has dominated the
country's political system since independence.

Taiwan:
In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to
Japan, however it reverted to Chinese control after World War II.
Following the communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million
Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the
1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five
decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and
incorporated the native population within its governing structure.
Throughout this period, the island has prospered to become one of
East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issue
continues to be the relationship between Taiwan and China and the
question of eventual reunification.

======================================================================

@Birth rate

Afghanistan:
41.42 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Albania:
19.01 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Algeria:
22.76 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

American Samoa:
24.88 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Andorra:
10.29 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Angola:
46.54 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Anguilla:
15.17 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda:
19.5 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Argentina:
18.41 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Armenia:
11.47 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Aruba:
12.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Australia:
12.86 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Austria:
9.74 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Azerbaijan:
18.44 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Bahamas, The:
19.1 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Bahrain:
20.07 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Bangladesh:
25.3 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Barbados:
13.47 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Belarus:
9.57 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Belgium:
10.74 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Belize:
31.69 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Benin:
44.23 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Bermuda:
12.16 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Bhutan:
35.73 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Bolivia:
27.27 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina:
12.86 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Botswana:
28.85 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Brazil:
18.45 births/1,000 popul