Taiwan is self-governing, with its own elected institutions, currency and administration. The People’s Republic of China claims it; its international status is disputed.
Asia and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Taipei; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapTaiwan has a high mountain spine running through much of the island. Broader plains lie mainly in the west, where many farms and cities are concentrated. The east coast is narrower and often rises steeply toward the interior mountains.
Taroko Gorge illustrates how rivers have cut deeply through mountain rock. Sun Moon Lake occupies an inland basin with a different, more sheltered setting. Smaller offshore islands add volcanic, coral and coastal landscapes beyond the main island.
The north is subtropical and the south more tropical. Monsoon winds and mountain terrain shape rainfall, while higher elevations are cooler than the western lowlands.
Elevation produces major changes in temperature and vegetation. Seasonal monsoon rain and typhoons can bring intense precipitation, while earthquakes reflect the active tectonic setting. Forested slopes and river catchments are important to downstream water supplies.
Red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper-left corner, bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs · institutions
The river valley and Pudu Bridge show the steep terrain of eastern Taiwan.
Photo: Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas or alternatively © CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The lake lies among the hills of central Taiwan.
Photo: Alankang · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Mandarin is the principal language of government and much education. Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, Indigenous languages and Taiwan Sign Language also have recognition within Taiwan’s national-language framework.
Language use varies by generation and community. Written Chinese usually uses traditional characters; Indigenous languages belong to the Austronesian family and are not varieties of Mandarin.
Sources: Taiwan Ministry of Culture · National languages · CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Taiwan was governed by Japan from 1895 to 1945. After the Chinese civil war, the Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan in 1949. Martial law ended in 1987 and the first direct presidential election took place in 1996. Taiwan governs itself; the People’s Republic of China claims it, and its international status is disputed.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs · institutions
Semiconductors, electronics, machinery and services are central. Advanced chip manufacturing makes Taiwan important in global technology supply chains, while imported energy supports industrial production.
electronics, communications and information technology products, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs · institutions
Multiparty democracy under the Republic of China constitutional framework. A directly elected president, an Executive Yuan led by a premier, and an elected Legislative Yuan form the main national institutions.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs · institutions
Three questions about Taiwan.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs · institutions
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.
