TAIPEI CITY – LANGUAGE & PEOPLES

台灣 / 臺北市 – 語言 及 人物

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Location of the Island of Taiwan in East Asia
( ontheworldmap.com )

The Island of Taiwan
& Penghu, Kinmen & Matsu Islands
Also shown are:
Green Island ( Lu Dao ) & Orchid Island ( Lan Yu )
( cia.gov )

Location of Taipei City on the Island of Taiwan
( wikipedia.org )

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Links to individual topics for TAIPEI CITY – LANGUAGE & PEOPLES

are displayed on this page in the following categories :

LANGUAGE – 語言

Links to culture of languages & peoples in Taipei

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Click here for the CloudBridge Home Page for Taipei

Click here for links to Culture of Taipei

Click here for links to Business for Taipei

Click here for links to Travel for Taipei

Click here for links to Environment & Nature of Taipei

For links to Languages & Peoples of Taipei City . . . . .

. . . . . please scroll down through this page

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TAIPEI CITY – 台灣 / 臺北市

LANGUAGE & PEOPLES – 語言 及 人物

LANGUAGE – 語 言

THE MOST COMMONLY USED
LANGUAGE in the HOME – 2010
Blue: Mandarin Green: Hokkien
HOT PINK: Hakka
BURGUNDY: Austronesian Langauges
( wikipedia.org )
DISTRIBUTION of FORMOSAN LANGUAGES
before CHINESE COLONIZATION
( wikipedia.org )
% of RESIDENTS USING an
INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE
in the HOUSEHOLD – 2010
( wikipedia.org )
AREAS where HAKKA is the
STATUTORY REGIONAL LANGUAGE
( “HAKKA BASIC ACT” )
( wikipedia.org )

  • Languages in Taipei – 臺北市文化中語言的角色

  • Here’s a breakdown of the main languages & dialects spoken in Taipei, plus some of the social & historical context.

  • Social / Historical Context & Trends :

  • After 1945 (post-Japanese rule), the Republic of China government promoted Mandarin as the national language; it was made the medium of instruction in schools and used in government.
  • britannica.com – Languages of Taiwan @ Britannica .com

  • For many decades, other local languages/dialects (Hokkien, Hakka, indigenous tongues) were discouraged or not given full space in formal domains. But in recent decades, there’s been a cultural revival and growing language policy support for preserving them.

  • Younger generations, especially in Taipei and other urban areas, tend to use Mandarin more, sometimes as their first language. Older generations are more likely to be bilingual or prefer local dialects at home.

  • Major Languages / Dialects :

  • Mandarin Chinese (國語, Guóyǔ / 中文, Zhōngwén) is the official language of Taiwan and is used in government, education, most media, and formal/business settings. The variant in Taiwan (sometimes called “Taiwanese Mandarin”) differs in accent, vocabulary, and usage in some respects from Mainland China’s Mandarin.

  • Taiwanese Hokkien (also called “Taiwanese” and “Min Nan / Minnan”) is a Southern Min Chinese dialect which many people refer to simply as “Taiwanese”. It is widely spoken, especially among older generations, in informal settings (home, local markets, among friends) and in cultural contexts (folk songs, ceremonies). In Taipei, the usage of Hokkien is less universal than in southern or rural parts of Taiwan, but it’s still an important part of local identity for many.

  • Hakka. The Hakka people form another ethnic group with their own variety of Chinese spoken language (Hakka Chinese). Their language is more concentrated in certain communities and regions (e.g. Hsinchu, Miaoli, some northern/northwestern areas). In Taipei there are Hakka speakers but less so compared to areas with heavier Hakka population.

  • Indigenous / Austronesian Languages. Taiwan is home to multiple indigenous groups, each with its own language. These are from tje “Austronesian family of languages”, and are unrelated to Chinese dialects. In Taipei, these languages are less commonly heard in everyday public life, unless there are specific communities or events where the indigenous language is spoken). But these indigenous languages are formally recognized and there are efforts to preserve and revitalkzed their usage.

  • English and Other Foreign Languages. English is taught widely in schools and many people—especially younger people, people in tourism/education/business—can communicate in English to some degree.

  • Due to Taipei being a cosmopolitan city, you’ll also hear other foreign languages among expats, foreign workers, or in certain industries (e.g. Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian languages) though their prevalence varies.

  • taiwannews.com.tw – Languages in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder
  • graphicmaps.com – Languages in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder
  • italki.com – Languages in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder
  • unpo.org – Languages in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder
  • daytranslations.com – Languages in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder

  • EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .
  • scholar.google.com – Languages in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中語言的角色 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – Languages in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中語言的角色 @ YouTube . com
  • images.google.com – Languages in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中語言的角色 @ Google Images

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PEOPLES – 族 群

Original geographic distributions of Taiwanese aboriginal peoples. Some groups are not formally recognized by the central government at the present time as authentic aboriginal groups, and some have been “assimilated” by the ethnic Han Chinese majority. (wikipedia.org)

  • People Groups in Taipei – 臺北市文化中族群的角色

  • Demographic Notes:

  • Population & Density: Taipei City has roughly 2.6 to 2.8 million people. It is very densely populated.

  • Ageing & Education: Like many developed places, Taipei has a relatively ageing population, high education levels, and high literacy.

  • Ethnic Proportions: Hoklo & Mainlanders form the majority of Han Chinese in Taipei. Hakkas are present & increasing in numbers. Indigenous people are a very small percentage (<1%). Foreign nationals / new immigrants are also visible & increasing in numbers.

  • Major Ethnic / Social Groups in Taipei :

  • Hoklo (Minnan 台語族群 / 閩南人). The Hoklo are among the largest Han Chinese ethnic / linguistic groups in Taiwan. Their ancestral roots are in southern Fujian province in China. They speak variants of Southern Min (commonly referred to in Taiwan as Taiwanese / 臺語). Culturally influential: many local customs, festivals, and social norms are shaped by Hoklo traditions.

  • Hakkas (客家人). Another Han Chinese subgroup, originally from different regions of mainland China (especially eastern Guangdong, Fujian). They have their own language (Hakka), with various dialects, and distinct cultural traditions (e.g. music, food). In recent decades, more Hakka people have moved into Taipei, so while historically more rural or in certain regions, they are now part of the urban mix.

  • Mainlanders / Waishengren (外省人) are descendants of people who migrated from mainland China around 1945–1949 (or their descendants). They often came with different regional backgrounds: e.g. from various provinces of China, Mandarin speaking, different customs. In terms of identity, “Mainlander” is a sociocultural/ historical label; by now many have been in Taiwan for several generations.

  • Indigenous (原住民族) / Aboriginal Taiwanese. These are the pre-Han peoples of Taiwan. The government officially recognizes 16 indigenous groups (such as the Atayal, Amis, Bunun, Truku, Paiwan, etc.). In Taipei, indigenous people are a small minority (less than 1% of the population as of 2018) and are more likely to be found in suburban districts rather than densely in the central core. Cultural presence is still significant via festivals, museums, cultural centers. The Ketagalan people are one indigenous group originally from the Taipei Basin.

  • Foreign Nationals / New Immigrants. There is a considerable population of foreigners in Taipei. These include migrant workers, students, expatriates, and spouses of Taiwanese citizens. The major countries of origin for migrant workers tend to be from Southeast Asia (e.g. Indonesia, the Philippines) but also other places.

  • “New Immigrants” / Spouse Migration. Many people have immigrated to Taiwan via marriage; often women from Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, etc.) who marry Taiwanese citizens. They and their children contribute to the multicultural landscape.
    Also, some naturalized citizens or long-term residents.

  • taiwaneverything.cc – Taiwan’s Indigenous Tribes @ Taiwan Everything website
  • iwgia.org – Indigenous peoples in Taiwan @ International Workgroup for Indigenous Arrairs website
  • wikipedia.org – Ketagalan or Ketangalan (凱達格蘭族) People @ Wikipedia . org
  • ebsco.com – Taipei Profile @ EBSCO Information Services website
  • cip.gov.tw – Taiwan Council of Indigenous Peoples website

  • tichr.in – Taiwan info web supersite @ Tichr website (India)
  • wikipedia.org – Taipei – 臺北 @ Wikipedia . org

  • EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .
  • scholar.google.com – People Groups in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中族群的角色 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – People Groups in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中族群的角色 @ YouTube . com
  • images.google.com – People Groups in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中族群的角色 @ Google Images

ETHNIC MINORITIES – 少 數 民 族

Ethnic minorities in the culture of Taiwan. (bbc.co.uk)

  • Ethnic Minorities in Taipei – 臺北市文化中少數民族的角色

  • taiwanho.com – Ethnic minorities in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder
  • worldpopulationreview.com – Taiwan population 2025 @ World Population Review website
  • wikipedia.org – Demographics of Taiwan @ Wikipedia . org
  • lse.ac.uk – Ethnic minorities in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder
  • thenewslens.com – Ethnic minorities in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder

  • factsanddetails.com – Ethnic minorities in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder
  • taipeitimes.com – Aborigines in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • japantimes.co.jp – Ethnic minorities in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder
  • minorityrights.org – Ethnic minorities in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder
  • worldatlas.com – Ethnic minorities in the culture of Taipei – backgrounder
  • wikipedia.org – List of indigenous peoples of Taiwan @ Wikipedia . org

  • EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .
  • scholar.google.com – Ethnic Minorities in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中少數民族的角色 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – Ethnic Minorities in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中少數民族的角色 @ YouTube . com
  • images.google.com – Ethnic Minorities in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中少數民族的角色 @ Google Images

DEMOGRAPHICS – 人 口 分 布

Demographics of Taiwan. (tradingeconomics.com)

Residents per square km. (wikiwand.com)

Population pyramid for Taiwan in 2014, showing number of male and female inhabitants per year of age
Population pyramid for Taiwan in 2014. (wikiwand.com)

  • Demographics of Taipei – 臺北市文化中人口分布的角色
  • ozy.com – Demographics in the culture of Taipei- backgrounder
  • ipfs.io – Demographics in the culture of Taipei- backgrounder
  • ey.gov.tw – Demographics in the culture of Taipei- backgrounder
  • stat.gov.tw – Demographics in the culture of Taipei- backgrounder
  • indexmundi.com – Demographics in the culture of Taipei- backgrounder
  • wikipedia.org – Demographics of Taiwan @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Demographics in the culture of Taipei @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Demographics of Taiwan @ Wikipedia . org
  • worldpopulationreview.com – Demographics in the culture of Taipei- backgrounder
  • gov.taipei – Demographics in the culture of Taipei- backgrounder

  • EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .
  • scholar.google.com – Demographics in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中人口分布的角色 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – Languages in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中語言的角色 @ YouTube . com
  • images.google.com – Languages in the culture of Taipei – 臺北市文化中語言的角色 @ Google Images

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Click here for the CloudBridge Home Page for Taipei

Click here for links to Culture of Taipei

Click here for links to Business for Taipei

Click here for links to Travel for Taipei

Click here for links to Environment & Nature of Taipei

For links to Languages & Peoples of Taipei . . . . .

. . . . . please scroll up through this page

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LATEST PAGE UPDATE: September 27 , 2025 .
最後一次更新時間為:  2025 / 09 / 27 .

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