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page last updated on October 22, 2012
Flag of Taiwan
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Taiwan
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Map of Taiwan
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of Taiwan
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Introduction ::Taiwan
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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.
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Geography ::Taiwan
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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
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23 30 N, 121 00 E
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total: 35,980 sq km
country comparison to the world: 139
land: 32,260 sq km
water: 3,720 sq km
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy islands
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slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
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0 km
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1,566.3 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
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eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west
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lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
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small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
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arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 75% (2001)
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NA
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67 cu km (2000)
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earthquakes; typhoons
volcanism: Kueishantao Island (elev. 401 m), east of Taiwan, is its only historically active volcano, although it has not erupted in centuries
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air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
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party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status
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strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait
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People ::Taiwan
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noun: Taiwan (singular and plural)
note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan
adjective: Taiwan (or Taiwanese)
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Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, indigenous 2%
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Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
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mixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
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23,234,936 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
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0-14 years: 14.7% (male 1,771,850/ female 1,652,808)
15-64 years: 74% (male 8,620,591/ female 8,564,624)
65 years and over: 11.3% (male 1,235,020/ female 1,390,043) (2012 est.)
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total: 38.1 years
male: 37.4 years
female: 38.8 years (2012 est.)
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0.171% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
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8.81 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
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7.12 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
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0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
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at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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total: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 180
male: 5.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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total population: 78.48 years
country comparison to the world: 52
male: 75.66 years
female: 81.53 years (2012 est.)
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1.1 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
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NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: NA
female: NA (2003)
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Government ::Taiwan
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Taiwan
local long form: none
local short form: Taiwan
former: Formosa
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multiparty democracy
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name: Taipei
geographic coordinates: 25 02 N, 121 31 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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includes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 18 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 3 municipalities (shih, singular and plural), and 4 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, Kaohsiung (county), Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung, Taichung, Tainan (county), Taipei (county), Taitung (county), Taoyuan, Yilan, Yunlin
municipalities: Chiayi (city), Hsinchu (city), Keelung
special municipalities: Kaohsiung (city), Taichung (city), Tainan (city), Taipei (city)
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Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)
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adopted 25 December 1946; promulgated 1 January 1947; effective 25 December 1947; amended many times
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civil law system
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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20 years of age; universal
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chief of state: President MA Ying-jeou (since 20 May 2008); Vice President WU Den-yih (since 20 May 2012)
head of government: Premier Sean C. CHEN (President of the Executive Yuan) (since 6 February 2012); Vice Premier JIANG Yi-huah (since 6 February 2012)
cabinet: Executive Yuan - ministers appointed by president on recommendation of premier
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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 14 January 2012 (next to be held in January 2016); 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 51.6%, TSAI Ing-wen 45.6%, James SONG Chu-ye 2.8%
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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 14 January 2011 (next to be held in January 2016)
election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - KMT 44.6%, DPP 34.6%, TSU 9.0%, PFP 5.5%, others 6.3%; seats by party - KMT 64, DPP 40, PFP 3, TSU 3, NPSU 2, independent 1
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Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent of the Legislative Yuan)
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Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [SU Tseng-chang]; Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [MA Ying-jeou]; Non-Partisan Solidarity Union or NPSU [LIN Pin-kuan]; People First Party or PFP [James SOONG]
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environmental groups; independence movement; various business groups
note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; public opinion polls consistently show a substantial majority of Taiwan people supports maintaining Taiwan's status quo for the foreseeable future; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; advocates of eventual unification predicate their goal on the democratic transformation of the mainland
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ADB, APEC, BCIE, ICC, IOC, ITUC, WTO
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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
representative: Jason C. YUAN
office: 4201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] 202 895-1800
Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (branch offices): Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Guam, Houston, Honolulu, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
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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
director: Christopher J. MARUT
office: #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan
telephone: [1] [886] (02) 2162-2000
FAX: [1] [886] (07) 238-7744
other offices: Kaohsiung
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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)
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white, 12-rayed sun on blue field
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name: "Zhonghua Minguo guoge" (National Anthem of the Republic of China)
lyrics/music: 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
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Economy ::Taiwan
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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, machinery, and petrochemicals have provided the primary impetus for economic development. This heavy dependence on exports exposes the economy to fluctuations 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 10.9%, as exports returned to the level of previous years, and in 2011, grew 5.2%. However, 2012 growth will likely be less, according to most forecasters, because of softening global demand. 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 with the exception of the landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed with China in June 2010. The MA administration has said that the ECFA will serve as a stepping stone toward trade pacts with other regional partners, and negotiations on a deal with Singapore began this year. Follow-on components of ECFA, including deals on trade in goods, services, and investment, have yet to be completed. 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 of 2011. The island runs a large trade surplus, and its foreign reserves are the world's fourth largest, behind China, Japan, and Russia. 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. 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. Closer economic links with the mainland bring greater opportunities for the Taiwan economy, but also poses new challenges as the island becomes more economically dependent on China while political differences remain unresolved.
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$887.3 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$852.8 billion (2010 est.)
$770.3 billion (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
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$466.8 billion (2011 est.)
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4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
10.7% (2010 est.)
-1.8% (2009 est.)
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$38,200 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$36,800 (2010 est.)
$33,300 (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
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agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 32%
services: 66.9% (2011 est.)
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11.2 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
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agriculture: 5.2%
industry: 35.9%
services: 58.8% (2010 est.)
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4.4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
5.2% (2010 est.)
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1.16% (2010 est.)
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lowest 10%: 6.4%
highest 10%: 40.3% (2010)
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32.6 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 101
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21% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
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revenues: $75.31 billion
expenditures: $90.67 billion (2011 est.)
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16.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
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-3.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
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36.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
33.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
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1.4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
1% (2010 est.)
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1.625% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 131
1.25% (February 2009)
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2.8% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
2.676% (31 December 2010 est.)
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$366.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$377.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$1.134 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$1.022 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$792.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$751.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$784.1 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 19
$657.3 billion (31 December 2009)
$354.7 billion (31 December 2008)
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rice, vegetables, fruit, tea, flowers; pigs, poultry; fish
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electronics, communications and information technology products, petroleum refining, armaments, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals
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5% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
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$41.27 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$39.87 billion (2010 est.)
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$307.1 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$273.8 billion (2010 est.)
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electronics, flat panels, machinery; metals; textiles, plastics, chemicals; optical, photographic, measuring, and medical instruments
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China 28.1%, Hong Kong 13.8%, US 11.5%, Japan 6.6%, Singapore 4.4% (2010 est.)
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$279.4 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$247.3 billion (2010 est.)
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electronics, machinery, crude petroleum, precision instruments, organic chemicals, metals
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Japan 20.7%, China 14.2%, US 10%, South Korea 6.4%, Saudi Arabia 4.7% (2010 est.)
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$390.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$387.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$125.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$101.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$61.39 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$63.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$137.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$124.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar -
29.05 (2011 est.)
31.648 (2010 est.)
33.061 (2009)
31.53 (2008)
32.84 (2007)
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calendar year
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Energy ::Taiwan
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213.2 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
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203.8 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
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41 million kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
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73.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
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12.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
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4.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
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2.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
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830 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
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952,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
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2.38 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
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923,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
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1.036 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
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344,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
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297,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
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260 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
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15.16 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
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14.9 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
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6.229 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
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305.4 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
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Communications ::Taiwan
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16.907 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 16
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28.862 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 35
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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
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5 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 (2008)
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.tw
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6.166 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 17
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16.147 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 24
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Transportation ::Taiwan
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40 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 105
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total: 37
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (2012)
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total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2012)
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32 (2012)
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gas 412 km (2010)
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total: 1,580 km
country comparison to the world: 79
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge (345 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,085 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 (2009)
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total: 41,475 km
country comparison to the world: 88
paved: 41,033 km (includes 720 km of expressways)
unpaved: 442 km (2009)
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total: 112
country comparison to the world: 47
by type: bulk carrier 35, cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, container 31, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 3 (France 2, Vietnam 1)
registered in other countries: 579 (Argentina 2, Cambodia 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 25, Indonesia 1, Italy 10, Kiribati 2, Liberia 94, Marshall Islands 8, Panama 328, Philippines 1, Sierra Leone 7, Singapore 77, South Korea 1, Thailand 1, UK 11, Vanuatu 1, unknown 8) (2010)
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Chilung (Keelung), Kaohsiung, Hualian, Taichung
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Shipyards: 6
Ships Built: 18 (2009)
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Military ::Taiwan
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Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command
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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)
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males age 16-49: 6,183,567
females age 16-49: 6,006,676 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 5,074,173
females age 16-49: 4,951,088 (2010 est.)
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male: 166,190
female: 155,306 (2010 est.)
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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)
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Transnational Issues ::Taiwan
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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
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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
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  The online Factbook is updated weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.