1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 21 sq km land: 21 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Coastline
40 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m
Environment-current issues
NA
Environment-international agreements
party to: Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal) signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
22 10 N, 113 33 E
Geography-note
essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
total: 0.34 km border countries: China 0.34 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Location
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
not specified
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
NEGL
Terrain
generally flat
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 25% (male 54,845; female 51,354) 15-64 years: 68% (male 138,871; female 153,801) 65 years and over: 7% (male 12,139; female 18,142) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
12.76 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
3.48 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Infant mortality rate
4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 81.6 years male: 78.66 years female: 84.68 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90% male: 93% female: 86% (1981 est.)
Nationality
noun: Macanese (singular and plural) adjective: Macau
Net migration rate
9.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
429,152 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
1.91% (1998 est.)
Religions
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.27 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
2 districts (concelhos, singular-concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Constitution
17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; Macau's future constitution, the "Basic Law", promulgated by China's National People's Congress on 31 March 1993, will go into effect 20 December 1999
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Macau local long form: none local short form: Ilha de Macau
Data code
MC
Dependency status
Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; note-scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999
Executive branch
chief of state: President of Portugal Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996) head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIERA (since 20 March 1991) cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members-five appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies, one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two represent economic interests), and three statutory members elections: none; governor general appointed by the president of Portugal after consultation with the Legislative Assembly
Flag description
the flag of Portugal is used
Government type
NA
Independence
none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition)
International organization participation
CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), UNESCO (associate), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration) Diplomatic representation from the US: the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year terms by the governor Political parties and leaders: Association to Defend the Interests of Macau, leader NA; Macau Democratic Center, leader NA; Group to Study the Development of Macau, leader NA; Macau Independent Group, leader Political pressure groups and leaders: wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration
Legal system
Portuguese civil law system
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NA
National capital
Macau
National holiday
Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
rice, vegetables
Budget
revenues: $1.3 billion expenditures: $1.07 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Currency
1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Debt-external
$0 (1996)
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economy-overview
The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries-toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry probably represents over 40% of GDP. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods.
Electricity-capacity
260,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
3,250 kWh (1996 est.)
Electricity-production
1.3 billion kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
patacas (P) per US$1-7.99 (1997), 7.962 (1996), 8.034 (1993-95), 7.973 (1992); note-linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
Exports
total value: $1.99 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: textiles, clothing, toys, electronics, cement partners: US 42%, EU 31.7%, Hong Kong 10%, China 9.8% (1996)
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$7.8 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$15,600 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
-0.3% (1997 est.)
Imports
total value: $1.99 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods, fuels, lubricants partners: Hong Kong 28.9%, China 21.8%, EU 14.7%, Japan 10.5% (1996)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
clothing, textiles, toys, electronics, footwear, tourism
Inflation rate-consumer price index
3.9% (1997 est.)
Labor force
total: 271,228 (1995) by occupation: industry 28%, restaurants and hotels 28%, other services 44%
Radio broadcast stations
AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios
135,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system
fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services domestic: NA international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Telephones
200,000 (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations
0 note: TV programs received from Hong Kong
Televisions
34,000 (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate
3.6% (1995)
Transportation
Airports
1 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Macau
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
NA
Military manpower-availability
males age 15-49: 119,102 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 65,530 (1998 est.)
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of Portugal
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none