China vs Taiwan
China
Taiwan
| Metric | China | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Beijing | Taipei |
| Population | 1,416,096,094 | 23,112,793 |
| Area (km²) | 9,596,961 | 36,193 |
| Population density (/km²) | 148 | 639 |
| GDP per capita (USD) | $13,900 | $39,500 |
| Region | Eastern Asia | Eastern Asia |
| Currency | CNY | TWD |
| Languages | Mandarin | Mandarin |
| Main religions | Buddhism, Taoism, Folk religions | Buddhism, Taoism |
| Time zone | UTC+8 | UTC+8 |
Green highlights the higher value (or higher GDP per capita). Figures are approximate.
At a glance
China and Taiwan are both located in Asia (both in Eastern Asia). China has the larger population — about 61× the population of Taiwan, while China covers more land area.
For full geographic detail, see the China map and the Taiwan map.
Separated by the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan is an island of about 36,000 km² lying off China's southeast coast, separated from Fujian province by the Taiwan Strait, which is roughly 130 km wide at its narrowest. The People's Republic of China (PRC) governs the mainland, while Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), also administers the Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu islands; Kinmen sits only a few kilometres from the mainland city of Xiamen. Taiwan has a mountainous spine, with most people living on its western plains.
How the split happened
Qing China ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895, and the ROC government took control of the island after Japan's defeat in 1945. In 1949, at the end of the Chinese Civil War, the Communist Party founded the PRC in Beijing and the ROC government under the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan. Both governments long claimed to represent all of China. In 1971 the UN seat passed to the PRC. Taiwan lifted martial law in 1987 and held its first direct presidential election in 1996; it is now a multiparty democracy, while the PRC is a one-party state.
Competing positions
The PRC regards Taiwan as part of its territory, says unification is its goal and has not ruled out the use of force. Taiwan's government says the ROC is a sovereign state and that its future should be decided by its people; opinion polls in Taiwan have long shown most people favouring maintaining the status quo. Most countries, including the United States, have formal diplomatic relations with Beijing rather than Taipei, and as of 2026 only about a dozen states recognise the ROC. Many others keep unofficial ties through trade and cultural offices. The PLA's military activity around the island has increased in recent years.
Economy, language and links
The mainland's economy is vastly larger, but Taiwan is wealthier per person and is the world's leading maker of advanced semiconductors. Despite political tensions, the two are major trading partners and many Taiwanese firms have invested on the mainland. Mandarin is the main language on both sides, but Taiwan uses traditional characters while the mainland uses simplified ones; Taiwanese Hokkien and Hakka are also widely spoken in Taiwan. Direct cross-strait flights resumed in 2008.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Taiwan part of China?
- This is disputed. The People's Republic of China claims Taiwan as part of its territory; Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, has governed itself since 1949 and says it is a sovereign state. Most countries formally recognise Beijing but keep unofficial ties with Taipei.
- How wide is the Taiwan Strait?
- About 130 km at its narrowest point, between Taiwan's west coast and Fujian province on the mainland.
- Do China and Taiwan speak the same language?
- Mandarin is the main language in both, but Taiwan writes it with traditional characters and the mainland with simplified characters. Taiwanese Hokkien and Hakka are also common in Taiwan.