Good to know
Good to Know
- Kaohsiung's economic center status drives significant business and tech presence, particularly in semiconductors, AI, and manufacturing—major draws for international workers and entrepreneurs.
- Foreign residents in Kaohsiung come predominantly from Southeast Asian countries (Indonesian, Vietnamese, Filipino nationals), reflecting labor migration and family reunification patterns.
- Taiwan-wide foreign resident percentage (4.1% as of late 2024) is higher than many Asian peers but lower than Western countries; Kaohsiung likely tracks similarly or higher due to its port and manufacturing base.
- The Asia New Bay Area 5G AIoT Innovation Park in Kaohsiung hosts 13 international accelerators and has attracted significant startup activity, making it increasingly accessible for remote workers and tech-focused nomads.
Foreign Residents In Kaohsiung Historical
- Year
- 2010
- Count
- 21000
- Note
- Most recent specific data for Kaohsiung city
Breakdown
Mainland Chinese
- Count
- 12353
Vietnamese
- Count
- 4244
Japanese and Indonesian (Combined)
- Count
- 800
Other Asians and Europeans/Americans
- Count
- 4000
Notable Foreign Nationalities Taiwan Wide
- Note
- Top nationalities in Taiwan; Kaohsiung likely reflects similar patterns given port/industrial presence
Top 3
Indonesian
- Rank
- 1
- Year
- 2024
- Count Taiwan
- 316561
Vietnamese
- Rank
- 2
- Year
- 2024
- Count Taiwan
- 286696
Filipino
- Rank
- 3
- Year
- 2024
- Count Taiwan
- 173469
City Ranking
Taiwan's third-most populous city after New Taipei and Taichung
Total Population
- Year
- 2026
- Estimate
- 2713913
- Source Date
- June 2026
Ethnic Composition
- Han Chinese
- Majority (Hoklo, Hakka, and Waishengren subgroups)
Indigenous Peoples
- Location
- Mountain indigenous districts such as Taoyuan and Namasia
- Main Groups
- Bunun, Rukai, Saaroa, Kanakanavu
Religious Minorities
- Year
- Recent (estimated)
- Muslim Population Kaohsiung
- 25000
Foreign Born Percentage
- Percentage
- 4.1
- Year
- 2024
- Note
- Taiwan-wide foreign resident ratio
- Context
- As of November 2024, 957,647 foreign residents in Taiwan total
Business And Tech Presence
Innovation Park
- Name
- Asia New Bay Area 5G AIoT Innovation Park
- International Accelerators
- 13
- Investments And Opportunities
- NT$2,700,000,000
Major Companies
- Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE)
- NXP Semiconductors Taiwan
- China Steel Corporation
- Kwang Yang Motor Co. Ltd.
Startup Rankings
- Healthtech Industry Global Rank
- 307
- Software Data Industry Global Rank
- 421
Semiconductor Hub
- Specifics
- TSMC has a 2-nanometer fabrication facility; Nvidia and Cisco have arrived
- Key Players
- TSMC, AMD, Nvidia
- Description
- Kaohsiung is a major semiconductor and AI innovation center in southern Taiwan
Startup Ecosystem
- Event
- 2025 Meet Greater South (August 22-23 at Kaohsiung Exhibition Center)
- Focus Areas
- Semiconductors, AI, and sustainability
- Countries Represented
- 9
- International Startups
- 300
Population Density Per Km2
922
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Kaohsiung
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.