Taiwan Ranks Globally 20th in PPP-based GDP in 2011: World Bank

Based on the latest information released by the World Bank, Taiwan's gross domestic product (GDP) reached US$465.2 billion in 2011 to rank globally No. 26, with its GDP to surge to US$907.1 billion and advance to No. 20 if based on purchasing power parity (PPP), according to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting & Statistics (DGBAS).

Taiwan's 2011 per-capita GDP came to US$20,000 to rank globally 50th, but as high as US$39,059 to rank 27th if based on PPP.

DGBAS officials say that comparison of GDPs globally is typically based on exchange rate with the U.S. dollar, which often fluctuates due to governmental interference and/or market speculators, with such comparison also influenced by global commodity price differences.

So the World Bank has decided to use PPP to evaluate real, national or regional economic scale as PPP determines relative value of currencies, and PPP exchange rates help to minimize misleading international comparisons that arise with the use of market exchange rates. (JL)

Per Capita GDP of World's Major Economies in 2011 based on PPP
Economies	Per Capita GDP (US$)	Rank
Singapore	72,296	6
Switzerland	51,582	10
Hong Kong	50,129	11
U.S.	49,782	12
Taiwan	39,059	27
U.K.	35,091	32
Japan	34,262	33
South Korea	29,035	41
China	10,057	99

Source: DGBAS