Capital city: Taipei
Nationality: Taiwanese
Population: 22,749,838 (July 2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.06 years; male: 74.31 years; female: 80.08 years (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups that make up the population: Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%

Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

Literacy rate (Definition: age 15 and over can read and write): 94% (1998)

Legal system:based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Industries & Agriculture: electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk, fish

GDP: $528.6 billion (2003 est.)

GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,400 (2003 est.)

Currency: new Taiwan dollar (TWD)

Misc. interesting facts:The mountains extend over the island’s entire north-south length and reach a maximum elevation of 3,997 m (13,114 ft) at Yü Shan (Mount Jade). The average annual precipitation is about 4,000 mm (about 160 in).

Handicrafts: clothes, toys, leather, fur, bamboo, wood products, leather, paper products

References: CIA Fact book http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
World’s Flag Database: http://www.flags.net/