Taiwan

Economy & industry overview

Taiwan is a high-income, export-oriented economy in East Asia whose growth is anchored by a world-leading semiconductor and electronics manufacturing sector. The island is home to TSMC, the world's largest dedicated contract chipmaker, and a dense supply chain of integrated-circuit designers, printed-circuit-board makers, server assemblers, and precision component manufacturers. Services account for roughly 60% of GDP while industry, dominated by electronics and petrochemicals, contributes around 34%. Taiwan recorded real GDP growth of approximately 5.3% in 2024, accelerating further in 2025–2026 driven by surging global demand for AI chips, servers, and advanced packaging. The economy runs a substantial trade surplus and holds one of the world's largest foreign-exchange reserve positions.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$801.50B
GDP growth real, annual	5.3%
Inflation annual	2.0%
Population people	23.3M
GDP per capita USD	$34,059
Market cap total listed, USD	$2.50T
Market cap / GDP	312.0%
Unemployment	3.4%
Listed companies	898
Exchange	Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE)

Data year: 2024. Sources: Taiwan Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS), IMF World Economic Outlook 2024, Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation (TWSE) Fact Book 2025, Wikipedia – Economy of Taiwan, FocusEconomics – Taiwan, CountryEconomy.com – Taiwan GDP 2024, CEIC Data – Taiwan Unemployment Rate, Taiwan Government Portal (taiwan.gov.tw), Statista – Taiwan Unemployment Rate, Wikipedia – Taiwan Stock Exchange, Wikipedia – List of Largest Companies in Taiwan (Forbes Global 2000).

Local exchange & access

Exchange	Taiwan Stock Exchange
Code	TWSE
Website	www.twse.com.tw
Currency	TWD

Local broker access

Foreign retail investors cannot directly open brokerage accounts on the TWSE without a local presence in most cases. US-based investors typically access Taiwan equities through US-listed ETFs (e.g., EWT, FLTW) or through ADRs/NYSE-listed shares of major companies such as TSMC (TSM), ASX (ASX), and UMC (UMC). Some international online brokers (Interactive Brokers, for example) provide direct TWSE access for eligible non-resident accounts, but regulatory and account requirements apply. Dividend withholding tax for non-residents is generally 21%.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only. Not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Taiwan offers a relatively straightforward pathway for skilled foreign professionals through the Employment Gold Card (valid 1–3 years, renewable), covering sectors such as technology, finance, law, and the arts. General work visas require employer sponsorship. The cost of living is moderate by East Asian standards; Taipei is the most expensive city. National Health Insurance coverage is available to legal residents after a qualifying period. Taiwan does not have a bilateral tax treaty with the United States.