2012 Edition

Background

Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China on 20 December 1999. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's political and economic system would not be imposed on Macau, and that Macau would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign affairs and defense for the next 50 years.

Area

28.2 sq km 28.2 sq km 0 sq km

total

28.2 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC

Climate

subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Coastline

41 km

Elevation extremes

South China Sea 0 m Coloane Alto 172 m

highest point

Coloane Alto 172 m

lowest point

South China Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

party to

Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

Geographic coordinates

22 10 N, 113 33 E

Geography - note

essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring 5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by three bridges

Irrigated land

NA; note - included in the total for China

Land boundaries

0.34 km China 0.34 km

regional border

China 0.34 km

total

0.34 km

Land use

0% 0% 100% (2005)

arable land

0%

other

100% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Location

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

not specified

Natural hazards

typhoons

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

generally flat

Age structure

14.7% (male 44,866/ female 40,159) 76.8% (male 207,982/ female 235,917) 8.5% (male 23,024/ female 26,077) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

14.7% (male 44,866/ female 40,159)

15-64 years

76.8% (male 207,982/ female 235,917)

65 years and over

8.5% (male 23,024/ female 26,077) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

9.05 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

3.85 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Chinese 94.3%, other 5.7% (includes Macanese - mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) (2006 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

3.17 deaths/1,000 live births 3.32 deaths/1,000 live births 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

3 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

3.17 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Cantonese 85.7%, Hokkien 4%, Mandarin 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 2.7%, English 1.5%, Tagalog 1.3%, other 1.6% Chinese and Portuguese are the official language (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth

84.43 years 81.47 years 87.54 years (2012 est.)

female

87.54 years (2012 est.)

total population

84.43 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 91.3% 95.3% 87.8% (2001 census)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

87.8% (2001 census)

male

95.3%

total population

91.3%

Median age

36.7 years 37.3 years 36.3 years (2012 est.)

female

36.3 years (2012 est.)

male

37.3 years

total

36.7 years

Nationality

Chinese Chinese

adjective

Chinese

noun

Chinese

Net migration rate

3.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Population

578,025 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

0.866% (2012 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none or other 35% (1997 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 15 years 14 years (2009)

female

14 years (2009)

male

15 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.12 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.88 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.88 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.12 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

0.92 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

7.5% 9.8% 5.4% (2009)

female

5.4% (2009)

total

7.5%

Urbanization

100% of total population (2010) 0.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)

Constitution

The Basic Law, approved 31 March 1993 by China's National People's Congress, is Macau's charter

Country name

Macau Special Administrative Region Macau Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese) Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)

conventional long form

Macau Special Administrative Region

conventional short form

Macau

official long form

Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)

official short form

Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)

Dependency status

special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is accredited to Macau

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (special administrative region of China)

Executive branch

President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) Chief Executive Fernando CHUI Sai-on (since 20 December 2009) Executive Council consists of 1 government secretary, 3 legislators, 4 businessmen, 1 pro-Beijing unionist, and 1 pro-Beijing educator chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee for a five-year term (current chief executive is eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 July 2009 (next to be held in July 2014) Fernando CHUI Sai-on elected in 2009 with 282 votes, took office on 20 December 2009

cabinet

Executive Council consists of 1 government secretary, 3 legislators, 4 businessmen, 1 pro-Beijing unionist, and 1 pro-Beijing educator

chief of state

President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)

election results

Fernando CHUI Sai-on elected in 2009 with 282 votes, took office on 20 December 2009

elections

chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee for a five-year term (current chief executive is eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 July 2009 (next to be held in July 2014)

head of government

Chief Executive Fernando CHUI Sai-on (since 20 December 2009)

Flag description

green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in the center of the arc and two smaller on either side; the lotus is the floral emblem of Macau, the three petals represent the peninsula and two islands that make up Macau; the five stars echo those on the flag of China

green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars

one large in the center of the arc and two smaller on either side; the lotus is the floral emblem of Macau, the three petals represent the peninsula and two islands that make up Macau; the five stars echo those on the flag of China

Government type

limited democracy

Independence

none (special administrative region of China)

International organization participation

ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WTO

Judicial branch

Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region

Legal system

civil law system based on the Portuguese model

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 members elected by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms) last held on 20 September 2009 (next to be held in September 2013) percent of vote - UPD 14.9%, ACUM 12%, APMD 11.6%, NUDM 9.9%, UPP 9.9%, ANMD 7.8%, UMG 7.3%, MUDAR 5.5%, others 21.1%; seats by political group - UPD 2, ACUM 2, APMD 2, NUMD 1, UPP 1, ANMD 1, UMG 1, MUDAR 1; 10 seats filled by professional and business groups; 7 members appointed by the chief executive

election results

percent of vote - UPD 14.9%, ACUM 12%, APMD 11.6%, NUDM 9.9%, UPP 9.9%, ANMD 7.8%, UMG 7.3%, MUDAR 5.5%, others 21.1%; seats by political group - UPD 2, ACUM 2, APMD 2, NUMD 1, UPP 1, ANMD 1, UMG 1, MUDAR 1; 10 seats filled by professional and business groups; 7 members appointed by the chief executive

elections

last held on 20 September 2009 (next to be held in September 2013)

National anthem

as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyonggjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)

note

as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyonggjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)

National holiday

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

National symbol(s)

lotus blossom

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Change or MUDAR; Macau Development Alliance or NUDM [Angela LEONG On-kei]; Macau-Guangdong Union or UNG; Macau United Citizens' Association or ACUM [CHAN Meng-kam]; New Macau Association or NMA [Jason CHAO]; New Hope or NE [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Union for Promoting Progress or UPP [LEONG Heng-teng] there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

Political pressure groups and leaders

Civic Power [Agnes LAM lok-fong]; Macau New Chinese Youth Association [LEONG Sin-man]; Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO]; Macau Worker's Union [HO Heng-kuok]; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]

Suffrage

18 years of age in direct elections for some legislative positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; note - indirect elections are limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (973 were registered in the 2009 legislative elections) and a 300-member Election Committee for the Chief Executive (CE) drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, central government bodies, and elected Macau officials

Agriculture - products

only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers; fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the catch is exported to Hong Kong

Budget

$16.95 billion $6.934 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$6.934 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$16.95 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

45.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.4% (31 December 2012 est.) 5.25% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$17.01 billion (2011 est.) $12.06 billion (2010 est.)

Debt - external

$0 (2010)

Economy - overview

After opening up its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in 2001, the territory attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign investment, transforming Macau into one of the world's largest gaming centers. Macau's gaming and tourism businesses were fueled by China's decision to relax travel restrictions on Chinese citizens wishing to visit Macau. By 2006, Macau's gaming revenue surpassed that of the Las Vegas strip, and gaming-related taxes accounted for more than 70% of total government revenue. In 2008, Macau introduced measures to cool the rapidly developing sector. Macau's economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but strong growth resumed in 2010-11, largely on the back of tourism from mainland China and the gaming sectors. This city of 550,000 hosted nearly 25 million visitors in 2010. Almost 53% came from mainland China. Macau's traditional manufacturing industry slowed greatly since the termination of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into effect in January 2004 offers Macau-made products tariff-free access to the mainland; nevertheless, China is Macau's second largest goods export market, behind Hong Kong, and followed by the United States. However, exports in 2010 were less than US$900 million, while gaming receipts were almost US$24 billion, a 58% increase over 2009. Macau's economy expanded at a slower pace in 2012 - around 10% - reflecting continued global economic uncertainties. Macau continues to face the challenges of managing its growing casino industry, money-laundering, and the need to diversifying the economy away from heavy dependence on gaming revenues. Macau's currency, the pataca, is closely tied to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also freely accepted in the territory.

Exchange rates

patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 7.99 (2012 est.) 8.0182 (2011 est.) 8.0022 (2010 est.) 7.983 (2008) 8.011 (2007)

Exports

$1.119 billion (2011 est.) $1.053 billion (2010 est.) includes reexports

Exports - commodities

clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts

Exports - partners

Hong Kong 44.6%, China 15.9%, US 7.9% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

0% 7.4% 92.6% (2010 est.)

agriculture

0%

industry

7.4%

services

92.6% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$74,900 (2011 est.) $62,600 (2010 est.) $50,000 (2009 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

20.7% (2011 est.) 27% (2010 est.) 1.7% (2009 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$36.43 billion (2011 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$42.9 billion (2011 est.) $35.54 billion (2010 est.) $27.99 billion (2009 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$8.926 billion (2011 est.) $6.552 billion (2010 est.)

Imports - commodities

raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods (foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and oils

Imports - partners

China 30.4%, Hong Kong 12%, France 10.4%, Switzerland 7.5%, Italy 7.5%, Japan 6.2%, US 6.1% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

3.9% (2011)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.4% (2012 est.) 5.8% (2011 est.)

Labor force

330,900 (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

4.3% 8.7% 5.5% 13.3% 12.7% 13.3% 6.7% 2.4% 33.2% (2010)

construction

8.7%

financial services

2.4%

gambling

13.3%

manufacturing

4.3%

other services

33.2% (2010)

public sector

6.7%

restaurants and hotels

12.7%

transport and communications

5.5%

wholesale and retail trade

13.3%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$46.1 billion (31 February 2011 est.) $2.3 billion (31 December 2008) $413.1 million (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$34.03 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $23.73 billion (2010 est.)

Stock of broad money

$39.29 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $37.35 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$240 million (2009 est.) $964 million (2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$12.1 billion (2008 est.) $10.5 billion (#REF! est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$6.558 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $8.612 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.992 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.532 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

76.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

2% (2012 est.) 2.2% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.537 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

3.66 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.79 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

472,000 kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

1.1 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

154.7 million cu m (2010)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

154.5 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

174,000 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

18,180 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

15,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

local government dominates broadcast media; 2 television stations operated by the government with one broadcasting in Portuguese and the other in Cantonese and Mandarin; cable and satellite TV services available; 3 radio stations broadcasting, of which 2 are government-operated (2010)

Internet country code

.mo

Internet hosts

327 (2012)

Internet users

270,200 (2009)

Telephone system

fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with mobile-cellular teledensity exceeding 200 per 100 persons; fixed-line subscribership appears to have peaked and is now in decline country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

domestic

termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with mobile-cellular teledensity exceeding 200 per 100 persons; fixed-line subscribership appears to have peaked and is now in decline

general assessment

fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services

international

country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

165,500 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.353 million (2011)

Airports

1 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

over 3,047 m

1 (2012)

total

1

Heliports

2 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Macau

Roadways

413 km 413 km (2009)

total

413 km

Manpower available for military service

150,780 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

150,780 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

124,189 149,514 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

149,514 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

124,189

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

4,274 3,674 (2010 est.)

female

3,674 (2010 est.)

male

4,274

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of China

Military branches

no regular military forces

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for drugs going into mainland China; consumer of opiates and amphetamines