Taiwan: flag, capital, currency and history
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (Taiwan), is a self-governing island territory in Eastern Asia, Asia. Its capital is Taipei. The currency is the New Taiwan dollar. Languages spoken include Chinese.
Quick facts about Taiwan
- Official name
- Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Capital
- Taipei
- Region
- Asia, Eastern Asia
- Currency
- New Taiwan dollar (TWD, $)
- Languages
- Chinese
- Calling code
- +886
- Internet domain
- .tw
- Area
- 36,193 km² (13,974 sq mi)
- Land borders
- None (island or surrounded by water)
- Demonym
- Taiwanese
Flag of Taiwan
Download the flag of Taiwan as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇹🇼.
History of Taiwan
Austronesian-speaking Indigenous peoples lived on Taiwan for thousands of years before large-scale Han Chinese settlement. The Dutch and Spanish established outposts in the 1620s, and the Dutch were expelled in 1662 by Koxinga. The Qing dynasty took control in 1683 and ruled until ceding the island to Japan in 1895. After Japan's defeat in 1945, the Republic of China administered Taiwan, and its government relocated there in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War. Martial law ended in 1987, and democratic elections followed. Taiwan's political status is disputed, and it is governed separately from mainland China.
Key dates
- 1624The Dutch East India Company establishes a base at Tainan.
- 1662Koxinga's forces expel the Dutch from Taiwan.
- 1683The Qing dynasty takes control of Taiwan.
- 1895Taiwan is ceded to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War.
- 1945The Republic of China takes over administration of Taiwan after Japan's surrender.
- 1949The Republic of China government relocates to Taipei.
- 1987Martial law is lifted.
A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.
Currency of Taiwan
Taiwan uses the New Taiwan dollar (TWD, $). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.
Festivals and greetings in Taiwan
Celebrations observed in Taiwan, with free greeting images and wishes you can personalise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Taiwan?
The capital of Taiwan is Taipei.
What currency does Taiwan use?
Taiwan uses the New Taiwan dollar (TWD, symbol $).
What languages are spoken in Taiwan?
Languages used in Taiwan include Chinese.
What is the calling code of Taiwan?
The international calling code of Taiwan is +886. Its internet domain is .tw.
Which countries border Taiwan?
Taiwan has no land borders and is surrounded by water.
On which continent is Taiwan?
Taiwan is in Asia, in the region of Eastern Asia.
More countries in Eastern Asia
Country data from the open mledoze/countries dataset (ODbL), with corrections. Flags from flag-icons (MIT).