Taiwan

Taiwan:

Region: Eastern Asia – China

Capital: N/A

Official Language/s: Mandarin Chinese

Population: 23000000

Currency: New Taiwan Dollar

Government: Semi-Presidential System (China)

Demographics: The population of Taiwan is estimated to be 22 million people and is spread across a total land area of 35,980 km². Taiwan is the fifteenth most densely populated country in the world and according to official governmental statistics 98% of Taiwan’s population is made up of Han Chinese. Around 93% of the religious population follow a mixture of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism and Christianity. Taiwan is suffering from a decline in birth rates and population growth is just 0.30% for 2007.

Geography: The island of Taiwan lies 120 kilometers off the southeastern coast of mainland China and has an area of 35,801 km2. The East China Sea lies to the north, the Philippine Sea to the east and the South China Sea to the southwest. The island consists of  both rugged mountains in the east and flat rolling plains in the west that are also home to most of Taiwan’s population.

Pollution: Taiwan suffers from heavy pollution as a result of its large population and many factories. However since the mandatory use of unleaded gasoline and the Environmental Protection Agency was introduced the air quality of Taiwan has improved dramatically. Motor scooters two-stroke versions also contribute excessively to air pollution in Taiwan.

Natural Resources: Taiwan’s mineral resources such as  coal, gold and marble have been virtually exhausted. Much of its forestry resources have also been harvested for the construction of shrines. Today remaining forests do not contribute to significant timber production due to concerns about production costs and regulations of environmental protection.

Religion: Over 93% of Taiwanese are adherents of a combination of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Only 4.5% are adherents of Christianity, which includes Protestants, Catholics, Mormons, and other non-denominational Christian groups. Taiwanese aborigines make up a notable subgroup among Christians with church buildings being the most obvious markers of Aboriginal villages.