Taiwan's GNP was US$260.9 billion in 1998, the world's 19th largest, figures released by the government showed.
According to figures released by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS), Taiwan's 1998 GNP was the 19th largest internationally, placing it between the GNP's of Switzerland and Belgium.
The US remained the world's largest economic entity in 1998 by recording a GNP totaling US$7.92 trillion, followed by Japan, US$4.09 trillion and Germany, US$2.12 trillion, according to the latest World Development Report by the World Bank.
France, Britain, Italy, mainland China, Brazil, Canada and Spain rounded out the world's top 10 economies last year, ranking from fourth to tenth, in that order, the World Bank report showed.
While Taiwan's GNP was not included in the World Bank annual report, it was believed to be ranked 19th, placing it between Switzerland and Belgium.
Taiwan's GNP in 1998 was a four-year low, resulting from slow economic recovery and the depreciation of the NT dollar against the US dollar, said DGBAS officials.
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