The People's Republic of China, established in 1949, commonly known as China, is the largest country in the world (in terms of population) with more than 1.3 billion people, which is approximately one fifth of the world's population. In terms of the total land area, which is 9.6 million square kilometers, it ranks third in the world. As one of the world's largest economies and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China plays an increasingly important role in the world today. China is also a multireligious country. This entry is mainly about religions in mainland China, a term that usually excludes Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao.