Two Factors Boost Per Capita GDP to Over $40,000 Next Year: DGBAS

(Central News Agency, Pan Ziyu, Taipei, August 15, 2025) The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) today released its economic forecast, estimating GDP growth rates of 4.45% in 2025 and 2.81% in 2026. With the help of two key factors—economic expansion and the appreciation of the New Taiwan Dollar—per capita GDP is expected to exceed $40,000 for the first time next year, reaching $41,019.

According to DGBAS data, Taiwan’s per capita GDP surpassed $30,000 in 2021 and has continued to grow. It is projected to exceed $40,000 by 2026.

Tsai Yu-tai, Director of the DGBAS Department of Comprehensive Statistics, explained that two main factors contribute to next year’s milestone: sustained GDP growth and the exchange rate effect from the NT dollar’s appreciation.

Although former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war has introduced significant uncertainty to the global and Taiwanese economies, Tsai noted that strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) has boosted export performance, serving as a key driver of economic growth.

As the economy expands and GDP increases, coupled with the NT dollar’s rise, per capita GDP is set to surpass the $40,000 threshold.

However, the DGBAS cautioned that five major uncertainties could impact Taiwan’s economic performance: (1) the effects of U.S. tariffs on trade, inflation, and supply chains; (2) the progress of technological developments such as AI and high-performance computing, along with related infrastructure demands; (3) the effectiveness of Taiwan’s fiscal and policy measures in mitigating tariff impacts; (4) spillover effects of geopolitical tensions on the global economy and prices; and (5) the influence of major economies’ monetary policies on financial markets and the real economy. These factors require ongoing attention.