Taiwan  

With unemployment and inflation rates at 4% and 2%, respectively, Taiwan has strong economic stability. Workers have access to a large amount of physical capital, placing Taiwan 35th on this variable. The banking sector is efficient, with commendably narrow lending and borrowing margins of 1.5 percentage points, placing Taiwan at sixth place on this variable. Levels of household expenditure, at 26% of GDP, indicate reasonable domestic demand. Taiwan’s performance on attracting foreign direct investment could be improved, in order to move Taiwan above the third lowest quartile on this variable, where it currently stands. Data on non-performing loans, the domestic savings rate, raw material export concentration, and exports as a capacity to import were not available.

With unemployment and inflation rates at 4% and 2%, respectively, Taiwan has strong economic stability. Workers have access to a large amount of physical capital, placing Taiwan 35th on this variable. The banking sector is efficient, with commendably narrow lending and borrowing margins of 1.5 percentage points, placing Taiwan at sixth place on this variable. Levels of household expenditure, at 26% of GDP, indicate reasonable domestic demand. Taiwan’s performance on attracting foreign direct investment could be improved, in order to move Taiwan above the third lowest quartile on this variable, where it currently stands. Data on non-performing loans, the domestic savings rate, raw material export concentration, and exports as a capacity to import were not available.

Entrepreneurship is encouraged in Taiwan, with just eight formal procedures required to start a business, a figure near the global average. High-tech exports are low, at less than 0.2% of GDP, but investment in R&D is considerable, at 2.6% of GDP, locating Taiwan in the top 10 on this variable for innovation. Data on value added by the service industry, internet bandwidth, secure internet servers, ICT exports, numbers of personal computers, royalty receipts, and new businesses registered in 2007 were not available.

Entrepreneurship is encouraged in Taiwan, with just eight formal procedures required to start a business, a figure near the global average. High-tech exports are low, at less than 0.2% of GDP, but investment in R&D is considerable, at 2.6% of GDP, locating Taiwan in the top 10 on this variable for innovation. Data on value added by the service industry, internet bandwidth, secure internet servers, ICT exports, numbers of personal computers, royalty receipts, and new businesses registered in 2007 were not available.

Taiwanese residents enjoy very high levels of political rights and extremely high levels of civil liberties. This high ranking can be attributed to significant checks and balances throughout the political system and an independent judiciary that is not subject to political interferences. Taiwan also promotes open competition for both the executive and legislative branches of government, and regulates the electoral system efficiently. There are, however, slightly fewer constraints on the power of the executive to act arbitrarily, placing Taiwan just inside the top 30 in this regard. Due to a fundamental change in the regime fewer than 15 years ago, the political system as a whole, despite a good performance in many respects, is not deemed entirely stable.

Taiwanese residents enjoy very high levels of political rights and extremely high levels of civil liberties. This high ranking can be attributed to significant checks and balances throughout the political system and an independent judiciary that is not subject to political interferences. Taiwan also promotes open competition for both the executive and legislative branches of government, and regulates the electoral system efficiently. There are, however, slightly fewer constraints on the power of the executive to act arbitrarily, placing Taiwan just inside the top 30 in this regard. Due to a fundamental change in the regime fewer than 15 years ago, the political system as a whole, despite a good performance in many respects, is not deemed entirely stable.

Enrolment rates are generally high in Taiwan and drop only moderately across all three levels. Starting at 97% for primary schools, enrolment rates increase to 99% at secondary level, and the tertiary edcuation enrolment rate, at 84%, is the fourth highest, internationally. Members of Taiwan’s labour force have an average of 5.5 years in secondary education, and a very high 4.4 years in tertiary education, placing Taiwan at 24th place with respect to the latter variable. Data on pupil to teacher and girl to boy enrolment ratios, as well as expenditure on education, are missing from this sub-index.

Enrolment rates are generally high in Taiwan and drop only moderately across all three levels. Starting at 97% for primary schools, enrolment rates increase to 99% at secondary level, and the tertiary edcuation enrolment rate, at 84%, is the fourth highest, internationally. Members of Taiwan’s labour force have an average of 5.5 years in secondary education, and a very high 4.4 years in tertiary education, placing Taiwan at 24th place with respect to the latter variable. Data on pupil to teacher and girl to boy enrolment ratios, as well as expenditure on education, are missing from this sub-index.

For the average Taiwanese resident, health-adjusted life expectancy is very high at 69 years. Access to medical professionals is near the global average, with 14 doctors for every 10,000 people. Infant mortality rates are low, at only six instances per 1,000 births, positioning T aiwan at 30th on this variable. Similarly, an extremely low one out of 50 is undernourished. As few as 12% of Taiwanese residents claim to have health problems and just 16% reported feeling pain, ranking Taiwan sixth on this variable.* An equally positive three in four respondents reported feeling well rested, a proportion that ranks in the top 25, internationally.* Despite these relatively positive scores, personal health satisfaction levels place Taiwan at only 60th, worldwide.* Additionally, only two-thirds of the Taiwanese population are satisfied with their water quality despite the population’s full access to sanitation facilities.*

For the average Taiwanese resident, health-adjusted life expectancy is very high at 69 years. Access to medical professionals is near the global average, with 14 doctors for every 10,000 people. Infant mortality rates are low, at only six instances per 1,000 births, positioning T aiwan at 30th on this variable. Similarly, an extremely low one out of 50 is undernourished. As few as 12% of Taiwanese residents claim to have health problems and just 16% reported feeling pain, ranking Taiwan sixth on this variable.* An equally positive three in four respondents reported feeling well rested, a proportion that ranks in the top 25, internationally.* Despite these relatively positive scores, personal health satisfaction levels place Taiwan at only 60th, worldwide.* Additionally, only two-thirds of the Taiwanese population are satisfied with their water quality despite the population’s full access to sanitation facilities.*

T aiwan has very minor problems with instances of state-sponsored violence against residents, ranking 12th internationally on this count. There were no casualties due to civil war recorded in 2008. While 14% of the population stated having property stolen, only 4% claimed to have been assaulted in 2008, and 63% feel safe walking alone at night, ranking T aiwan 50th on this latter variable.* Data on refugees and internally displaced individuals, group grievance, human flight, and homicide were not available for T aiwan.

T aiwan has very minor problems with instances of state-sponsored violence against residents, ranking 12th internationally on this count. There were no casualties due to civil war recorded in 2008. While 14% of the population stated having property stolen, only 4% claimed to have been assaulted in 2008, and 63% feel safe walking alone at night, ranking T aiwan 50th on this latter variable.* Data on refugees and internally displaced individuals, group grievance, human flight, and homicide were not available for T aiwan.

Enforcement of the rule of law is universal and even-handed, ranking Taiwan at 30th place, globally. Meanwhile, the operation of the Taiwanese civil service as well as the regulation of economic and commercial activity is effective and efficient, placing Taiwan inside the top 30 on both variables. While residents are afforded the legal right to free and fair participation in the political system, this right is at times limited. As a result, only 21% of individuals have faith in the honesty of elections while fewer than three out of 10 have confidence in the judicial system.* Public opinion of government and the corporate world is also surprisingly distrustful, with approximately eight out of 10 residents believing in widespread corruption in these entities.* Furthermore, the military holds the trust of only 37% of Taiwanese residents, ranking Taiwan 96th with respect to this variable.*

Enforcement of the rule of law is universal and even-handed, ranking Taiwan at 30th place, globally. Meanwhile, the operation of the Taiwanese civil service as well as the regulation of economic and commercial activity is effective and efficient, placing Taiwan inside the top 30 on both variables. While residents are afforded the legal right to free and fair participation in the political system, this right is at times limited. As a result, only 21% of individuals have faith in the honesty of elections while fewer than three out of 10 have confidence in the judicial system.* Public opinion of government and the corporate world is also surprisingly distrustful, with approximately eight out of 10 residents believing in widespread corruption in these entities.* Furthermore, the military holds the trust of only 37% of Taiwanese residents, ranking Taiwan 96th with respect to this variable.*

Taiwanese residents have unconstrained freedom to practise their religious beliefs, speak freely without fear of government censorship, and travel freely within and out of Taiwan. Only 64%, however, are satisfied with their freedom of choice in their everyday affairs, giving Taiwan a low rank of 80th in this respect.* Despite the relatively low freedom, many Taiwanese feel that their society is tolerant of difference and diversity, with over 70% of respondents stating that Taiwan is a good place for ethnic minorities and immigrants to live.*

Taiwanese residents have unconstrained freedom to practise their religious beliefs, speak freely without fear of government censorship, and travel freely within and out of Taiwan. Only 64%, however, are satisfied with their freedom of choice in their everyday affairs, giving Taiwan a low rank of 80th in this respect.* Despite the relatively low freedom, many Taiwanese feel that their society is tolerant of difference and diversity, with over 70% of respondents stating that Taiwan is a good place for ethnic minorities and immigrants to live.*

Most Taiwanese residents believe that friends are an important part of their lives and a high proportion of the population feel that they are able to rely on friends and family in times of need.* However, only a quarter of the population have trust in others, placing Taiwan 35th on this latter variable.* While Taiwan’s performance is near the global average in terms of helping strangers and donating to charities, volunteering remains low at 15%, relegating Taiwan to the 70th spot on this variable.* Taiwan residents also have relatively low memberships of arts and environmental organisations.* By international standards, Taiwanese residents are not overly religious, ranking 75th on this variable, and this is confirmed by the rate of membership in religious institutions, which is at 19%.*

Most Taiwanese residents believe that friends are an important part of their lives and a high proportion of the population feel that they are able to rely on friends and family in times of need.* However, only a quarter of the population have trust in others, placing Taiwan 35th on this latter variable.* While Taiwan’s performance is near the global average in terms of helping strangers and donating to charities, volunteering remains low at 15%, relegating Taiwan to the 70th spot on this variable.* Taiwan residents also have relatively low memberships of arts and environmental organisations.* By international standards, Taiwanese residents are not overly religious, ranking 75th on this variable, and this is confirmed by the rate of membership in religious institutions, which is at 19%.*

* Data taken from the Gallup World Poll

• Back to top