Discover
The identity of the nation
Taiwan is a modern island that blends skyscrapers, cutting edge tech factories and temples that draw crowds every day. With roughly 23 million people, the country brings together a large majority of Han Chinese origin, who arrived on the island in different waves over the centuries, and sixteen Austronesian indigenous peoples who already lived there long before that arrival. Politically, Taiwan functions as an autonomous, democratic state, but it lives under the constant shadow of China’s claim to sovereignty over it, which creates tension and uncertainty about the future.
The most widely practiced faith in Taiwan is a mix of traditional Chinese religion, Buddhism and Taoism, tied to ancestor worship (the practice of honoring and asking favors of deceased relatives). It is common to see, right next to modern buildings, temples where people burn incense and make offerings to popular deities, such as Mazu, the goddess of the sea. This religiosity is deeply tied to family identity: honoring one’s ancestors is seen as the duty of every son and daughter, which makes conversion to Christianity a weighty decision, one that often comes at a high cost at home.
Christianity reached the island back in the seventeenth century, brought by Dutch missionaries, but it was banned soon after Dutch rule on the island ended. It took root again in the nineteenth century, mainly through the work of the Presbyterian Church, today the country’s largest Protestant denomination and one of the few institutions that resisted the military dictatorship while defending the rights of the Taiwanese people. Despite this history, Christians remain a small minority: about 6% of the population, counting Catholics and Protestants together.
The church in Taiwan is strongest among the indigenous peoples, where in some communities the majority already consider themselves Christian, though they still need more discipleship and depth in the faith. Among the Han Chinese majority, especially the Hakka, the gospel has still found little response, and the Christian faith is often seen as something foreign. The younger generation, raised amid material prosperity and the fast pace of the big cities, tends to drift away from both traditional religion and any organized faith.
Even so, Taiwan holds a strategic place in God’s heart for Asia: it is one of the few places in the Chinese world with full religious freedom, with a local church mature enough to train leaders and send workers to other parts of Asia. The Taiwanese people are known for their hospitality, hard work and creativity, gifts that can be used powerfully to carry the gospel beyond the island’s borders.
- Austronesian indigenous peoples have inhabited the island for thousands of years, long before the arrival of any group from mainland China
- 1624 Dutch traders found a colony in the south of the island and bring the first Christian missionaries, who create a writing system for the indigenous peoples
- 1662 Chinese general Koxinga expels the Dutch and bans Christianity, persecuting the first converts
- 17th-19th century The island comes under the administration of the Qing dynasty, from mainland China
- 1895-1945 After losing a war, China cedes the island to Japan, which governs it as a colony for fifty years
- 1945 With the end of World War II, the island returns to Chinese control
- 1949 The Chinese nationalist government takes refuge on the island after losing the civil war to the communists, and Taiwan remains a separate territory
- 1949-1987 The country lives under martial law, one of the longest periods of a state of emergency in history
- 1987 End of martial law and the beginning of democratic opening
- 1996 First direct presidential election
- Today Taiwan is a consolidated democracy and one of the world's leading technology powers, especially in semiconductor manufacturing, but it lives under constant tension because of the dispute with China
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MandarinThe official language, taught in schools and spoken by nearly the entire population
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Taiwanese (Hokkien)A variant of Min Nan Chinese, the everyday language for a large part of the population, especially older people
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HakkaSpoken by the Hakka minority, one of the oldest Chinese groups on the island
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Austronesian indigenous languagesSpoken by the sixteen officially recognized indigenous peoples, many at risk of disappearing
Taiwan is an island in the Pacific Ocean, separated from mainland China by the Taiwan Strait. Much of the territory is covered by high mountains and forests, with the peak of Yushan rising above 3,900 meters. The large cities and most of the population are concentrated on the plains in the west of the island. Sitting in an area where tectonic plates meet, the country frequently experiences earthquakes and is hit by typhoons almost every year.
Major cities
- TaipeiCapital and financial center of the country, known for its night markets and the Taipei 101 skyscraper
- New TaipeiThe country's most populous city, forming a large urban belt around the capital
- KaohsiungThe main port and industrial center of the south of the island
- TaichungA mid sized city in the center of the island, known for its cultural life and universities
- TainanThe country's oldest city and former capital, with historic temples and strong ties to the beginning of colonization
Climate and temperature
Beef noodle soup (niu rou mian)
The country's most popular dish: noodles in a spicy broth with pieces of slow cooked beef
Bubble tea
A milk tea drink with tapioca pearls, invented in Taiwan and now famous worldwide
Xiaolongbao
Small steamed buns filled with meat and hot broth, eaten carefully to avoid burning your mouth
Oyster omelet (oa-chian)
A common dish at night markets, made with eggs, starch and fresh oysters
Braised pork rice (lu rou fan)
Rice topped with minced pork braised in soy sauce
Pineapple cake (feng li su)
A buttery pastry filled with pineapple jam, one of the country's most traditional souvenirs
Stinky tofu (chou doufu)
Strong smelling fermented tofu, fried and served with sauce, a test of courage for visitors
Gua bao
A steamed bun filled with braised pork belly, crushed peanuts and pickled vegetables
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Night markets
Streets full of food stalls, games and shopping that run until late at night and are the heart of social life
Temples and festivals
Temples dedicated to Mazu and other popular deities draw crowds during traditional festivals of the lunar calendar
Tea culture
Growing and preparing tea is part of daily life, from traditional tea houses to bubble tea, created in Taiwan and now famous worldwide
Trails and mountains
Much of the territory is mountainous, with trails popular among both residents and visitors
Bicycles as transportation
The country is a world reference in cycling and in bike sharing systems in its cities
- Treating "China" and "Taiwan" as the same thing The issue of identity and sovereignty is sensitive; many Taiwanese are keen to be seen as a distinct people
- Insisting on debating politics with strangers The relationship with China and internal politics are divisive topics, best handled with care
- Mocking ancestor veneration rituals Even among non religious people, these customs carry deep family weight
- Writing a living person's name in red ink Traditionally this gesture is associated with death and can frighten or offend
- Refusing offered food without a polite explanation Hospitality is taken seriously; refusing abruptly can come across as rejection
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Honoring and asking favors of deceased relatives is common practice, even among those who do not consider themselves religious
Deities such as Mazu, the goddess of the sea, receive incense and offerings daily in thousands of temples
Most people practice a combination of Buddhism, Taoism and folk beliefs, with no fixed commitment to a single faith
Decisions about homes, dates and business follow feng shui, the Chinese belief that energy and fortune depend on one's surrounding space
Professional success and possessions are used as a measure of personal worth
Students and young people live under extreme pressure to perform in school and at work
The younger generation is moving away from both traditional religion and Christianity
The constant threat of conflict with China creates collective insecurity
The fast pace of the big cities weakens family and community ties
Tradition of appeasing spirits with food and rituals during an entire month of the lunar calendar
Many baptized people have never had a personal, living encounter with Jesus
Taiwan is one of the places in Asia with the most religious freedom. The Constitution guarantees the right to practice any faith, and the state does not persecute Christians because of their religion. The biggest obstacle to faith in Taiwan does not come from the government but from family and culture: becoming a Christian often means no longer taking part in ancestor worship rituals, which can bring strong pressure, rejection and even isolation at home.
This pressure is felt most strongly by firstborn children and by those responsible for family rites, since conversion can be seen as abandoning one’s duty to family and ancestors. Among the indigenous peoples, where the church is stronger, the Christian faith usually coexists well with the people’s identity, but even there, social pressure and the consumerism of the big cities pull many young people away from practicing their faith.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Taiwan brings together 32 different peoples, including the large Han Chinese majority, divided into groups such as the Hoklo and the Hakka, and sixteen officially recognized Austronesian indigenous peoples. Seven of these peoples are still considered unreached by the gospel, totaling about 4.3 million people, nearly 19% of the country's population. Among the major Chinese groups, such as the Hakka, the gospel has still found little response, while among some indigenous peoples, such as the Ami, the church is already well established, though it still needs more discipleship.
- 4.3M Unreached 18.9%
- 289K Minimally reached 1.3%
- 1K Superficially reached 0%
- 18.1M Partially reached 78.3%
- 356K Significantly reached 1.5%
- 7 Unreached 21.9%
- 1 Minimally reached 3.1%
- 1 Superficially reached 3.1%
- 14 Partially reached 43.8%
- 9 Significantly reached 28.1%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Thai central
Hui Frontier
Saaroa Frontier
Japonês
Malay Frontier
Vietnamitas
Deaf Frontier
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Source: Joshua Project and Progress.Bible. Estimates, may vary.
Taiwan Sign Language
Tsou
Saisiyat
Yami
Sakizaya
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
Numbeo, 2026
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Public transportation is excellent and cheap, with modern subways in the big cities.
- Mandarin is the official language, but signs and the subway also carry information in English in the capital.
- Using electronic transit cards is common even for small everyday purchases.
- Typhoons can disrupt travel between July and September; it's worth checking the weather forecast.
- Food from night markets is safe and an essential part of the local experience.
- The country has frequent minor earthquakes; safety signage and drills are common.