法 (Constitution of the Republic of China) ↗, Additional Articles, Arts. 2, 3
- 中華民國憲法增修條文 (Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China) ↗, Additional Articles, Arts. 2, 3
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Capital
- Taipei City2.5 million people(2024)
- National holidays
- 22 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1Founding Day of the Republic of China
- SunFeb 15Chinese New Year's Eve
- MonFeb 16Chinese New Year's Eve
- TueFeb 17Chinese New Year
- WedFeb 18Chinese New Year
- ThuFeb 19Chinese New Year
- FriFeb 20Chinese New Year's Eve (observed)
- FriFeb 27Peace Memorial Day (observed)
- SatFeb 28Peace Memorial Day
- FriApr 3Children's Day (observed)
- SatApr 4Children's Day
- SunApr 5Tomb-Sweeping Day
- MonApr 6Tomb-Sweeping Day (observed)
- FriMay 1Labor Day
- FriJun 19Dragon Boat Festival
- FriSep 25Mid-Autumn Festival
- MonSep 28Confucius' Birthday
- FriOct 9National Day (observed)
- SatOct 10National Day
- SunOct 25Taiwan Restoration and Guningtou Victory Memorial Day
- MonOct 26Taiwan Restoration and Guningtou Victory Memorial Day (observed)
- FriDec 25Constitution Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- GMT+8Taiwan Standard TimeUTC+8
- Currency
- New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +886
- Internet TLD
- .tw
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- TW, TWN
- Infrastructure
- Heliports
- 56
- Aircraft registration prefix
- B
Source:- The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Flag carrier
- China AirlinesPartly state-owned
- Passenger rail
- Taiwan Railway Corporation
- 2025
- 68 / 100World Rank24thof 182Confidence interval
Corruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 61 54 67 2013 61 54 68 2014 61 54 68 2015 62 56 68 2016 61 55 67 2017 63 58 68 2018 63 58 68 2019 65 60 70 2020 65 61.6 68.4 2021 68 65 71 2022 68 65.3 70.7 2023 67 64.5 69.5 2024 67 63.6 70.4 2025 68 65.2 70.8 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:中華民國憲法 (Constitution of the Republic of China) ↗ - Ministry of Justice, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:中華民國憲法增修條文 (Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China) ↗ - Ministry of Justice, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +10.7% per yearWorld Rank2ndof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $43,951 (31st in the world)
Source:- Inflation2026
- 2%up 0.4 percentage points0.4pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 12.2 million (52% of population)World Rank48thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 59.3% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 3.7%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 12.3% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $67.4 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 0.3% of GDP surplus
- Current account
- 22% of GDP, $224.7 billion surplus
Source: - Debt2024
- Government debt26.2% of GDPCentral government debt244.7% of GDPSource:
- Trade2023
- China20%
- United States17%
- Hong Kong13%
- Singapore9%
- Japan7%
Source:- The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- 2024
- +1.57World Rank3rdof 145
- Projected GDP growth
- +1.7% a year over the next 10 years
Source:- Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products2024
- Pineapples, Papayas, Cabbages, and 7 more
- 1Pineapples14.2×
- 2Papayas9.2×
- 3Cabbages9.1×
- 4Meat of pig with the bone (fresh or chilled)6.9×
- 5Meat of chickens (fresh or chilled)6×
- 6Hen eggs in shell (fresh)4.9×
- 7Tangerines and mandarins (including clementines)3.2×
- 8Mangoes and guavas and mangosteens3×
- 9Bananas2.7×
- 10Sweet potatoes2.6×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- electronics, communications and information technology products, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Economic Complexity Index:Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
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- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
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Society
- Internet users2024
- 96.7% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 89.5%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2024
- 29.8 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 9,972,395
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2021
- 64% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 81%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 95%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 88%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- 2024
- Official tourism site7.9 million arrivalsWorld Rank36thof 139
- Per resident
- 3.4 arrivals per 10 residents
- All visitors
- 11.9 million arrivals, overnight and same-day(2019, latest available)
- $3.4 billion(2022)
- Domestic trips
- 56 million overnight trips by residents
- Residents' trips abroad
- 16.9 million overnight trips
- $3.4 billion(2022)
- 7 nights
Overnight arrivals by year2020 to 2024A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 81.1 years
- Infant mortality2026
- 2.9 per 1,000 live births
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending2023
- 2.5% of household spendingWorld Rank61stof 105
- World median
- 3.1%
Source:- The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending:The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 280.5 Mt per yeardown 0.5 percent on the previous year0.5% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 11.7 t per personWorld Rank19thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 0.71%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 15.6 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 3.96 Mt CO₂-eq
- Fluorinated gases
- 9.59 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 309.6 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 15 µg/m³ of PM2.51 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted92ndof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
- National standard
- 12 µg/m³
- Life expectancy gain if the national standard were met
- 0.3 years
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- air pollution
- water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage
- contamination of drinking water supplies
- trade in endangered species
- low-level radioactive waste disposal
Source:- The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- International agreements
- 0 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 8 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement not a party UN Framework Convention on Climate Change not a party Kyoto Protocol not a party Ozone layer Montreal Protocol not a party Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) not a party Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity not a party CITES not a party Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety not a party Nagoya Protocol not a party Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands not a party World Heritage Convention not a party UN Convention to Combat Desertification not a party Chemicals and waste Basel Convention not a party Rotterdam Convention (PIC) not a party Stockholm Convention (POPs) not a party Minamata Convention on Mercury not a party Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea not a party High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) not a party MARPOL 73/78 not a party Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- 4.84 EJ per yeartotal primary energy
- Per capita
- 208.6 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 0.76%
- Supply
- Deficitproduces 5.7% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- No electricity trade285 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 285 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 278 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- Deficitproduces 2.8% of what it consumes, 2024Oil reserves20252.4 million barrelsWorld Rank95thof 99Imports2018886,159 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal:Worldwide Oil and Gas Survey ↗ - Oil & Gas Journal
Defense
- Military personnel2025
- approximately 170,000active duty Armed Forces
- Military service2025
- Conscriptionmen 18–36, 12 months, may volunteer or must complete compulsory service; civil service can be substituted for military service in some cases; women can volunteer
In January 2024, Taiwan extended compulsory service from 4 to 12 months for men born in 2005 and thereafter.
Source:- The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Space program2025
- Taiwan Space Agency (TASA; renamed and reorganized in 2023 from the former National Space Program Organization or NSPO, which was established in 1991)
Has had a national space program since the early 1990s, with a focus on acquiring satellites and developing independent space capabilities, such as rocket manufacturing and satellite launch services; manufactures and operates satellites and sounding rockets; researching and developing other space technologies, including remote sensing, telecommunications, small satellites, satellite payloads and ground station components, spacecraft components, navigational control, and rocket propulsion systems; has bilateral relations with the space programs of France, India, Japan, Paraguay, Poland, the UK, and the US; has a commercial space industry that provides components and expertise for the Taiwan Space Agency and is independently developing satellites and a small satellite launch vehicle; the government passed a space promotion act in 2021 to encourage private investment in the space industry
- Launch sites
- Sounding rockets launched from Jui Peng Air Base (Pingtung); has announced intentions to build a future national space port on the southeast coast (Pingtung)
- 1997
- Launched first sounding rocket
- 1999
- First scientific satellite (FORMOSAT-1) built and launched by the US
- 2004
- First remote sensing (RS) satellite (FORMOSAT-2) built by France and launched by US
- 2017
- First domestically built RS satellite (FORMOSAT-5) launched by US
- 2021
- Initiated development of a commercial 3-stage, hybrid-engine rocket (Hapith-5)
- 2023
- First domestically made RS/meteorological satellite (FormoSat-7R/Triton) launched on European rocket
Key milestones
Source:- The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military personnel, Military service, Space program:The World Factbook: Taiwan - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists