World Factbook
Taiwan
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
32,260 sq km
note
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Kinmen islands
water
3,720 sq km
total
35,980 sq km
Climate
tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); persistent and extensive cloudiness all year
Terrain
eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west
Land use
other
78% (2022 est.)
forest
0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land
22% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
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
Coastline
1,566.3 km
Elevation
lowest point
South China Sea 0 m
highest point
Yu Shan 3,952 m
mean elevation
1,150 m
Irrigated land
3,820 sq km (2012)
Map references
Southeast Asia
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
earthquakes; typhoons volcanism: Kueishantao Island (401 m), east of Taiwan, is the only historically active volcano, but it has not erupted in centuries
Geography - note
strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait
Natural resources
small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos, arable land
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Geographic coordinates
23 30 N, 121 00 E
Population distribution
distribution exhibits a peripheral coastal settlement pattern, with the largest populations on the north and west coasts