| Size
: |
13,800
sq. miles. Approximate size of W. Virginia |
| |
|
| Location
: |
100
miles off China's coast between Japan and the Philippines |
| |
|
| Capital
: |
Taipei
City |
| |
|
| Population
: |
23
million: 84% Taiwanese (70% Hoklo, 14% Hakka); 14% "mainlanders"
from China between '45-'49; 2% Aborigines |
| |
|
| Urban
Pop. : |
58% |
| |
|
| Language
: |
Taiwanese;
Government language: Mandarin Chinese |
| |
|
| Literacy
: |
93.2% |
| |
|
| Religion
: |
Predominantly
Buddhist, Taoist, and Protestant |
| |
|
| Economy
: |
Export
oriented industry |
| |
|
| Major
Industries: |
Construction,
textiles, electronics, petroleum refining, food processing,
plywood, cement, and shipbuilding |
| |
|
| Currency
: |
New
Taiwan Dollar; 1 US$ = 31 NT$ |
| |
|
| Per
Cap. GDP : |
US$15,370 |
| |
|
| World
Indicators: |
13th
largest trader, third largest holder of foreign reserves;
8th largest trading partner of the US |
| |
|
| Unemployment: |
1.7% |
| |
|
| Government
: |
Multi-party
Republic |
| |
|
| Ruling
party : |
Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) |
| |
|
| Opposition
: |
Nationalists
Party (KMT), Taiwan Independence Party, People First Party,
New Party |
| |
|
| Head
of State : |
President
Chen Shui-bian |
| |
|
| Military
: |
Active
Forces: 376,000; Reserves: 1,657,000 |
| |
|
| Military
Budget: |
US$9.5
Billion; 28% of government spending |
| |
|
| Security
Alliance: |
U.S.
security guarantees in the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act |
