Taiwan's population density stood at 629 per square kilometer at the end of last year, still the world's second-highest among countries with a population of more than 10 million, according to a report yesterday by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics.
The country's population numbered 22.77 million at the end of last year, up 81,000 from a year before, the report said.
The natural increase (births minus deaths) in the population amounted to 66,000, while net migration accounted for an additional 15,000 people. An increase in the number of foreign spouses and a decrease in the number of people emigrating were the main reasons for the latter figure, the report said.
The population density of 629 per square kilometer was slightly higher than the figure of 627 for the end of 2004, the report said.
Among countries with a population of more than 10 million, only Bangladesh has a higher population density at 1,001.5 per square kilometer. South Korea is third with a population density of 486.5 per square kilometer, the report said.
Jhongli and Taoyuan City in Taoyuan County were the areas with the largest population increase, rising by 28,000 last year.
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