Taiwan: Introduction

Population of main cities including suburbs: Taipei (6,750,000); Kaohsiung (2,775,000); Taichung (2,275,000).

Ethnic Origins: Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, Mainland Chinese 14%, indigenous 2%.

Official Language: Mandarin Chinese.

Other Languages Spoken: Official language: Chinese mandarin, although the Min Nan Hua Taiwanese (dialect of the South of Fujian) and the Hakka (indigenous language) are widely spoken.

Business Language(s): English

Religion: Taiwan is highly diversified in terms of religious faith, with the practice of Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity, Mormonism, the Unification Church, Islam, and Hinduism, as well as native sects such as Yiguandao and others.

Type of State: Taiwan has for all practical purposes been independent for half a century but China considers it as a part of its territory and wants it re-united with the mainland. Legally, most nations and even the United Nations (UN) acknowledge the position of the Chinese government that Taiwan is a province of China. However in reality Taiwan (official name: Republic of China) is an independent republic state based on parliamentary democracy and has a semi-presidential form of government.

Type of Economy: High-income economy, emerging financial market.
World leader in the production of high technology products

Telephone Code:
To Make a Call From Taiwan, Dial 002
To Make a Call to Taiwan, Dial +886

Internet Suffix: .tw

Computers: 57.5 per 100 Inhabitants

Telephone Lines: 62.0 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 65.7 per 100 Inhabitants