And Now....
TAIWAN
Data Page
No doubt about it! Taiwan is a "success story." in just 50 years, its people have turned a small agricultural island into a high-tech democracy with multiparty elections covered by a vigorous press. Their country's gross domestic product (GDP) is the world's 23rd largest — and they export 32 percent of that GDP. The real test: Taiwan's economy was flexible enough to withstand an economic crisis in East Asia in 1997-98: Unlike most neighbors, the Republic of China on Taiwan kept its GDP growing — though at a slower rate.
Here’s a profile of Taiwan in the new millennium:
| Area | 14,000 sq mi (somewhat larger than Maryland) |
| Population | 22,548,000 |
| Urban | 75 percent |
| Major Languages | Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese, Hakka |
| Major Religions | Buddhism, Taoism |
| Government | Multiparty democracy |
| GDP (2001)* | $386 billion |
| Inflation | 0.5 percent |
| Sources of GDP | Farming 2%, Industry 32%, Services 66% |
| Key Products | Electronics, textiles, chemicals, food products, steel |
| Exports (2001) | $122 billion |
| Imports | $109 billion |
| Trading Partners | USA, Japan, EU, Hong Kong, Mainland China, ASEAN |
*GDP earnings are reported here in terms of their purchasing-power parity (ppp). That's the dollar value of the "universal basket" of goods and services those earnings could buy within Taiwan (at Taiwanese prices).
Would you like to see other pages in this study unit? Or visit LE's Home Page?
© Learning Enrichment, Inc. Content last updated: October 2002. Page last reviewed: October 2002.