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Geography of Taiwan

Location: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
Geographic coordinates:23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 35,980 sq km
land: 32,260 sq km
water: 3,720 sq km
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy islands
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,566.3 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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 3,952 m
Natural resources:small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 75% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA
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

Taiwan Quickstats

  • Population: 22,858,872 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 35,980 sq km
  • Density:
  • GDP (total):
  • GDP (per capita):
  • Literacy: 96.1%

Languages of Taiwan

  • Mandarin Chinese
  • Taiwanese
  • Hakka

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