Sea, Philippine
Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines,
off the southeastern coast of China

Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N, 121 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area: total: 35,980 sq km note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and
Quemoy water: 3,720 sq km land: 32,260 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,566.3 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

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

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point:
Yu Shan 3,997 m

Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone,
marble, and asbestos

Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% other: 75%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons

Environment - current issues: air pollution; water pollution from
industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water
supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste
disposal

Environment - international agreements: party to: none of the
selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status signed,
but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's
international status

Geography - note: strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait
and the Luzon Strait

People Taiwan

Population: 22,548,009 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 2,464,290; female 2,268,627) 15-64
years: 70% (male 8,010,014; female 7,774,296) 65 years and over: 9%
(male 1,053,975; female 976,807) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.78% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 14.21 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 6.08 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.09
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
1.08 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 79.71 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2002 est.)