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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 23, shortwave 0 radios: 8.62 million

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

7,800,000 telephones; best developed system in Asia outside of Japan local: NA intercity: extensive microwave radio relay links on east and west coasts international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth stations; submarine cable links to Japan (Okinawa), Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 15 (repeaters 13) televisions: 6.386 million (color 5,680,000, monochrome 706,000)

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Military Police Command

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $9.8 billion, 3.4% of GDP (FY94/95); $9.77 billion proposed for FY95/96 budget TAJIKISTAN Note--Tajikistan has experienced three changes of government since it gained independence in September 1991. The current president, Emomali RAKHMONOV, was elected to the presidency in November 1994, yet has been in power since 1992. The country is suffering through its third year of a civil war, with no clear end in sight. Underlying the conflict are deeply-rooted regional and clan-based animosities that pit a government consisting of people primarily from the Kulob (Kulyab), Khujand (Leninabad), and Hisor (Hissar) regions against a secular and Islamic-led opposition from the Gharm, Gorno-Badakhshan, and Qurghonteppa (Kurgan-Tyube) regions. Government and opposition representatives have held periodic rounds of UN-mediated peace talks and agreed in September 1994 to a cease-fire. Russian-led peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and Russian border guards are stationed along the Tajik-Afghan border.

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 6,293,884; males fit for military service 4,863,014; males reach military age (19) annually 201,191 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 4% of GDP and 16% of labor force (includes part-time farmers); heavily subsidized sector; major crops - vegetables, rice, fruit, tea; livestock - hogs, poultry, beef, milk; not self-sufficient in wheat, soybeans, corn; fish catch increasing, reached 1.4 million metric tons in 1988

Budget [time series]

revenues: $30.3 billion expenditures: $30.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US, including Ex-Im (FY46-82), $4.6 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $500 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 21,460,000 kW production: 108 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,789 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

New Taiwan dollars per US$1 - 26.2 (1994), 26.6 (1993), 25.4 (1992), 25.748 (1991), 27.108 (1990), 26.407 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$93 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: electrical machinery 19.7%, electronic products 19.6%, textiles 10.9%, footwear 3.3%, foodstuffs 1.0%, plywood and wood products 0.9% (1993 est.) partners: US 27.6%, Hong Kong 21.7%, EC countries 15.2%, Japan 10.5% (1994 est.)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$620 million (1992 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Illicit drugs [time series]

an important heroin transit point; also a major drug money laundering center

Imports [time series]

$85.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery and equipment 15.7%, electronic products 15.6%, chemicals 9.8%, iron and steel 8.5%, crude oil 3.9%, foodstuffs 2.1% (1993 est.) partners: Japan 30.1%, US 21.7%, EC countries 17.6% (1993 est.)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 4.5% (1994 est.); accounts for more than 40% of GDP

Industries [time series]

electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.2% (1994 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $257 billion (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$12,070 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

6% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable government guidance of investment and foreign trade and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GNP has averaged about 9% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are remarkably low. Agriculture contributes about 4% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Taiwan currently ranks as number 13 among major trading countries. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal.

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.6% (1994)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 35,980 sq km land area: 32,260 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland and Delaware combined note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy

Climate [time series]

tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Coastline [time series]

1,448 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; air pollution; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Marine Life Conservation

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 55% other: 15%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos

Terrain [time series]

eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

some of the ruling party in Taipei claim to be the government of all China; in keeping with that claim, the central administrative divisions include 2 provinces (sheng, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural) - Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); the more commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization

Capital [time series]

Taipei

Constitution [time series]

1 January 1947, amended in 1992, presently undergoing revision

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 10 other US cities

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President LI Teng-hui (since 13 January 1988); Vice President LI Yuan-zu (since 20 May 1990) head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN Chan (since 23 February 1993); Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993); presidential election last held 21 March 1990 (next election will probably be a direct popular election and will be held NA March 1996); results - President LI Teng-hui was reelected by the National Assembly; vice presidential election last held 21 March 1990; results - LI Yuan-zu was elected by the National Assembly cabinet: Executive Yuan; appointed by the president

Flag [time series]

red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Judicial branch [time series]

Judicial Yuan

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch (Legislative Yuan) [time series]

elections last held 19 December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1995); results - KMT 60%, DPP 31%, independents 9%; seats - (304 total, 161 elected) KMT 96, DPP 50, independents 15

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral National Assembly

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

expelled from UN General Assembly and Security Council on 25 October 1971 and withdrew on same date from other charter-designated subsidiary organs; expelled from IMF/World Bank group April/May 1980; seeking to join GATT; attempting to retain membership in INTELSAT; suspended from IAEA in 1972, but still allows IAEA controls over extensive atomic development, APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, IOC, WCL

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: T'ai-wan

Legislative branch (National Assembly) [time series]

first National Assembly elected in November 1946 with a supplementary election in December 1986; second and present National Assembly elected in December 1991; seats - (403 total) KMT 318, DPP 75, other 10; (next election to be held probably in 1996 and will be a direct popular election)

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of the Revolution)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Taiwan independence movement, various environmental groups note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; advocates of Taiwan independence, both within the DPP and the ruling Kuomintang, oppose the ruling party's traditional stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; the aims of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), SHIH Ming-teh, chairman; Chinese New Party (CNP); Labor Party (LP)

Suffrage [time series]

20 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties legalized in March, 1989

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has offices in Taipei at #7, Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, telephone [886] (2) 709-2000, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road, telephone [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, and the American Trade Center at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (2) 720-1550

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24% (female 2,543,134; male 2,665,878) 15-64 years: 68% (female 7,191,964; male 7,482,814) 65 years and over: 8% (female 734,535; male 882,258) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.33 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.71 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

7.9 million by occupation: industry and commerce 53%, services 22%, agriculture 15.6%, civil administration 7% (1989)

Languages [time series]

Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.47 years male: 72.17 years female: 78.93 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 86% male: 93% female: 79%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

21,500,583 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.93% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 41 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 8 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6 with paved runways under 914 m: 8 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 20,041 km paved: bituminous, concrete pavement 17,095 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 2,371 km; graded earth 575 km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 198 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,635,682 GRT/8,652,111 DWT ships by type: bulk 55, cargo 30, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 78, oil tanker 17, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 615 km; natural gas 97 km

Ports [time series]

Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 4,600 km; note - 1,075 km in common carrier service and about 3,525 km is dedicated to industrial use narrow gauge: 4,600 km 1.067-m