Page last updated on February 21,

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

Geographic coordinates:
23 30 N, 121 00 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 35,980 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 139
land: 32,260 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 3,720 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy islands

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
1,566.3 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Terrain:
eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos

Land use:
arable land: 24%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 1%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 75% (2001)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
67 cu km (2000)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
earthquakes; typhoons
volcanism: Kueishantao Island (elev. 401 m), east of Taiwan, is its only historically active volcano, although it has not erupted in centuries

Environment - current issues:
air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status

Geography - note:
strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait