Location

Islands located in Eastern Asia, north of the Philippines, off the south-eastern coast of China, bordering the East China Sea

Capital

Taipei

Surface

35,980 sq km

Population

22,600,000 (2003 est.) Taiwanese (84%) - Aboriginal (2%) - Chinese (14%)

Currency

New Taiwan dollar (TWD)

GDP

Purchasing power parity - $380billion (2001 est.)

GDP/capita

Purchasing power parity - $13,000 (2002)

Language

Mandarin Chinese (official) - Taiwanese (Min) - Hakka dialects

Religion

Buddhist - Confucian and Taoist (over 90%) - Christian - other

Government

President - Chen Shui-bian - Vice President- Annette Lu

Time Zone

GMT +8 hours

Telecom Code

+886 and local 8 digit number

Airport

Taipei-Chiang Kai Shek International Airport (TPE/RCTP) - 40km (24miles) from Taipei

Driving

On right hand side of the road, license required

Electrical

110V- 60 Hz

Political climate

Stable country