According to the 2008 nationwide Hakka population survey, 13.5 percent of the people polled identified themselves as Hakka only; 7 percent said they were blood-related to Hakka, and 5.1 percent considered themselves partly Hakka. In total, 25.6 percent of the island's overall population, or 5.88 million people, considered themselves Hakka.
The poll also revealed that on average 85 percent of Hakka people said they were proud to be Hakka. The percentage neared 90 percent for the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups.
The nationwide survey was conducted by telephone in 368 cities and townships, including the offshore islands of Kinmen, Lienchiang and Penghu. A total of 51,803 valid answers were collected--around 15,000 more than in 2004. The survey was conducted from July 30 to Sept. 26, 2008 and has a 0.5-percent margin of error with a 95-percent level of confidence.
The Hakka people are a sub-ethnic group of Han Chinese and are said to have come from the central region of mainland China. After a series of migrations, they settled eventually in the southern and eastern areas of the mainland. According to Chiu Yen-kuei, an expert on Hakka history, the first Hakka settlers arrived in Taiwan at the end of the 17th century.
Hakka represent the second largest sub-ethnic group in Taiwan after Holo, another subgroup of Han people originating from mainland China's southern province of Fujian.
According to the survey, most Hakka in northern Taiwan live in Taoyuan, Hsinchu or Miaoli, while in the south, most reside in either Kaohsiung or Taitung. Small groups can also be found in central Taiwan and Hualien in the east. Several cities, including Taipei, are home to over 30,000 Hakkas. "Thanks to the survey, we better understand now how the Hakka population is distributed around the island," said Huang.
During his presidential campaign, President Ma Ying-jeou promised that townships with an over 40-percent Hakka population would be classified as major development areas of Hakka culture, while cities and counties with an over 10-percent Hakka population should set up a bureau to coordinate Hakka affairs. Huang said the survey would help define which areas meet these qualifications.
The poll also showed that most Hakka people are satisfied with the council's work. The council was founded in 2001 to promote the Hakka language and culture. Huang explained they are currently working on a Web site to allow people to learn more about the Hakka language, history, culture and music.
Write to Jean Yueh at yueh@mail.gio.gov.tw