Comparison

Taiwan vs Spain

Side-by-side comparison of how these places approach childhood.

At a glance

Taiwan

In Taiwan, cram schools (buxiban) are so common that streets around them have rush hour at 9 PM.

Taiwan's educational intensity rivals South Korea and Japan โ€” children's evenings are structured around supplementary classes that extend the school day well into the night.

Spain

In Spain, children routinely stay up past 10 PM โ€” and nobody bats an eye.

Family life revolves around late meals, evening paseos, and a rhythm that baffles Northern European parents.

Indicators side by side
Under-5 mortality rate
4.2
Taiwan
3.0
Spain
per 1,000
Education spending (% of GDP)
4.3%
Taiwan
4.3%
Spain
%
Child poverty rate
n/a
Taiwan
20.4%
Spain
%
Corporal punishment
Banned
Taiwan
Banned
Spain
Childcare enrollment (0-2)
20%
Taiwan
37%
Spain
%
Paid parental leave
26 wk
Taiwan
16 wk
Spain
weeks
Child stunting rate
n/a
Taiwan
n/a
Spain
%
Immunization (DPT3)
97%
Taiwan
95%
Spain
%
Adolescent birth rate
4.0
Taiwan
6.8
Spain
per 1,000
PISA average score
547
Taiwan
481
Spain
points
Secondary completion rate
97%
Taiwan
78%
Spain
%
Early childhood education enrollment
96%
Taiwan
97%
Spain
%
Birth registration rate
100%
Taiwan
100%
Spain
%
Child labor rate
0%
Taiwan
0%
Spain
%
Child benefit spending (% of GDP)
0.9%
Taiwan
1.3%
Spain
% of GDP
How they compare
Child independence expectations
Taiwan
Spain
Low High
Structured enrichment emphasis
Taiwan
Spain
Low High
Risk tolerance in play
Taiwan
Spain
Low High
School systems
East Asian model with recent progressive reforms

Taiwan

Nine years of compulsory education plus a 12-year extension making senior high school nearly universal. The curriculum underwent major reform in 2019, adding elective courses and reducing mandatory content. Mandarin is the language of instruction, with Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, and indigenous languages offered.

Continental European model

Spain

School starts at age 6. Strong emphasis on academic content from early grades. Homework is expected from age 6-7. Most schools run 9 AM to 5 PM with a long lunch break.

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โ† Taiwan profile ยท Spain profile โ†’