Photo: xiangyang17 · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 07 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Taiwan: Environment & Sustainability
How much pressure does a country put on the natural world?
Taiwan is placed joint 143rd of 186 countries on environment & sustainability in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: CO₂ Emissions per Capita 11.3 (2024); Organic Agricultural Area 2.61 (2024).
Share
Environment & Sustainability
joint143rd
of 186 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Taiwan on environment & sustainability — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
11.3
Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)
Lower is better
Taiwan: 11.3. Across the 210 countries in this edition, values run from 0.054 (DR Congo) to 41.27 (Qatar); the world median is 3.21.
- World median
- 3.21
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 1.467 Macau
Key 2 of 4
Water Stress
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2023 figure for Taiwan, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 177 countries in this edition, values run from 0.03 (Republic of the Congo) to 3,851 (Kuwait); the world median is 10.
- World median
- 10
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 4.97 Mongolia
Key 3 of 4
Organic Agricultural Area
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
2.61
Organic share of agricultural land (%)
Higher is better
Taiwan: 2.61. Across the 156 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Afghanistan) to 86.38 (Samoa); the world median is 0.725.
- World median
- 0.725
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 2.61 Taiwan
No reading
Ecological Footprint (global hectares per person)
Lower is better
Global Footprint Network publishes no 2025 figure for Taiwan, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 0.514 (Yemen) to 11.73 (Qatar); the world median is 2.296.
- World median
- 2.296
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 3.757 China
02Over time
Which way Taiwan is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
CO₂ Emissions per Capita
Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person) · lower is better
TaiwanWorld median
Taiwan rose from 10.16 in 2000 to 11.3 in 2024; the world median went from 2.662 to 3.21.
Every year’s figures
Year Taiwan World median 2024 11.30 3.210 2023 11.46 3.145 2022 11.70 3.162 2021 12.05 3.087 2020 11.51 2.903 2019 11.60 3.273 2018 12.01 3.036 2017 12.09 3.049 2016 11.88 2.894 2015 11.74 2.846 2014 11.80 2.919 2013 11.73 2.779 2012 11.71 2.770 2011 11.89 2.748 2010 11.66 2.812 2009 10.92 2.799 2008 11.56 2.979 2007 12.17 2.593 2006 12.07 2.865 2005 11.69 2.885 2004 11.40 2.802 2003 10.99 2.918 2002 10.57 2.785 2001 10.31 2.726 2000 10.16 2.662 Organic Agricultural Area
Organic share of agricultural land (%) · higher is better
TaiwanWorld median
Taiwan rose from 0.16 in 2005 to 2.61 in 2024; the world median went from 0.345 to 0.725.
Every year’s figures
Year Taiwan World median 2024 2.61 0.725 2023 2.26 0.780 2022 1.74 0.740 2021 1.49 0.710 2020 1.37 0.665 2019 1.21 0.550 2018 1.11 0.490 2017 0.82 0.630 2016 0.82 0.545 2015 0.82 0.540 2014 0.74 0.470 2013 0.74 0.440 2012 0.62 0.480 2011 0.62 0.460 2010 0.37 0.330 2009 0.37 0.335 2008 0.29 0.290 2007 0.24 0.370 2006 0.20 0.305 2005 0.16 0.345
03In context
Taiwan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 186 countries on environment & sustainability, never a place within the region.
Taiwan and Eastern Asia
Taiwan has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 186; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | CO₂ Emissions per CapitaFossil CO₂ (tonnes per person) | Water StressFreshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%) | Organic Agricultural AreaOrganic share of agricultural land (%) | Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint (global hectares per person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 North Korea | =121st | 2.36 | 27.74 | — | — |
| Taiwan | =143rd | 11.3 | — | 2.61 | — |
 China | 157th | 8.658 | 41.59 | 0.92 | 3.757 |
 Japan | 161st | 7.772 | 35.4 | 0.48 | 3.936 |
 South Korea | 170th | 11.29 | 85.22 | 2.42 | 5.106 |
 Mongolia | 176th | 12.86 | 4.97 | 0 | 7.527 |
 Hong Kong | not placed | 4.494 | — | — | — |
 Macau | not placed | 1.467 | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 186.
Placed either side on environment & sustainability
The countries immediately above and below Taiwan in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Taiwan is ahead of the world, and behind
18 more statistics filed under environment & sustainability, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median1
Statistics on which Taiwan does better than the middle country measured.
Agricultural Emissions IntensityFAO · 2023 · world median 1.5650.581.565▼ Worsened since 2013
Taiwan: 0.58 · world median 1.565 · Greenhouse gases from farming per value of agricultural output (kg CO₂eq per international dollar). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 28.2; lower is better.
Position 171st of 190 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Taiwan does worse than the middle country measured.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7383.1892.738▲ Improved since 2014
Taiwan: 3.189 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
Municipal Solid Waste GenerationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 0.9661.3570.966No earlier reading
Taiwan: 1.357 · world median 0.966 · Municipal solid waste generated (kg per person per day). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.058 to 4.176; lower is better.
Position 54th of 201 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end15
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Livestock DensityFAO · 2023 · world median 0.5353.120.535No real change since 2013
Taiwan: 3.12 · world median 0.535 · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 43.97.
Position 13th of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.14414.280.144Moved since 2014
Taiwan: 14.28 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.
Cropland Nitrogen BalanceFAO · 2023 · world median 37.63176.9637.63Moved since 2013
Taiwan: 176.96 · world median 37.63 · Nitrogen surplus (+) or deficit (−) on cropland, kg per hectare. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -555.52 to 1,199.
Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · 2024 · world median 52,3751,134,77352,375Moved since 2014
Taiwan: 1,134,773 · world median 52,375 · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 70,500,841.
Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 52516,193525No earlier reading
Taiwan: 16,193 · world median 525 · Coal-fired capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,263,101.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.7313.581.73No real change since 2014
Taiwan: 13.58 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 23rd of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8391.557.83Moved since 2013
Taiwan: 91.5 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 1004,396100No earlier reading
Taiwan: 4,396 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.
Consumption-Based CO₂ EmissionsGlobal Carbon Project · 2023 · world median 12.7980.4612.79No real change since 2013
Taiwan: 80.46 · world median 12.79 · Consumption-based fossil CO₂ (million tonnes of carbon). Global Carbon Project, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.882 to 2,963.
Methane EmissionsEDGAR · 2025 · world median 325.69553.78325.69Moved since 2015
Taiwan: 553.78 · world median 325.69 · Methane emissions (gigagrams of CH₄). European Commission, Joint Research Centre (EDGAR), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.048 to 51,093.
Tree Cover LossWorld Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland) · 2025 · world median 3,7753,0573,775No real change since 2015
Taiwan: 3,057 · world median 3,775 · Tree cover loss (hectares, where canopy cover exceeded 30% in 2000). World Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 6,225,187.
Agricultural EmissionsFAO · 2023 · world median 8,6357,6178,635No real change since 2013
Taiwan: 7,617 · world median 8,635 · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,044,508.
Position 107th of 193 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Temperature Change on LandFAO · 2025 · world median 1.4741.3141.474Moved since 2015
Taiwan: 1.314 · world median 1.474 · Change in mean land-surface temperature against the country's own 1951–1980 average, °C. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.34 to 3.294.
Mangrove AreaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy) · 2025 · world median 8,927604.038,927Moved since 2015
Taiwan: 604.03 · world median 8,927 · Mangrove forest area (hectares). Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.524 to 3,146,544.
Burned AreaGWIS · 2025 · world median 13,824107.3313,824No real change since 2015
Taiwan: 107.33 · world median 13,824 · Burned area (hectares). European Commission Joint Research Centre — Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50,562,035.
No current reading for Taiwan
Adjusted Net Savings, Agricultural Irrigated Land, Agricultural Land, Annual Forest Area Change Rate, Arable Land per Person, Baseline Water Stress (Aqueduct), Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Children's Climate Risk Index, Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN), Coal Share of Electricity Generation, Ecological Footprint, Environmentally Related Tax Revenue, Fertilizer Consumption per Hectare, Forest Area, Forest Area within Legally Established Protected Areas, Land Under Cereal Production, Low-Carbon Share of Electricity Generation, ND-GAIN Country Index, Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, PM2.5 Air Pollution Exposure, Population Living Below 5 m Elevation, Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per Capita, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation, Solar Share of Electricity Generation, Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP), Tropical Moist Forest Deforestation, Water Stress, Water Withdrawal by Sector, Water-Use Efficiency, Wind and Solar Share of Electricity Generation, World Energy Trilemma Index and World Risk Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Environment & Sustainability among Taiwan’s 8 topics
Environment & Sustainability is Taiwan’s 8th best-placed topic of 8. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Gender & Equality2nd of 1833/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 7th of 1773/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade16th of 1773/4 keys
- Digital & Technology21st of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 19th of 1593/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties30th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions30th of 1943/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 143rd of 1862/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Work & Labour, Education & Knowledge, Health & Wellbeing, Development & Human Capital, Risk & Resilience, Food & Agriculture, Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on environment & sustainability
The three countries placed highest of 186, and the leaders Taiwan can most readily be measured against.
1
AngolaMiddle Africa
1st of 186 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Paulo César Santos derivative work: Jjtkk · CC0, greyscale
- 2
São Tomé and PríncipeMiddle Africa
2nd of 186 · 3 of 4 keys
3
Sierra LeoneWestern Africa
3rd of 186 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Palestine24th2/4 keysHighest in Eastern Asia
North Korea=121st2/4 keysThis page
Taiwan=143rd2/4 keys
Positions out of 186 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Taiwan on environment & sustainability: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Taiwan rank on environment & sustainability?
Taiwan is placed joint 143rd of 186 countries on Environment & Sustainability in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (CO₂ Emissions per Capita and Organic Agricultural Area). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest CO₂ Emissions per Capita figure for Taiwan?
11.3 in 2024 (fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)), according to Global Carbon Project. The world median in the same edition was 3.21.
What is the latest Organic Agricultural Area figure for Taiwan?
2.61 in 2024 (organic share of agricultural land (%)), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 0.725.
How have Taiwan’s environment & sustainability figures changed?
CO₂ Emissions per Capita rose from 10.16 in 2000 to 11.3 in 2024; Organic Agricultural Area rose from 0.16 in 2005 to 2.61 in 2024.
Which environment & sustainability statistics are missing for Taiwan?
No current reading is published for Taiwan on Adjusted Net Savings, Agricultural Irrigated Land, Agricultural Land, Annual Forest Area Change Rate, Arable Land per Person, Baseline Water Stress (Aqueduct), Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Children's Climate Risk Index, Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN), Coal Share of Electricity Generation, Ecological Footprint, Environmentally Related Tax Revenue, Fertilizer Consumption per Hectare, Forest Area, Forest Area within Legally Established Protected Areas, Land Under Cereal Production, Low-Carbon Share of Electricity Generation, ND-GAIN Country Index, Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, PM2.5 Air Pollution Exposure, Population Living Below 5 m Elevation, Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per Capita, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation, Solar Share of Electricity Generation, Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP), Tropical Moist Forest Deforestation, Water Stress, Water Withdrawal by Sector, Water-Use Efficiency, Wind and Solar Share of Electricity Generation, World Energy Trilemma Index and World Risk Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Air quality and biodiversity are not keys, because the site does not yet hold data for them that passes every test. Forest cover, farmland, farm emissions and the renewable share of electricity are published here as context. Exposure to natural hazards belongs to Risk & Resilience.
How the Environment & Sustainability standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The environment & sustainability method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- CO₂ Emissions per Capita — Global Carbon Project, CC BY 4.0
- Water Stress — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Organic Agricultural Area — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Ecological Footprint — Global Footprint Network, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 18 statistics on this page come from 9 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Taiwan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Taiwan (banner) — xiangyang17, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Angola — Paulo César Santos derivative work: Jjtkk, CC0
- Sierra Leone — Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Taiwan: Environment & Sustainability — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/taiwan/environment