Geography
Area: 36,189 sq. km. (13,973 sq. mi.).
Cities (2009): Capital–Taipei (pop. 2.6 million). Other cities–(Kaohsiung 1.5 million), Taichung (1.07 million).
Terrain: Two thirds of the island is largely mountainous with 100 peaks over 3,000 meters (9,843 ft.).
Climate: Maritime subtropical.
People
Population (Feb. 2009): 23.0 million.
Annual growth rate (2008): 0.34%.
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese, Hakka.
Education: Years compulsory–9. Attendance (2007)–99.30%. Literacy (2008)–97.78%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2007)–0.47%. Life expectancy (2008)–78.57 yrs; male 75.59 yrs.; female 81.94 yrs.
Work force (August 2009): 10.96 million.
Political Establishment
Type: Multi-party democracy.
Constitution: December 25, 1946; last amended 2005.
Branches (Yuan): Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Control, Examination.
Major political parties: Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist Party); Democratic Progressive Party (DPP); several small parties.
Suffrage: Universal over 20 years of age.
Central budget proposed (FY 2009): $56.8 billion.
Defense proposed (2009): 17.2% of entire budget.
Economy
GDP (2008): $391 billion.
Real annual growth rate (2008): 0.06%.
Per capita GDP (2008): $17,083.
Unemployment (Aug. 2009): 6.13%.
Natural resources: Small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos.
Agriculture (1.69% of GDP): Major products–pork, rice, fruit and vegetables, sugarcane, poultry, shrimp, eel.
Services: (73.27% of GDP).
Industry (25.04% of GDP): Types – electronics and flat panel products, chemicals and petrochemicals, basic metals, machinery, textiles, transport equipment, plastics, machinery.
Trade (2008): Exports – $255.6 billion: electronics, optical and precision instruments, information and communications products, textile products, basic metals, plastic and rubber products. Major markets – P.R.C. and Hong Kong $99.6 billion, U.S. $30.8 billion, Japan $17.6 billion. Imports–$240.5 billion: electronics, optical and precision instruments, information and communications products, machinery and electrical products, chemicals, basic metals, transport equipment, crude oil. Major suppliers–Japan $46.5 billion, P.R.C. and Hong Kong $32.9 billion, U.S. $26.3 billion.
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