The Family and Demography in Contemporary Taiwan

This paper analyzes changes in the family of Taiwan in the context of demographic change and ideological characteristics. The analysis is mainly based on a series of KAP surveys from 1965 to 1985, which interviewed representative samples of the households with married women of ages 20-39 in Taiwan. The results indicate that although the traditional Chinese family system persists, it is being eroded by the rapid social and demographic changes. Following the resolution of extended families, the proportions of nuclear family increased significantly, and the size of family reduced. Although most women eventually get married, the age at marriage increased and the divorce rate also increased. The family structure varies significantly by region and traditional beliefs.