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Taiwan at a Glance

Republic of China

Area :36,000 square kilometers
Population: 23 million
Capital : Taipei City
Religion : Buddhism/Taoism/Christian/Islam/Catholicism
President : Chen Shui-bian

Geography
Taiwan is an island with a total area of 36,000 sq km, that is, about the combined size of Belgium and Luxemburg. Located among the island chains of East Asia, Taiwan is bordered on the east by the Pacific Ocean and is separated from China to the west by the Taiwan Strait. Japan lies to its north, the Philippines to its south, and Vietnam to the southwest. This geographic location makes Taiwan a popular destination and transit point for international travelers and cargo.

Large volumes of visitors and cargo mean, however, that Taiwan is susceptible to the spread of diseases. In particular, given its closeness to Southeast Asian countries and China, both of which areas have a rising death toll from the H5N1 virus, avian influenza currently represents a major threat.
　
People
Taiwan's population currently stands at around 22,785,000. Seventy percent of these people live in metropolitan areas, and population density reaches 9,666 persons per square kilometer in the capital, Taipei. This is an important consideration when it comes to drawing up public health policies, especially in regard to infectious diseases. The two-thirds of the island covered by forests and mountains, on the other hand, are beautiful yet sparsely populated.
Taiwan's society is culturally diverse yet largely harmonious. Han people make up 98 percent of Taiwan's population; the remainder is composed of the island's 12 indigenous ethnic groups and other non-Han minorities. This mix is being further enriched by a gradual increase in marriages to foreign citizens.

Large-scale immigration of Han people to Taiwan began in the 17th century from China's coastal provinces. These were mostly southern Fujianese and Hakka people, a trend that continued over the next three centuries. Arrival of the ROC government in 1949 brought a new influx of Han immigrants from more varied geographic and cultural backgrounds.
　
Vital Statistics
Along with developments in advanced medical technology and a growing emphasis on health, lifespans of people in many countries have been increasing. In Taiwan, the average life expectancy in 2004 was 79.3 years for women and 73.4 years for men. The increasing quality of Taiwan's healthcare can be inferred from the statistics presented in Figure 1.1.
Shifting demographic patterns and changes in lifestyles create strains on healthcare systems, however, as people live longer. Vulnerability to infectious diseases such as influenza also rises, since both the very young and the very old are at highest risk.

While the average number of children born to women in Taiwan fell from 6 in 1951 to 1.18 in 2004, the proportion of elderly people has increased (see Figure 1.2).

Taiwan's annual national health expenditures are approximately US$795 per capita (see Figure 1.3). Taiwan spends 6.26 percent of its GDP on healthcare, which, although lower than the figure for most developed countries, is impressive given the country's relatively recent and rapid economic development.
Domestically, it is clear that Taiwan's health issues are being adequately addressed, although the country's demographics, population density, tropical location, and frequent contact with other peoples present challenges that require consideration and cooperation.