Taiwan’s domestic and international population migration numbers decreased last year, according to Ministry of the Interior’s Department of Statistics Jan. 19.
Net domestic migration dropped to 1.74 million in 2012, down 1 percent from the year before, while international migration decreased to 16,343, a dip of 1.5 percent for the same period.
“This development may be connected to reduced housing transactions brought about by the implementation of the luxury tax in June 2011,” an MOI official said. “The fact that there were fewer foreign immigrants and Taiwan people moving abroad might also have contributed.”
MOI statistics revealed that Kaohsiung, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Taipei cities plus Taoyuan County accounted for 73 percent of domestic population migration.
Overall, the population tends to be moving northwards, the official said, adding that last year Taipei City grew by 3.51 percent, or 9,339, while Taoyuan County notched up 3.94 percent, or 7,967, of growth.
Both areas recorded positive net migration rates three years in a row, the official said, crediting Taipei City’s increase to the launch of a series of social welfare measures such as a subsidy of NT$20,000 (US$690) for residents with newborn babies.
But this trend is slowing as other local governments roll out similar incentives, the official said, adding that Taoyuan County grew in population on the back of lower housing prices.
The MOI found that 170,353 people moved to northern Taiwan from 2007-2012. During the same period, the central, eastern and southern parts of the country experienced population drops of 21,213; 14,686; and 35,353, respectively. (JSM)
Write to Rachel Chan at ccchan@mofa.gov.tw