Origin of Name Tayowan was the name of a coastal sandbank where the Dutch East India Company built Fort Zeelandia, the headquarters of their colony on the island, and "Taiwan" likely derived from that name. The meaning of "Tayowan" is unknown.

Location an island just off the east coast of China

Area 13,887 sq mi (35,967 sq km)
Greatest Distance N-S 235 mi (378 km)
Greatest Distance E-W 90 mi (145 km)
Coastline 555 mi (893 km)
Highest Point Yü Shan; 13,113 ft (3,997 m)
Lowest Point sea level
Natural Resources coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos

Nationality Taiwanese
Population (July 2016 est) 23,464,787
Largest Cities Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung
Languages Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese, Hakka
Religions Buddhist, Taoist, Confucianism, Protestant

Capital Taipei
Form of Government democracy, officially administered as a province of China
Present Constitution Adopted December 25, 1946
Chief of State President Tsai Ing-wan (since May 20, 2016)
Head of Government Premier Lai Ching-te (since September 9, 2017)
Cabinet Executive Yuan, appointed by the President
Legislature unicameral Legislative Yuan
Judiciary Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Local Administration 13 counties (xian), 3 cities (shi), 6 special municipalities

Currency New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
Per Capita Income $46,800
Industries electronics, computer products, chemicals and petrochemicals, basic metals, machinery, textiles, transport equipment, plastics, machinery
Agricultural Products rice, fruits and vegetables, sugarcane; pork, poultry, shrimp, eel
Export Commodities electronics, optical and precision instruments, information and communications products, textile products, basic metals, plastic and rubber products
Import Commodities electronics, optical andprecision instruments, information and communications products, machinery and electrical products, chemicals, basic metals, transport equipment, crude oil

National Holiday Republic Day; anniversary of the Chinese Revolution; October 10 (1911)
Flag red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays; the blue and white design of the canton (symbolizing the sun of progress) dates to 1895 and was later adopted as the flag of the Kuomintang Party; blue signifies liberty, justice, and democracy; red stands for fraternity, sacrifice, and nationalism; white represents equality, frankness, and the people's livelihood; the 12 rays of the sun are those of the months and the twelve traditional Chinese hours (each ray equals two hours)

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This page was last updated on December 25, 2018.