Demographics of Taiwan#Population

{{see also|List of administrative divisions of Taiwan}}

According to February 2022 statistics from the Ministry of the Interior, the population of Taiwan was 23,319,776, 99.6% of whom live on the island of Taiwan. The remaining 0.4% live on offshore islands (Penghu, Lanyu, Green, Kinmen, and Matsu).

Taiwan is ranked the 58th most populous country in the world.

{{see also|North–South divide in Taiwan#Population}}

The number of Chinese people living on the island in 1624, prior to Dutch colonial rule, was about 25,000.{{sfnp|Davidson|1903|p=13}} During Dutch Formosa rule, between 1624 and 1662, the Dutch began to encourage large-scale Han immigration to the island for labour, mainly from the south of Fujian.

It is estimated that prior to the Kingdom of Tungning (1661), the population of Taiwan was no greater than 100,000 people, and the initial Zheng army with families and retainers that settled in Taiwan is estimated to be 30,000 at minimum.{{cite book |last1=Lin |first1=A. |last2=Keating |first2=J. |title=Island in the Stream : a quick case study of Taiwan's complex history |date=2008 |publisher=SMC Pub. |location=Taipei |isbn=9789576387050 |edition=4th}} During Qing rule (1683–1895), the population of Han Chinese in Taiwan grew rapidly from 100,000 to ≈2.5 million, while the aboriginal population was estimated to be at least 200,000 by 1895.{{sfnp|Davidson|1903|p=561}} (The plains aboriginal population is estimated to have decreased by 90% over the hundred years from 1800 to 1900.){{sfnp|Davidson|1903|p=563}}

The Japanese Colonial Government performed detailed censuses every five years starting in 1905. Statistics showed a population growth rate of about 1% to 3% per year throughout Japanese rule. In 1905, the population of Taiwan was roughly 3 million; by 1940, the population had grown to 5.87 million, and after the Second World War in 1946 it numbered 6.09 million.{{Cite web |last=北市府網站管理員 |date=2009-07-28 |title=Taipei City Government |url=https://english.gov.taipei/cp.aspx?n=C619997124A6D293 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Taipei City Government |language=English}}

{{Historical populations

|title = Historical Populations

|percentages = pagr

|type =

|align =

|width = 15em

|footnote =

|source = https://www.census.gov/popclock/world/tw

|1905 |3123302

|1910 |3299493

|1920 |3757838

|1930 |4679066

|1940 |6077478

|1950 |7554399

|1960 |10792202

|1970 |14753911

|1980 |17866008

|1990 |20401305

|2000 |22276672

|2010 |23162123

|2020 |23561236

}}

File:Taiwan population density map.svg

• Date:2019/07-08

• Source: [https://gis.ris.gov.tw/dashboard.html?key=B01 Ministry of Internal Affairs, Taiwan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430034059/https://gis.ris.gov.tw/dashboard.html?key=B01 |date=2020-04-30 }}

Demographic transition models (DTM) show how population pyramids change and go through specific stages. By looking at Taiwan's population pyramid, the country is in stage 4 of the DTM and its shape contracts but it will soon enter stage 5.{{cite web|url=https://www.indexmundi.com/taiwan/age_structure.html|title=Taiwan Age structure – Demographics|website=www.indexmundi.com}} In stage 5 of the DTM, death rate gradually exceeds fertility rate and a country starts to experience overall population loss.{{cite web|url=https://populationeducation.org/stage-5-demographic-transition-model/|title=Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model – Population Education|date=18 October 2014|website=populationeducation.org}} Access to good medical care increases the lifespan of a population. Knowledge of and access to contraception, along with an increase in women's participation in the workforce, cause a sharp decline in the fertility rate.

National statistics of Taiwan in 2018 indicate that there are approximately 140,000 more females than males. The birth rate (8.3 births/1,000 population) is slightly higher than the death rate (7.4 deaths/1,000 population).{{cite web|url=https://eng.stat.gov.tw/point.asp?index=9|title=National Statistics, Republic of China (Taiwan)|website=eng.stat.gov.tw}} The total dependency ratio in Taiwan is 35.2%, which is relatively low.{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.DPND|title=Age dependency ratio (% of working-age population) – Data|website=data.worldbank.org}} The low dependency ratio indicates that the dependent part of the population is less than half of the working part. Experts estimate the dependency ratio will rise to 92.9% by 2060.{{cite web|url=http://www.aei.org/publication/taiwans-demographic-crunch-and-its-military-implications/|title=Taiwan's demographic crunch and its military implications – AEI|website=aei.org|access-date=2018-04-13|archive-date=2018-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124161340/http://www.aei.org/publication/taiwans-demographic-crunch-and-its-military-implications/|url-status=dead}} A rising dependency ratio and longer life expectancy will most likely require the government to support part of the elderly population as the working-age population is shrinking and thus less able to support the elderly directly.

The process of population aging is primarily determined by fertility and mortality rate.{{cite journal |last1=Wan Ahmad |first1=Wan Ibrahim |last2=Astina |first2=I Komang |last3=Budijanto |first3=Budijanto |title=Demographic Transition and Population Ageing |journal=Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences |date=1 May 2015 |volume=6|issue=3|pages=213–218|doi=10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s2p213|doi-access=free }}{{open access}} The proportions of elderly people are different across countries. For example, developing countries with limited access to healthcare and contraceptives, where populations have a high fertility rate, tend to have a lower proportion of older people.{{Cite web |title=DEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF POPULATION AGEING |url=http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/pdf/8chapteri.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403165935/http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/pdf/8chapteri.pdf |archive-date=2018-04-03 |access-date=2018-04-17}} Medical advancements, industrial developments, and better knowledge of sanitation, which started in the 18th century in many developed countries, have caused a decline in mortality rates and an increase in fertility rates, factors which raise the number of older people worldwide.{{Cite web |url=http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/bulletin42_43/weinbergermirkin.pdf |title=THE DEMOGRAPHY OF POPULATION AGEING |access-date=2019-02-10 |archive-date=2018-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516220945/http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/bulletin42_43/weinbergermirkin.pdf |url-status=dead }} According to the United Nations, many developed countries are in more advanced stages (4 or 5) of the demographic transition model and their number of elderly will remain high compared to less developed countries.United Nations. 2001a. World populationprospect: The 2000 revision, Volume 1: Comprehensive Tables. New York: United Nations Publications, Sales No. E. 01. XIII.8. This phenomenon is known as population aging.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since 1993, Taiwan has reached the threshold of an aging society. It was estimated the percentage of people over 65 was 8%.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/en/|title=WHO – World Health Organization|website=www.who.int}} The CEPD estimated that the percentage of people 65 years or older will be over 20% in 2025, which means Taiwan will soon become a "super aged society".{{Cite journal |last1=Lin |first1=Hsing-Chun |last2=Lee |first2=Huey-Lin |last3=Chen |first3=Po-Chi |last4=Hsu |first4=Sheng-Ming |last5=Lin |first5=Kuo-Jung |last6=Lee |first6=Duu-Hwa |last7=Chang |first7=Ching-Cheng |last8=Hsu |first8=Shih-Shun |date=2013-02-02 |title=The Potential Crisis of Population Ageing and Low Fertility: GEMTEE Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium used in Population Forecasts and Analysis |url=https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/pugtwp/332413.html |journal=Conference Papers |publisher=Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project |access-date=2024-10-23}} The critical factors that accelerate the speed of aging in Taiwan are high life expectancy and low fertility rate. The average life expectancy in 2014 was 80 years. The total fertility rate in 2014 was 1.1 (per 1,000 women) and dropped to 0.87 in 2022.{{cite journal|title=Aging in Taiwan: Building a Society for Active Aging and Aging in Place|first1=Yi-Yin|last1=Lin|first2=Chin-Shan|last2=Huang|date=19 November 2015|journal=The Gerontologist|volume=56|issue=2|pages=176–183|doi=10.1093/geront/gnv107|pmid=26589450|doi-access=free}}

According to a 2015 study by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, approximately 40% of Taiwan elders see themselves as a burden on family or society.{{Cite book |last1=He |first1=Keren |title=Games & Play in Chinese & Sinophone Cultures |last2=Eyman |first2=Douglas |last3=Sun |first3=Hongmei |date=2024 |publisher=University of Washington Press |isbn=9780295752402 |editor-last=Guo |editor-first=Li |location=Seattle, WA |pages=201 |chapter=Gaming while Aging: TheLudification of Later Life in Pokémon Go |editor-last2=Eyman |editor-first2=Douglas |editor-last3=Sun |editor-first3=Hongmei}}

{{GraphChart

| width = 700

| height = 150

| xAxisTitle=year

| yAxisTitle= million

| yAxisMin=

| yGrid= 0,1

| xGrid= 10

| legend=

| type = line

| x = 1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

| y1= 3.06, 3.09, 3.12, 3.16, 3.21, 3.27, 3.33, 3.39, 3.44, 3.48, 3.51, 3.56, 3.59, 3.63, 3.66, 3.72, 3.79, 3.86, 3.93, 3.99, 4.1, 4.21, 4.33, 4.46, 4.59, 4.71, 4.87, 5, 5.13, 5.26, 5.38, 5.53, 5.68, 5.82, 5.99, 6.16, 6.34, 6.51, , , , 6.294, 6.648, 7.099, 7.468, 7.695, 8, 8.297, 8.617, 8.924, 9.242, 9.539, 9.858, 10.227, 10.602, 10.983, 11.312, 11.68, 12.088, 12.442, 12.812, 13.147, 13.474, 13.995, 14.507, 14.837, 15.145, 15.424, 15.699, 15.999, 16.298, 16.601, 16.951, 17.337, 17.608, 17.972, 18.261, 18.538, 18.873, 19.135, 19.356, 19.564, 19.788, 20.004, 20.23, 20.455, 20.655, 20.848, 21.087, 21.268, 21.441, 21.634, 21.836, 22.011, 22.185, 22.342, 22.464, 22.554, 22.647, 22.73, 22.824, 22.918, 22.998, 23.079, 23.141, 23.194, 23.271, 23.345, 23.434, 23.472, 23.54, 23.571, 23.589, 23.603, 23.561, 23.359, 23.264

| y1Title= population (million)

}}

{{GraphChart

| width = 700

| height = 150

| xAxisTitle=years

| yAxisTitle= ‰

| yAxisMin=

| yGrid= 0,1

| xGrid= 10

| hAnnotatonsLine=0

| hAnnotatonsLabel=

| legend=

| type = line

| x = 1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

| y1= 5.2, 6.7,6.3, 9.1, 13.8, 15.6, 16.3, 15.8, 13.8, 8.5, 8.7, 13.9, 5.6, 11.7, 7.4, 18.6, 17.2, 17.8, 16.9, 16.9, 21.3, 21.1, 21.7, 22.4, 25.4, 24.5, 23.6, 24.6, 24.1, 24.6, 23.7, 25.1, 23.4, 23.9, 23.6, 24.9, 22.6, 21.2, , , , 20.2, 25.4, 29.3, 31.9, 38.5, 36.8, 35.8, 36.3, 36.6, 36.8, 32.9, 34.1, 33.9, 32.5, 31.5, 31.1, 30.2, 28.8, 27.2, 27.0, 23.0, 23.8, 22.9, 22.3, 20.9, 19.4, 19.0, 18.7, 18.3, 21.3, 19.1, 19.5, 19.6,18.7, 18.2, 17.4, 15.8, 14.9, 13.3, 11.1, 11.1, 12.1,

10.6, 11.4, 10.5, 10.2, 10.3, 9.9, 9.9, 9.5, 9.5, 6.8, 7.2, 8.1, 5.9, 5.3, 4.3, 3.6, 2.9, 3.0, 2.8, 2.4, 2.1, 0.9, 1.9, 3.2, 1.8, 2.0, 2.1, 1.5, 0.9, 0.4, 0.0, -0.4, -1.3, -2.9

| y1Title=Natural change (per 1000)

}}

B.R. Mitchell. International historical statistics: Africa, Asia & Oceania 1750–2000.{{cite web|url=http://eng.stat.gov.tw/lp.asp?ctNode=2265&CtUnit=1072&BaseDSD=36|title=National Statistics, Republic of China (Taiwan) – Yearly Statistics|website=eng.stat.gov.tw}}

{{cite web |title=出生數、出生率、死亡數、死亡率 |url=https://www.stat.gov.tw/Statistics.aspx?n=2961&CaN=363 |website=National Statistics |access-date=10 May 2024}}

In developed countries, trends like late marriage, no marriage, and having fewer children are growing. Developed countries tend to have lower fertility rates because access to birth control and contraceptives are easier and having children could become an economic burden caused by housing, education cost, and other costs for childcare.{{cite journal |title=Declining birth rate in Developed Countries: A radical policy re-think is required|first=G.|last=Nargund|date=30 May 2018|journal=Facts, Views & Vision in ObGyn|volume=1|issue=3|pages=191–193 |pmid=25489464|pmc=4255510}} Most women in developed countries are in the workforce and tend to have higher educations and professional careers. As a result, many women tend to have children late in life or no children at all.{{Cite web|url=https://trends.collegeboard.org/sites/default/files/education-pays-2004-full-report.pdf|title=Trends in Higher Education – Research – College Board|date=10 June 2019}}

According to the BBC, the total fertility rate in Taiwan had decreased to 0.9 children per woman in 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-14525525|title=Taiwan's birth rate drops further|first=Cindy|last=Sui|work=BBC News|date=15 August 2011}} This figure is much lower than the replacement level and one of the lowest in the world. This indicates the population is experiencing negative growth and population aging is happening fast. According to a Central News Agency Report, total births in 2017 were below 200,000. Compared to previous decades, the total number of births since 2000 has been between 197,000 and 230,000.{{cite web|url=https://chinapost.nownews.com/20170715-1348|title=Taiwan's birth rate is declining — again|date=14 July 2017|website=nownews.com}} If this trend continues, the senior population in Taiwan will be almost 5 times higher than the youth population by 2060.{{Cite web|url=https://chinapost.nownews.com/20141121-65577|title = Seniors population may be 4 times that of kids in '60|date = 20 November 2014}}

{{GraphChart

| width = 700

| height = 150

| xAxisTitle=years

| yAxisTitle= ‰

| yAxisMin=

| yGrid= 0,1

| xGrid= 10

| hAnnotatonsLine=2.1

| hAnnotatonsLabel=

| legend=

| type = line

| x = 1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

| y1= 6.13, 6.16, 6.14, 6.29, 6.37, 6.42, 6.46, 6.45, 6.62, 6.45, , , , , 6.48, , , , , , , , , , 7.02, , , , , , , , , , 6.11, 5.98, 5.93, , , , , , 5.98, 6.49, 7.14, 7.59, 7.56, 7.54, 7.25, 7.32, 7.27, 6.83, 6.48, 5.98, 5.75, 5.58, 5.46, 5.35, 5.10, 4.82, 4.95, 4.22, 4.36, 4.14, 4.00, 3.70, 3.36, 3.21, 2.94, 2.76, 3.08, 2.64, 2.71, 2.67, 2.51, 2.45, 2.32, 2.17, 2.05, 1.88, 1.68, 1.70, 1.86, 1.68, 1.81, 1.72, 1.73, 1.76, 1.76, 1.78, 1.76, 1.77, 1.47, 1.56, 1.68, 1.40, 1.34, 1.24, 1.18, 1.12, 1.12, 1.10, 1.05, 1.03, 0.90, 1.07, 1.27, 1.07, 1.17, 1.18, 1.17, 1.11, 1.06, 1.05, 0.99, 0.98,

| y1Title=Total Fertility Rate

}}

The fertility rate{{Cite web |title=Table 15. Higher Education |url=https://eng.stat.gov.tw/public/data/dgbas03/bs2/yearbook_eng/y015.pdf}}{{cite web|url=http://eng.stat.gov.tw/lp.asp?ctNode=2204&CtUnit=1053&BaseDSD=35|title=National Statistics, Republic of China (Taiwan) – Monthly Statistics(off)|website=eng.stat.gov.tw}} in Taiwan is one of the lowest ever recorded in the world in historical times. It reached its lowest level in 2023: 0.85 children per female. In 1980, the rate was still well above replacement level (2.515), but it dropped to 1.88 in 1985, 1.81 in 1990, 1.78 in 1995, 1.68 in 2000, 1.12 in 2005, 0.90 in 2010.

File:Life expectancy in Taiwan.svg

In 2022, Taiwan is ranked 42nd in the world for highest life expectancy at birth.

:total: 6.29 deaths/1,000 live births

:male: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births

:female: 5.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

{{see also|Taiwanese people|Taiwanese indigenous peoples|Han Taiwanese}}

The ROC government reports that 95 to 97 percent of Taiwan's population is as "other populations" (of Han Chinese ethnicity, which includes Hoklo, Hakka, and other ethnic groups originating from mainland China).{{sfnp|Exec. Yuan|2014|p=36}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ey.gov.tw/state/News_Content3.aspx?n=7C222A52A60660EC&s=FFD5D521BBC119F8|script-title=zh:中華民國國情簡介|trans-title=ROC Vital Information|year=2016|website=Executive Yuan|quote={{lang|zh-tw|臺灣住民以漢人為最大族群，約占總人口97%}}|access-date=2019-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218124716/http://www.ey.gov.tw/state/News_Content3.aspx?n=7C222A52A60660EC&s=FFD5D521BBC119F8|archive-date=2017-02-18|url-status=dead}} Over 2% of the population consists of indigenous people. 21,000 Westerners live in Taiwan, accounting for 0.1% of its total population.{{Cite web|url=https://www.immigration.gov.tw/|title=移民署中文網|website=www.immigration.gov.tw}}

File:Formosan Distribution 01.png

{{main|Taiwanese indigenous peoples|List of indigenous peoples of Taiwan|Plains indigenous peoples|Indigenous Area (Taiwan)}}

The total population of recognized indigenous people in Taiwan is approximately 569,000, or approximately 2.38% of Taiwan's population.{{sfnp|Exec. Yuan|2014|p=49}} These groups primarily inhabit the eastern half of Taiwan, which consists mostly of mountainous terrain. Their population growth rate (1.2%) and population pyramid are considerably more youthful than the overall population.{{Cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3032962|title=Taiwan's indigenous population grows to 552,000 | Taiwan News | 2016-11-18 19:00:00|date=18 November 2016|access-date=2019-03-01|archive-date=2021-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308234114/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3032962|url-status=dead}} Including migrant workers, the Austronesian population of Taiwan is approaching 1 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3400148|title=Interactive chart shows how foreigners are distributed in Taiwan | Taiwan News | 2018-04-07 18:21:00|date=7 April 2018}}

:Note: Source data obtained from the Ministry of the Interior website ([http://sowf.moi.gov.tw/stat/month/m1-04.xls Spreadsheet data: m1-04.xls] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620042553/http://sowf.moi.gov.tw/stat/month/m1-04.xls |date=2017-06-20 }})

The Taiwanese government officially recognizes sixteen ethnic groups of Taiwanese indigenous peoples ({{zh|t=原住民|p=yuánzhùmín|poj=Gôan-chū-bîn}}).{{Cite web |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/06/27/411066/Govt-officially.htm |title=Gov't officially recognizes two more aboriginal tribes - the China Post |access-date=2014-06-26 |archive-date=2014-11-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111100305/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/06/27/411066/Govt-officially.htm |url-status=dead }} In the early 1910s, research in the Japanese era recognized nine ethnic groups: Amis, Atayal, Bunun, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Tsou, and Yami. After the 2000s, indigenous cultural revitalization movements forced the government to change its attitude towards the indigenous people of Taiwan. The Yami people were renamed to Tao. New ethnic groups were also recognized by the government, including Thao in 2001, Kavalan in 2002, Truku (Taroko) in 2004, Sakizaya in 2007, Seediq in 2008, Kanakanavu in 2014, and Saaroa in 2014. There are at least another dozen groups that are not officially recognized by the government.

Unrecognized indigenous groups may include extinct tribes (mostly Plains indigenous peoples) or communities currently classified with other groups. There are also 25,943 indigenous people who are currently not classified in any group.

{{main|Han Chinese|Han Taiwanese|Hoklo Taiwanese|Hakka people}}

The majority of Han Chinese descend from immigrants who arrived to the island prior to Japanese rule (1895–1945) and can be classified as the Hoklo and Hakka, on the basis of language and customs.{{sfnp|Davidson|1903|p=590}} As the majority of early immigrants were Hokkien speakers from Fujiancategorized as originating from Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, and Zhangpu. {{harvp|Davidson|1903|p=591}} who arrived starting in the 17th century, the Hoklos account for about 70% of the total population today. During Qing rule, a large number of Hoklo men took indigenous brides.{{sfnp|Exec. Yuan|2014|p=48}} Some of the plains aboriginals also adopted Chinese customs and language so as to be indistinguishable from the Han.{{sfnp|Davidson|1903|p=581}} Thus, many who categorize themselves as Han have some degree of indigenous ancestry.

A significant minority of Han Chinese are Hakka, and they constitute about 15% of the total population. The Hakkas emigrated chiefly from eastern Guangdong, speak Hakka Chinese, and originally took up residence in the hills of the indigenous border districts.{{sfnp|Davidson|1903|pp=590–1}}{{sfnp|Exec. Yuan|2014|p=48}}

Waishengren form another significant mixed ethnic group in Taiwan. The term refers to migrants who moved from China to Taiwan between 1945, when the ROC took control of Taiwan from the Japanese empire, and 1949 during the relocation of the ROC from mainland China to Taiwan. Estimates vary regarding how many waishengren migrated, with most estimates ranging between 950,000 and 2 million,{{cite book |last1=Yang |first1=Dominic Meng-Hsuan |title=The Great Exodus from China |date=2021 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9781108784306 |pages=63–65 }} with 1.2 million being the most commonly cited figure in Taiwan,{{cite book |last1=林 |first1=桶法 |title=大撤退 |date=2009 |publisher=聯經出版事業有限公司 |location=Taipei |isbn=9789570834512}} which would have constituted less than 15% of the population at the time (who constitute approximately 10% of the population in 2004{{Cite web |title=蕃薯＋芋頭＝臺灣土豆？——臺灣當前族群認同狀況比較分析 |trans-title=Sweet potato + taro = Taiwanese potato? —Comparative Analysis of Taiwan's Current Ethnic Identity Status |url=http://homepage.ntu.edu.tw/~psc/C2004paper/6-3.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120203703/http://homepage.ntu.edu.tw/~psc/C2004paper/6-3.pdf |archive-date=2021-01-20}}).

Image:COB data Taiwan vers3.PNG

There are 812,603 foreign residents in Taiwan as of April 2023, representing 3.48% of the country's population.{{cite web | url=https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5475/5478/141478/141380/ | title=Statistics }}{{cite web | url=https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5475/5478/141478/141380/345837/cp_news | title=2023.4Foreign Residents by Nationality }}

{{Main|Languages of Taiwan|Formosan languages|Taiwanese Hokkien|Taiwanese Hakka|Taiwanese Mandarin|Matsu dialect}}

During Japanese rule (between 1895 and 1945), Japanese was the medium of instruction and could be fluently spoken by many of those educated during that period. Almost everyone in Taiwan born after the early 1950s can speak Mandarin,Note that the Mandarin spoken in Taiwan has minor differences from the Putonghua spoken in mainland China. which was the official language and has been the medium of instruction in schools ever since.

Hanyu Pinyin, the official romanization system in mainland China, has also been the standard of Taiwan since 2009. A number of romanization systems are still seen in Taiwan, including Tongyong, the official romanization in Taiwan between 2002 and 2008, Wade–Giles, often found on passports, and Postal.

Other Sinitic languages can also be seen in Taiwan. The majority speak Taiwanese Hokkien, a branch of Southern Min, which had formerly been the most commonly spoken language. On Matsu Islands, the Eastern Min Fuzhou dialect is prevalent. Although people on Kinmen (Quemoy) also speak Southern Min, it is not the case in the Wuqiu Islands, for they speak a dialect of the Pu-Xian Min. The ethnic Hakka speak various Taiwanese Hakka dialects including Sixian, Hailu, Dabu, Raoping, and Zhao'an.

The most widely spoken Formosan languages today are Amis, Atayal, Bunun, and Paiwan. The other aboriginal languages that have gained official recognition are Kanakanavu, Kavalan, Puyuma, Rukai, Hla’alua, Saisiyat, Sakizaya, Seediq (closely related to Truku), Thao, Tsou, and Yami (also known as Tao).

{{Main|Religion in Taiwan}}

File:Longshan Temple, Taipei 01.jpg, Taipei]]

File:Taiwan 2009 HuaLien City JingSi Hall FRD 8410.jpg, Hualien City]]

File:玫瑰聖母主教座堂.JPG, Kaohsiung]]

File:TaipeiMosque.JPG, Taipei]]

Article 13 of the Constitution of the Republic of China guarantees freedom of religion as a right of all its citizens. {{As of|2013}}, the Republic of China government recognizes 27 religions which are registered with the Civil Affairs Department of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI).{{sfnp|Exec. Yuan|2014|p=272}}

About 81.3% of the population can be considered religious believers, most of whom identify as Buddhists (35%) or Taoists (33%). Chinese folk religion is generally practised under the aegis of Taoism, while more than 10% of the population adheres to popular movements of salvation. Confucianism also is an honored school of thought and ethical codes. Christian churches have been active in Taiwan for centuries; a majority of them are Protestant, with Presbyterians playing a particularly significant role. The Republic of China's government has diplomatic relations with the Holy See, which is the only European nation to formally recognize the Republic of China and is its longest-lasting diplomatic ally, having established relations in 1942. Islam has seen a surge in recent years as a result of foreign Muslims seeking work in Taiwan, most notably from Indonesia. There is also a small group of Shinto followers under the Tenriist sect, which was introduced in the 1970s.

The table below shows official statistics on religion issued by the Department of Civil Affairs, Ministry of the Interior ("MOI"), in 2005. The Taiwanese government recognises 26 religions in Taiwan.{{cite web|title=Taiwan Yearbook 2006|publisher=Taiwan Government Information Office, Department of Civil Affairs, Ministry of the Interior|year=2006|url=http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/22Religion.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708213510/http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/22Religion.htm|archive-date=8 July 2007}} The statistics are reported by the various religious organisations to the MOI:{{cite web|title=2006 Report on International Religious Freedom|publisher=U.S. Department of State|year=2006|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71337.htm|access-date=1 September 2007}}

The figures for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not from the MOI, rather they are based on self-reported data from LDS Newsroom.{{cite web | title = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Taiwan Country Profile | url = https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/taiwan}} The figures for Jehovah's Witnesses are not from the MOI either, they are based on the Witnesses' own 2007 Service Year Report.{{cite web | title = Jehovah's Witnesses: Interactive Map of the Worldwide Work | url = http://www.ilabmedia.com/service_year/ | access-date = 2014-12-09 | archive-date = 2005-05-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050504192906/http://www.ilabmedia.com/service_year/ | url-status = dead }} In the original report, both of them were counted as part of Protestantism.

{{Main|Conscription in Taiwan|Republic of China Armed Forces}}{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2021}}

The Republic of China has a compulsory military draft for males aged 19–35 years of age with a service obligation of 4 months (2018). This was extended(returned) to one year starting in 2024.

Defined as 19–49 years of age.

Of the available population, the following are fit for military service. Defined as 19–49 years of age.

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• {{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Melissa J. |author1-link=Melissa J. Brown |year=2004 |title=Is Taiwan Chinese? : The Impact of Culture, Power and Migration on Changing Identities|place=Berkeley|publisher=University of California Press |isbn=0-520-23182-1 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Davidson |first1=James W. |author-link=James W. Davidson |title=The Island of Formosa, Past and Present : history, people, resources, and commercial prospects : tea, camphor, sugar, gold, coal, sulphur, economical plants, and other productions |year=1903 |publisher=Macmillan |url=https://archive.org/details/islandofformosap00davi |location=London and New York |ol=6931635M |oclc=1887893 }}
• {{cite book |year=2014 |title=The Republic of China Yearbook 2014 |publisher=Executive Yuan, R.O.C. |url=http://www.ey.gov.tw/Upload/UserFiles/YB%202014%20all%20100dpi.pdf |access-date=2016-06-11 |isbn=9789860423020 |ref={{harvid|Exec. Yuan|2014}} }}

{{refend}}

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