--- title: Taiwan — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 6 description: Wikipedia's «Taiwan», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/6/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Taiwan # Taiwan · page 6 From Wikipedia, [«Taiwan»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/5/) **6** [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/7/) ### Largest cities and counties Main article: [List of cities in Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Taiwan) The figures below are the December 2025 estimates for the ten most populous administrative divisions; a different ranking exists when considering the total [metropolitan area populations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_in_Taiwan#Metropolitan_areas_in_Taiwan) (in such rankings the [Taipei-Keelung metro area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei–Keelung_metropolitan_area) is by far the largest agglomeration).[487](../../487/ "tree and pragmatics") The figures reflect the number of household registrations in each city, which may differ from the number of actual residents.[488](../../488/ "tree and pragmatics") | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | {{Largest cities | country = Taiwan | stat\_ref = [source](https://www.ris.gov.tw/app/portal/346) | div\_name = Division | kind = cities and special municipalities | city\_1 = New Taipei | div\_1 = New Taipei City | pop\_1 = 4,044,831 | city\_2 = Taichung | div\_2 = Taichung City | pop\_2 = 2,868,465 | city\_3 = Kaohsiung | div\_3 = Kaohsiung City | pop\_3 = 2,718,545 | city\_4 = Taipei | div\_4 = Taipei City | pop\_4 = 2,439,507 | city\_5 = Taoyuan, Taiwan\|Taoyuan | div\_5 = Taoyuan City | pop\_5 = 2,355,106 | city\_6 = Tainan | div\_6 = Tainan City | pop\_6 = 1,852,477 | city\_7 = Hsinchu | div\_7 = Hsinchu City | pop\_7 = 455,740 | city\_8 = Keelung | div\_8 = Keelung City | pop\_8 = 359,836 | city\_9 = Chiayi | div\_9 = Chiayi City | pop\_9 = 261,592 | city\_10 = Zhubei | div\_10 = Hsinchu County | pop\_10 = 220,973 }} | ### Ethnic groups Main article: [Taiwanese people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_people), [Han Taiwanese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Taiwanese), [Han Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Chinese), [Taiwanese indigenous peoples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_indigenous_peoples), [Plains indigenous peoples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plains_indigenous_peoples) The ROC government reports that 95 percent of the population is ethnically [Han Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Chinese).[\[449\]](../../page/7/#ref-449 "note 449")[489](../../489/ "tree and pragmatics") There are also 2.5 percent indigenous [Austronesian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austronesian_languages) peoples and 2.5 percent new immigrants primarily from China and Southeast Asia.[\[450\]](../../page/7/#ref-450 "note 450")[490](../../490/ "tree and pragmatics") Most [Han Taiwanese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Taiwanese) are descended from the [Hoklo people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoklo_people), native to the coastal regions of southern [Fujian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujian), and the [Hakka people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakka_people), native to eastern [Guangdong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangdong).[491](../../491/ "tree and pragmatics") Hoklo and Hakka migrants arrived in large numbers during the 17th and 18th century.[492](../../492/ "tree and pragmatics") Descendants of Hoklo now compose approximately 70 percent of Taiwan's population.[\[18\]](../../page/7/#ref-18 "note 18")[493](../../493/ "tree and pragmatics") Descendants of Hakka make up about 15 percent of the population.[494](../../494/ "tree and pragmatics") Another minority group, called [waishengren](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waishengren), comprises those who arrived from China during the 1940s or are descended from them.[\[451\]](../../page/7/#ref-451 "note 451")[495](../../495/ "tree and pragmatics") [Genetic studies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_history_of_East_Asians) indicate that the Han people in Taiwan are closer to southern Chinese compared to northern Chinese and, similar to several other groups of Han Chinese, had mixed with Island [Southeast Asians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_in_Southeast_Asia), likely before their migration to Taiwan.[\[452\]](../../page/7/#ref-452 "note 452")[496](../../496/ "tree and pragmatics") Nonetheless, they can be genetically distinguished from the indigenous minority despite low-level admixture.[497](../../497/ "tree and pragmatics") In addition, there is also evidence of genetic influence from groups like [western Indonesians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Indonesia) and [Mainland Southeast Asians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainland_Southeast_Asia), especially [Kinh Vietnamese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinh_Vietnamese).[\[453\]](../../page/7/#ref-453 "note 453")[\[454\]](../../page/7/#ref-454 "note 454")[498](../../498/ "tree and pragmatics") [Taiwanese Indigenous peoples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_Indigenous_peoples) number about 584,000, and the government recognizes 16 groups.[\[455\]](../../page/7/#ref-455 "note 455")[499](../../499/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Ami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amis_people), [Atayal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atayal_people), [Bunun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunun_people), [Kanakanavu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanakanavu_people), [Kavalan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kavalan_people), [Paiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paiwan_people), [Puyuma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puyuma_people), [Rukai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rukai_people), [Saisiyat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saisiyat_people), [Saaroa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saaroa_people), [Sakizaya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakizaya_people), [Sediq](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sediq_people), [Thao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thao_people), [Truku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truku_people) and [Tsou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsou_people) live mostly in the eastern half of the island, while the [Yami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yami_people) inhabit [Orchid Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchid_Island).[\[456\]](../../page/7/#ref-456 "note 456")[\[457\]](../../page/7/#ref-457 "note 457")[500](../../500/ "tree and pragmatics") Taiwan's Indigenous peoples experience significantly lower life expectancy than the Han Chinese population.[\[458\]](../../page/7/#ref-458 "note 458")[501](../../501/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Languages Main article: [Languages of Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Taiwan) The Republic of China does not have any legally designated [official language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_language).[502](../../502/ "tree and pragmatics") [Mandarin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_Mandarin) is the primary language used in business and education, and is spoken by the vast majority of the population.[503](../../503/ "tree and pragmatics") [Traditional Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese) is used as the writing system.[\[459\]](../../page/7/#ref-459 "note 459")[504](../../504/ "tree and pragmatics") Around 70% of Taiwan's population belong to the [Hoklo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoklo) ethnic group and are native speakers of [Taiwanese Hokkien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_Hokkien).[\[460\]](../../page/7/#ref-460 "note 460")[505](../../505/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Hakka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakka) group, comprising some 14–18 percent of the population, speak [Hakka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakka_Chinese).[506](../../506/ "tree and pragmatics") Although Mandarin is the language of instruction in schools and dominates television and radio, non-Mandarin [Chinese varieties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varieties_of_Chinese) have undergone a revival in public life in Taiwan, particularly since restrictions on their use were lifted in the 1990s.[\[459\]](../../page/7/#ref-459 "note 459")[507](../../507/ "tree and pragmatics") [Formosan languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formosan_languages) are spoken primarily by the indigenous peoples of Taiwan.[508](../../508/ "tree and pragmatics") They do not belong to the Chinese or Sino-Tibetan language family, but to the [Austronesian language family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austronesian_languages), and are written in the [Latin alphabet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing_systems_of_Formosan_languages).[\[461\]](../../page/7/#ref-461 "note 461")[509](../../509/ "tree and pragmatics") Their use among aboriginal minority groups has been in decline as usage of Mandarin has risen.[\[459\]](../../page/7/#ref-459 "note 459")[510](../../510/ "tree and pragmatics") Of the 14 extant languages, five are considered [moribund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moribund_language).[\[462\]](../../page/7/#ref-462 "note 462")[511](../../511/ "tree and pragmatics") Since the [May Fourth Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Fourth_Movement), [written vernacular Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Written_vernacular_Chinese) had replaced [Classical Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_Chinese) and emerged as the mainstream written Chinese in the Republic of China.[512](../../512/ "tree and pragmatics") Classical Chinese continued to be widely used in government documents until reforms in the 1970s to shift the written style to a more integrated vernacular Chinese and Classical Chinese style (文白合一行文).[\[463\]](../../page/7/#ref-463 "note 463")[\[464\]](../../page/7/#ref-464 "note 464")[513](../../513/ "tree and pragmatics") On 1 January 2005, the [Executive Yuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Yuan) also changed its long-standing convention on the [direction of writing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_and_vertical_writing_in_East_Asian_scripts) in official documents from vertical to horizontal.[514](../../514/ "tree and pragmatics") Standalone Classical Chinese is occasionally used in formal or ceremonial occasions, such as religious or cultural rites.[515](../../515/ "tree and pragmatics") The "[National Anthem of the Republic of China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anthem_of_the_Republic_of_China)" (中華民國國歌), for example, is in Classical Chinese.[516](../../516/ "tree and pragmatics") Most official [government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_Republic_of_China), [legal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Taiwan), and [judiciary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Justice_%28Taiwan%29) documents, as well as [courts rulings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_Republic_of_China) use a combined vernacular Chinese and Classical Chinese style.[\[465\]](../../page/7/#ref-465 "note 465")[517](../../517/ "tree and pragmatics") As many legal documents are still written in Classical Chinese, which is not easily understood by the general public, a group of Taiwanese have launched the Legal Vernacular Movement, hoping to bring more vernacular Chinese into the legal writings of the [Republic of China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China).[\[466\]](../../page/7/#ref-466 "note 466")[518](../../518/ "tree and pragmatics") Taiwan is officially multilingual.[519](../../519/ "tree and pragmatics") A national language in Taiwan is legally defined as "a natural language used by an original people group of Taiwan and the [Taiwan Sign Language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Sign_Language)".[\[16\]](../../page/7/#ref-16 "note 16")[520](../../520/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Religion Main article: [Religion in Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Taiwan) The Constitution of the Republic of China protects people's [freedom of religion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion) and the practices of belief.[\[467\]](../../page/7/#ref-467 "note 467")[\[468\]](../../page/7/#ref-468 "note 468")[521](../../521/ "tree and pragmatics") [The government respects freedom of religion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion_in_Taiwan), and Taiwan scores highly on the [International IDEA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Institute_for_Democracy_and_Electoral_Assistance)'s Global State of Democracy Indices for religious freedom.[\[469\]](../../page/7/#ref-469 "note 469")[522](../../522/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2005, the census reported that the five largest religious groups were [Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism), [Taoism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism), [Yiguandao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yiguandao), [Protestantism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism), and [Roman Catholicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism).[\[470\]](../../page/7/#ref-470 "note 470")[523](../../523/ "tree and pragmatics") According to [Pew Research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pew_Research_Center), the religious composition of Taiwan in 2023[\[471\]](../../page/7/#ref-471 "note 471") was 28 percent [Buddhist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Taiwan), 24% Taoist, 7% Christian, 5% combination of religions, 4% local/indigenous, 27% no religion, and 4% others.[524](../../524/ "tree and pragmatics") Taiwanese aborigines comprise a notable subgroup among professing Christians.[\[472\]](../../page/7/#ref-472 "note 472")[525](../../525/ "tree and pragmatics") There has been [a small Muslim community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Taiwan) of [Hui people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hui_people) since the 17th century.[\[473\]](../../page/7/#ref-473 "note 473")[526](../../526/ "tree and pragmatics") [Confucianism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucianism) serves as the foundation of both Chinese and Taiwanese culture.[527](../../527/ "tree and pragmatics") The majority of Taiwanese people usually combine the secular moral teachings of Confucianism with whatever religions they are affiliated with.[528](../../528/ "tree and pragmatics") as of 2019, there were 15,175 [religious buildings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Place_of_worship) in Taiwan, approximately one place of worship per 1,572 residents.[529](../../529/ "tree and pragmatics") 12,279 temples were dedicated to Taoism and Buddhism.[530](../../530/ "tree and pragmatics") There were 9,684 Taoist temples, 2,317 Buddhist temples,[\[474\]](../../page/7/#ref-474 "note 474") and 2,845 Christian churches.[\[474\]](../../page/7/#ref-474 "note 474")[531](../../531/ "tree and pragmatics") On average, there is one temple, church, or religious building for every square kilometer.[532](../../532/ "tree and pragmatics") The density of religions and religious buildings in Taiwan is among the highest in the world.[\[475\]](../../page/7/#ref-475 "note 475")[\[476\]](../../page/7/#ref-476 "note 476")[533](../../533/ "tree and pragmatics") A significant percentage of the population is non-religious.[534](../../534/ "tree and pragmatics") Taiwan's lack of state-sanctioned discrimination, and generally high regard for freedom of religion or belief earned it a joint \#1 ranking in the 2018 [Freedom of Thought Report](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_Thought_Report).[\[477\]](../../page/7/#ref-477 "note 477")[\[478\]](../../page/7/#ref-478 "note 478")[535](../../535/ "tree and pragmatics") On the other hand, the [Indonesian migrant worker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_migrant_worker) community in Taiwan (estimated to total 258,084 people) has experienced religious restrictions by local employers or the government.[\[479\]](../../page/7/#ref-479 "note 479")[\[480\]](../../page/7/#ref-480 "note 480")[536](../../536/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Education Main article: [Education in Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Taiwan), [Academia Sinica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academia_Sinica), [History of education in Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_education_in_Taiwan) See also: [Scholarships in Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholarships_in_Taiwan), [Economy of Taiwan § Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Taiwan#Science) Taiwan is well known for adhering to the Confucian paradigm of valuing education as a means to improve one's socioeconomic position in society.[\[481\]](../../page/7/#ref-481 "note 481")[\[482\]](../../page/7/#ref-482 "note 482")[537](../../537/ "tree and pragmatics") Heavy investment and a cultural valuing of education has made the resource-poor nation to be consistently ranked to the top of global education rankings.[538](../../538/ "tree and pragmatics") Taiwan is one of the top-performing countries in reading literacy, mathematics and sciences.[539](../../539/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2015, Taiwanese students achieved one of the world's best results in mathematics, science and literacy, as tested by the [Programme for International Student Assessment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programme_for_International_Student_Assessment) (PISA), with the average student scoring 519, compared with the OECD average of 493, placing it seventh in the world.[\[483\]](../../page/7/#ref-483 "note 483")[\[484\]](../../page/7/#ref-484 "note 484")[\[485\]](../../page/7/#ref-485 "note 485")[540](../../540/ "tree and pragmatics") The Taiwanese education system has been praised for its comparatively high test results and its major role in promoting Taiwan's economic development while creating one of the world's most highly educated workforces.[\[486\]](../../page/7/#ref-486 "note 486")[\[487\]](../../page/7/#ref-487 "note 487")[541](../../541/ "tree and pragmatics") Taiwan has also been praised for its high university entrance rate where the university acceptance rate has increased from around 20 percent before the 1980s to 49 percent in 1996 and over 95 percent since 2008, among the highest in Asia.[\[488\]](../../page/7/#ref-488 "note 488")[\[489\]](../../page/7/#ref-489 "note 489")[\[490\]](../../page/7/#ref-490 "note 490")[542](../../542/ "tree and pragmatics") The nation's high university entrance rate has created a highly skilled workforce making Taiwan one of the most highly educated countries in the world with 68.5 percent of Taiwanese high school students going on to attend university.[\[491\]](../../page/7/#ref-491 "note 491")[543](../../543/ "tree and pragmatics") Taiwan has a high percentage of its citizens holding a tertiary education degree where 45 percent of Taiwanese aged 25–64 hold a bachelor's degree or higher compared with the average of 33 percent among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).[\[490\]](../../page/7/#ref-490 "note 490")[\[492\]](../../page/7/#ref-492 "note 492")[544](../../544/ "tree and pragmatics") On the other hand, the education system has been criticized for placing excessive pressure on students while eschewing creativity and producing an excess supply of overeducated university graduates.[545](../../545/ "tree and pragmatics") Many graduates consequently face unemployment or [underemployment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underemployment) due to a lack of graduate-level jobs.[\[493\]](../../page/7/#ref-493 "note 493")[\[482\]](../../page/7/#ref-482 "note 482")[546](../../546/ "tree and pragmatics") Taiwan's universities have also been under criticism for not being able to fully meet the requirements and demands of Taiwan's 21st-century fast-moving labor market, citing a skills mismatch among a large number of self-assessed, overeducated graduates who do not fit the demands of the modern Taiwanese labor market.[\[494\]](../../page/7/#ref-494 "note 494")[547](../../547/ "tree and pragmatics") The Taiwanese government has been criticized for failing to adequately address this discrepancy in labor supply and demand.[\[488\]](../../page/7/#ref-488 "note 488")[\[495\]](../../page/7/#ref-495 "note 495")[548](../../548/ "tree and pragmatics") As the Taiwanese economy is largely science and technology based, the labor market demands people who have achieved some form of higher education, particularly related to science and engineering to gain a competitive edge when searching for employment.[549](../../549/ "tree and pragmatics") Although current Taiwanese law mandates only nine years of schooling, 95 percent of junior high graduates go on to attend a senior vocational high school, university, junior college, trade school, or other higher education institution.[\[491\]](../../page/7/#ref-491 "note 491")[\[496\]](../../page/7/#ref-496 "note 496")[550](../../550/ "tree and pragmatics") Many Taiwanese students attend [cram schools](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cram_schools#Taiwan), or buxiban, to improve skills and knowledge on problem solving against exams.[\[497\]](../../page/7/#ref-497 "note 497")[\[498\]](../../page/7/#ref-498 "note 498")[551](../../551/ "tree and pragmatics") Since [Made in China 2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_in_China_2025) was announced in 2015, aggressive campaigns to recruit Taiwanese chip industry talent to support its mandates resulted in the loss of more than 3,000 chip engineers to mainland China,[\[499\]](../../page/7/#ref-499 "note 499") and raised concerns of a "[brain drain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_drain)" in Taiwan.[\[500\]](../../page/7/#ref-500 "note 500")[\[501\]](../../page/7/#ref-501 "note 501")[552](../../552/ "tree and pragmatics") as of 2020, the [literacy rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_rate) in Taiwan was 99.03 percent.[\[502\]](../../page/7/#ref-502 "note 502")[553](../../553/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Health Main article: [Healthcare in Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Taiwan) The current [healthcare system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_system), known as National Health Insurance (NHI), was instituted in 1995.[554](../../554/ "tree and pragmatics") NHI is a [single-payer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-payer_health_care) compulsory social insurance plan that centralizes the disbursement of healthcare funds.[555](../../555/ "tree and pragmatics") The system promises equal access to healthcare for all citizens, and the population coverage had reached 99 percent by the end of 2004.[\[503\]](../../page/7/#ref-503 "note 503")[556](../../556/ "tree and pragmatics") NHI is mainly financed through premiums, which are based on the payroll tax, and is supplemented with out-of-pocket co-payments and direct government funding.[\[504\]](../../page/7/#ref-504 "note 504")[\[505\]](../../page/7/#ref-505 "note 505")[\[506\]](../../page/7/#ref-506 "note 506")[557](../../557/ "tree and pragmatics") Low-income families, veterans, centenarians, children under three, and catastrophic diseases are exempt from co-payments.[558](../../558/ "tree and pragmatics") Co-pays are reduced for disabled and low-income households maintain 100 percent premium coverage.[559](../../559/ "tree and pragmatics") Early in the program, the payment system was predominantly [fee-for-service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fee-for-service).[560](../../560/ "tree and pragmatics") Most health providers operate in the private sector and form a competitive market on the health delivery side.[561](../../561/ "tree and pragmatics") However, many healthcare providers took advantage of the system by offering unnecessary services.[562](../../562/ "tree and pragmatics") In the face of increasing loss and the need for cost containment, NHI changed the payment system from fee-for-service to a global budget, a kind of [prospective payment system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospective_payment_system), in 2002.[563](../../563/ "tree and pragmatics") The implementation of universal healthcare created fewer [health disparities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_disparities) for lower-income citizens in Taiwan.[564](../../564/ "tree and pragmatics") According to a recently published survey, out of 3,360 patients surveyed at a randomly chosen hospital, 75.1 percent of the patients said they are "very satisfied" with the hospital service; 20.5 percent said they are "okay" with the service.[565](../../565/ "tree and pragmatics") Only 4.4 percent of the patients said they are either "not satisfied" or "very not satisfied" with the service or care provided.[\[507\]](../../page/7/#ref-507 "note 507")[566](../../566/ "tree and pragmatics") The Taiwanese disease control authority is the [Taiwan Centers for Disease Control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Centers_for_Disease_Control) (CDC).[567](../../567/ "tree and pragmatics") During the [SARS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severe_acute_respiratory_syndrome) outbreak in March 2003 there were 347 confirmed cases.[568](../../568/ "tree and pragmatics") During the outbreak the CDC and local governments set up monitoring stations throughout public transportation, recreational sites and other public areas.[569](../../569/ "tree and pragmatics") With full containment in July 2003, there has not been a case of SARS since.[\[508\]](../../page/7/#ref-508 "note 508")[570](../../570/ "tree and pragmatics") Owing to the lessons from SARS, a [National Health Command Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Health_Command_Center) was established in 2004, which includes the [Central Epidemic Command Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Epidemic_Command_Center) (CECC).[571](../../571/ "tree and pragmatics") The CECC has played a central role in Taiwan's approach to epidemics, including [COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Taiwan).[572](../../572/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2019, the infant mortality rate was 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, with 20 physicians and 71 hospital beds per 10,000 people.[\[509\]](../../page/7/#ref-509 "note 509")[\[510\]](../../page/7/#ref-510 "note 510")[573](../../573/ "tree and pragmatics") Life expectancy at birth in 2020 is 77.5 years and 83.9 years for males and females, respectively.[\[511\]](../../page/7/#ref-511 "note 511")[574](../../574/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/5/) **6** [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/7/) - ← previous: [page 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/5/) - next →: [page 7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/7/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)