Destination Taiwan, a Nations Online Project country profile of the island nation off the coast of mainland China in East Asia.
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), was formerly known as Formosa. The largely mountainous island is located between the Strait of Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea, about 370 km (230 mi) north of the Philippines' main island Luzon and approximately 180 km off the southeastern coast of China. The island shares maritime borders with the People's Republic of China, Japan, and the Philippines.
With an area of 36,188 km², Taiwan is slightly larger than Belgium or somewhat smaller than the U.S. states of Maryland and Delaware combined.
Taiwan has a population of 23.2 million (2022), making it one of the most densely populated large countries in the world (behind Bangladesh). The capital is Taipei; the largest city is New Taipei City or Xinbei, an urban agglomeration with 4 million people to the southwest of the capital.
