The People

The great majority of the Taiwanese are descendants of 18th- and 19th-century immigrants from adjacent mainland provinces of China, particularly Fujian. More recent arrivals—those who fled mainland China in 1949 and their descendants—form the most influential group on the island.

Mandarin Chinese is the official language, but southern Chinese dialects are commonly used by most of the people. Buddhism and Taoism are the main religious beliefs.

Education is free and compulsory for children aged 6 to 15. Taiwan has many private and government institutions of higher learning, chief of which is National Taiwan University, at Taipei.