Taiwan Today

The population of Taipei City fell to a 12-year low last month, according to data released by the city government’s Department of Budget, Accounting and Statistics Oct. 28. DBAS tallies pegged the capital’s number of residents for September at 2,608,596, down 4,009 from the month before. This was a record-high net monthly outflow. Of the city’s 12 administrative regions, the highest outflow occurred in Da-an District, with 934 residents giving up their household registration, followed by Songshan District, 657, and Shihlin District, 560. The only district that posted a net inflow was Nangang, with 63 registrations. Ministry of the Interior statistics reveal that Taipei experienced a net outflow for the first nine months of the year. A total of 14,327 people moved out of the city during this period. In contrast, the population of Taipei County reached an all-time high of 3,862,640 in September, up 4,800 from the month before. Commenting on the data, real estate agencies believe it confirms that housing prices in Taipei City moved up quickly while the public’s purchasing capacity failed to keep pace. As a result, an increased number of residents moved out of the capital to the county, where prices have been relatively lower. (PCT-JSM)