Life in Taiwan: Every Number That Shapes It (1800–2100)

To look at the numbers defining Taiwan is to see the quiet, cumulative transformation of daily existence. Across three centuries, the story is written in the lengthening of a single lifespan from 45 to 76 years and the dramatic fall of child mortality from 220 to 15 per 1,000 births. This data tracks the transition from rural hardship to modern stability. It is the story of a society that has consistently expanded the baseline of human security, shifting the focus of life from mere survival toward the pursuit of education and connection.

The historical arc reveals a striking pivot. In the 1950s, 65 percent of the population lived in extreme poverty, while today that figure is 1.5 percent. Education has climbed from 2.5 to 9.5 years of schooling, mirroring the shift toward an urbanized nation where 60 percent of people live in cities. Simultaneously, the transition from 15 to 97 percent of homes having electricity illustrates the rapid electrification of the island. These figures collectively map the migration from agrarian labor to a digital era defined by 65 percent internet access.

For a child born in Taiwan in the 2020s, the world is fundamentally different than it was for previous generations. With an average income of 16,000 international dollars and a fertility rate of 1.8 births per woman, the structure of the family and the economy has reached a new equilibrium. Even the physical body has evolved, with the average male height rising from 163 to 172 cm. While annual working hours have decreased from 2,600 to 2,100, the homicide rate has also fallen, settling at 1.8 per 100,000.

See your parallel life in Taiwan.