Officially part of China, Taiwan is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean which has historically been embroiled in controversies with the neighbouring People’s Republic of China over the status of its sovereignty. Taiwan is a comparatively wealthy country due to its rapid industrialisation in the second half of the twentieth century.
Over 85% of the Taiwanese population practise one of the traditional Chinese religions, including Buddhism, Taoism and Yiguandao. Approximately 6% identify as Christian.
Country Facts
- Region: East Asia
- Capital: Taipei
- Population: 23.4 million
- Area: 35,980 km2
- Religions: Ethnic religions 61.2% (includes Taoism and Confucianism), Buddhist 27.3%, Christianity 6% (includes Roman Catholic and Protestant)
- Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka dialects
