Japan Is Not #1! Taiwan's Foreign Resident Population Surpasses 1.07 Million — Which Country Tops the List?

Walking through the streets of Taiwan, encountering foreign residents from various countries has become part of daily life. From engineers in the tech industry and foreign teachers to manufacturing workers and home caregivers, the number of foreign residents in Taiwan has steadily increased in recent years.

According to the latest statistics from Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior, Immigration Agency, as of the end of June 2026, the number of foreign residents in Taiwan reached 1,074,071.

Which country has the most residents in Taiwan? The answer is not Japan or the United States, but Indonesia.

Taiwan's Foreign Resident Population Surpasses 1.07 Million — A Clear Increase Over 10 Years

According to the Immigration Agency's "Foreign Residents by Nationality, June 2026" report, as of June 30, 2026, there were 1,074,071 foreign residents in Taiwan.

Compared to 1,028,945 at the end of 2025, this represents an increase of 45,126 people in just six months—an approximate growth rate of 4.4%.

When viewed over a longer period, the upward trend becomes even clearer. According to Ministry of the Interior statistics, at the end of 2016, there were 671,375 foreign residents in Taiwan holding valid residence permits. The number generally increased thereafter. In 2021, due to the impact of the pandemic and border controls, the number temporarily dropped to 752,900. However, it rebounded afterward and, by the end of 2025, surpassed the one-million mark for the first time, reaching 1,028,945.

From the end of 2016 to the end of 2025—a span of nine years—the number increased by over 350,000, a rise of more than 50%.

Which Country Has the Most Foreign Residents in Taiwan? Indonesia Takes the Top Spot

According to the Immigration Agency's data as of the end of June 2026, Indonesia has the largest number of foreign residents in Taiwan.

It should be noted that this "foreign resident" statistic from the Ministry of the Interior does not include individuals from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau. These groups are categorized separately under the current statistical system.

Based on official data, the top 10 nationalities among foreign residents in Taiwan as of June 2026 are:

- 1st: Indonesia — 364,408 - 2nd: Vietnam — 324,577 - 3rd: Philippines — 207,286 - 4th: Thailand — 84,670 - 5th: Malaysia — 22,501 - 6th: Japan — 14,199 - 7th: United States — 9,774 - 8th: Myanmar — 7,895 - 9th: India — 6,792 - 10th: South Korea — 4,557

Indonesian residents exceed 364,000, followed by approximately 325,000 from Vietnam, and about 207,000 from the Philippines in third place.

The top four countries—Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand—collectively account for 980,941 people, or about 91.3% of all foreign residents. The top 10 nationalities combined total 1,046,659, representing approximately 97.4% of the total.

Why Are There So Many Residents from Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines?

The concentration of foreign residents from Southeast Asian countries in Taiwan is closely linked to Taiwan's long-standing demand for migrant labor.

According to Ministry of the Interior statistics, as of the end of 2025, there were 1,028,945 foreign residents in Taiwan holding valid residence permits. Among them, 751,806 (73.1%) held work permits, making them the largest group by residency status.

Next are foreign spouses who have not yet naturalized as citizens of the Republic of China, totaling 62,971 (6.1%). The rest include teachers, business professionals, engineers, and others with various residency statuses.

In other words, more than seven out of every ten foreign residents in Taiwan are migrant workers.

The nationality breakdown of migrant workers shows a similar pattern. As of the end of 2025, among migrant workers in Taiwan, Indonesians numbered 293,311, Vietnamese 229,643, Filipinos 161,551, and Thais 67,082—these four countries making up the vast majority.

Therefore, Taiwan's primary sources of migrant labor—Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand—naturally become the top four countries in terms of overall foreign resident population.

Japanese and Americans in Taiwan Are Fewer Than You Might Think

In contrast, although Taiwan maintains close ties with Japan and the United States, and Japanese and American nationals are highly visible in media and daily life, their actual resident populations are significantly smaller compared to Southeast Asian countries.

As of the end of June 2026, Japanese residents numbered 14,199 (6th), and Americans 9,774 (7th).

The number of Japanese residents is less than 4% of Indonesian residents, and Americans number fewer than 10,000.

Myanmar, India, and South Korea rank 8th to 10th, with 7,895, 6,792, and 4,557 residents, respectively.

This shows that the common impression of "a certain nationality being frequently seen" does not necessarily reflect the overall foreign population structure. The concentration of foreigners in specific occupations, industries, and residential areas also influences public perception.

"Foreign Residency" Does Not Mean Permanent Residency or Citizenship

It's important to note that "foreign resident population surpassing 1.07 million" does not mean all 1.07 million have obtained permanent residency in Taiwan, nor does it mean they have naturalized as citizens of the Republic of China.

The Immigration Agency's statistics count all foreign nationals holding valid residence permits, including migrant workers, foreign spouses, teachers, engineers, business professionals, and others who meet residency requirements.

Nevertheless, the increase from approximately 670,000 at the end of 2016 to over 1.02 million by the end of 2025, and now reaching 1,074,071 as of June 2026, clearly indicates that foreign residents are playing an increasingly important role in Taiwan's population and labor force structure.

Sources

- Ministry of the Interior, Immigration Agency, "Foreign Residents by Nationality, June 2026," data as of June 30, 2026, published July 27, 2026. - Ministry of the Interior, Statistics Division, "115th Year, 18th Week Interior Statistics Bulletin," end-of-2025 foreign resident count: 1.029 million. - Ministry of the Interior, Immigration Agency, "Foreign Resident Statistics Database."