2017 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 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 subsequent 50 years.

Area

28.2 sq km 28.2 sq km 0 sq km

land

28.2 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

NA lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Alto Coloane 172 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

highest point

Alto Coloane 172 m

mean elevation

NA

Environment - current issues

air pollution; coastal waters pollution; insufficient policies in reducing and recycling solid wastes; increasing population density worsening noise pollution

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

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

3 km China 3 km

regional border(s) (1)

China 3 km

total

3 km

Land use

0% arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0% 0% 100% (urban area) (2011 est.)

agricultural land

0%

forest

0%

other

100% (urban area) (2011 est.)

Location

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

not specified

Natural hazards

typhoons

Natural resources

NEGL

Population - distribution

population fairly equally distributed

Terrain

generally flat

Age structure

14.1% (male 44,133/female 40,764) 11.73% (male 37,194/female 33,418) 50.1% (male 134,244/female 167,318) 13.5% (male 40,837/female 40,423) 10.57% (male 29,764/female 33,874) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

14.1% (male 44,133/female 40,764)

15-24 years

11.73% (male 37,194/female 33,418)

25-54 years

50.1% (male 134,244/female 167,318)

55-64 years

13.5% (male 40,837/female 40,423)

65 years and over

10.57% (male 29,764/female 33,874) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

8.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Death rate

4.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

26.6 15.7 10.9 9.2 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

10.9

potential support ratio

9.2 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

26.6

youth dependency ratio

15.7

Education expenditures

2% of GDP (2014)

Ethnic groups

Chinese 92.4%, Portuguese 0.6%, mixed 1.1%, other 5.9% (includes Macanese - mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

3.1 deaths/1,000 live births 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Cantonese 83.3%, Mandarin 5%, Hokkien 3.7%, English 2.3%, other Chinese dialects 2%, Tagalog 1.7%, Portuguese 0.7%, other 1.3% Chinese and Portuguese are official languages (2011 est.)

note

Chinese and Portuguese are official languages (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

84.6 years 81.6 years 87.7 years (2017 est.)

female

87.7 years (2017 est.)

male

81.6 years

total population

84.6 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 96.5% 98.2% 95% (2016 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95% (2016 est.)

male

98.2%

total population

96.5%

Median age

39.3 years 39.5 years 39.1 years (2017 est.)

female

39.1 years (2017 est.)

male

39.5 years

total

39.3 years

Nationality

Chinese Chinese

adjective

Chinese

noun

Chinese

Net migration rate

3.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Physicians density

3.11 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

601,969 (July 2017 est.) Macau's statistical agency estimated the total population to be approximately 644,900 as of 31 December 2016

note

Macau's statistical agency estimated the total population to be approximately 644,900 as of 31 December 2016

Population distribution

population fairly equally distributed

Population growth rate

0.74% (2017 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

15 years 14 years 15 years (2015)

female

15 years (2015)

male

14 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.09 male(s)/female 1.11 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.09 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.11 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.8 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.01 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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

0.95 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

4.5% 5.7% 3.8% (2015 est.)

female

3.8% (2015 est.)

male

5.7%

total

4.5%

Urbanization

100% of total population (2017) 1.39% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.39% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

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

Citizenship

see China

Constitution

previous 1976 (Organic Statute of Macau, under Portuguese authority); latest adopted 31 March 1993, effective 20 December 1999 (Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as Macau's constitution); amended 2005, 2012 (2016)

Country name

Macau Special Administrative Region Macau Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese) Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese) name is thought to derive from the A-Ma Temple - built in 1488 and dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen - which is referred to locally as "Maa Gok" - and in Portuguese became "Macau"; the Chinese name Aomen means "inlet gates"

conventional long form

Macau Special Administrative Region

conventional short form

Macau

etymology

name is thought to derive from the A-Ma Temple - built in 1488 and dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen - which is referred to locally as "Maa Gok" - and in Portuguese became "Macau"; the Chinese name Aomen means "inlet gates"

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 XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013) Chief Executive Fernando CHUI Sai On (since 20 December 2009) Executive Council appointed by the chief executive president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); chief executive chosen by a 400-member Election Committee for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 August 2014 (next to be held in 2019); note - the Legislative Assembly in August 2012 voted to expand the Election Committee to 400 from 300 seats for the 2014 election Fernando CHUI Sai On reelected chief executive; Election Committee vote count - 380 of 396

cabinet

Executive Council appointed by the chief executive

chief of state

President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)

election results

Fernando CHUI Sai On reelected chief executive; Election Committee vote count - 380 of 396

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); chief executive chosen by a 400-member Election Committee for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 August 2014 (next to be held in 2019); note - the Legislative Assembly in August 2012 voted to expand the Election Committee to 400 from 300 seats for the 2014 election

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

presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

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, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Court of Final Appeal of Macau Special Administrative Region (consists of the court president and 2 associate justices) justices appointed by the Macau chief executive upon the recommendation of an independent commission of judges, lawyers, and "eminent" persons; judge tenure NA Court of Second Instance; Court of First instance; Lower Court; Administrative Court

highest court(s)

Court of Final Appeal of Macau Special Administrative Region (consists of the court president and 2 associate justices)

judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the Macau chief executive upon the recommendation of an independent commission of judges, lawyers, and "eminent" persons; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

Court of Second Instance; Court of First instance; Lower Court; Administrative Court

Legal system

civil law system based on the Portuguese model

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council or Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (33 seats; 14 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 12 indirectly elected by an electoral college of professional and commercial interest groups, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve 4-year terms) last held on 17 September 2017 (next to be held in 2021) percent of vote - UMG 10%, UPD 9.7%, ACUM 8.6%, NE 8.3%, UPP 7.2, ANMD 6.6%, NUDM 6.1%, ACDM 5.9%, APMD 5.8%, Civic Watch 5.6%, ABL 5.5%, ANPM 5.3%, other 15.4%; seats by political group - UMG 2, UPD 2, ABL 1, ACDM 1, ACUM 1, ANMD 1, ANPM 1, APMD 1, Civic Watch 1, NE 1, NUDM 1, UPP 1; 12 seats filled by professional and business groups; 7 members appointed by the chief executive

description

unicameral Legislative Council or Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (33 seats; 14 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 12 indirectly elected by an electoral college of professional and commercial interest groups, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - UMG 10%, UPD 9.7%, ACUM 8.6%, NE 8.3%, UPP 7.2, ANMD 6.6%, NUDM 6.1%, ACDM 5.9%, APMD 5.8%, Civic Watch 5.6%, ABL 5.5%, ANPM 5.3%, other 15.4%; seats by political group - UMG 2, UPD 2, ABL 1, ACDM 1, ACUM 1, ANMD 1, ANPM 1, APMD 1, Civic Watch 1, NE 1, NUDM 1, UPP 1; 12 seats filled by professional and business groups; 7 members appointed by the chief executive

elections

last held on 17 September 2017 (next to be held in 2021)

National anthem

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

note

as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun 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; national colors: green, white, yellow

lotus blossom; national colors

green, white, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Change or APM [Melinda CHAN Mei-yi] Alliance for a Happy Home or ABL [WONG Kit-cheng] (an electoral list of UPP) Civic Watch or Civico [Agnes LAM Iok-fong] Macau-Guangdong Union or UMG [MAK Soi-kun] Macau Citizens' Development Association or ACDM [Becky SONG Pek-kei] (an electoral list of ACUM) New Democratic Macau Association or ANMD [AU Kam-san] New Hope or NE [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO] New Macau Association or AMN [Sulu SOU Ka-hou] New Union for Macau's Development or NUDM [Angela LEONG On-kei] Prosperous Democratic Macau Association or APMD (an electoral list of the AMN) Union for Development or UPD [Ella LEI Cheng-I] Union for Promoting Progress or UPP [HO Ion-sang] United Citizens Association of Macau or ACUM [CHAN Meng-kam] there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

note

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

Bar-Bending Workers' Association [WONG Wai-Man] Democratic Action [LEE Kin-yun] Macau New Chinese Youth Association (Associacao de Nova Juventude Chinesa de Macau) or ANJCM [LEONG Sin-man] Macau Workers' Union [HO Heng-kuok] New Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong] Workers' Self-Help Union [CHEONG Weng-fat]

Suffrage

18 years of age in direct elections for some legislative positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past 7 years; note - indirect elections are limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" and an election committee for the chief executive 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

$12.81 billion $10.11 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$10.11 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$12.81 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

6.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.25% (31 December 2016 est.) 5.25% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$12.31 billion (2016 est.) $11.56 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$0 (31 December 2013) $0 (31 December 2012)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35 (2013) 38 (2008)

Economy - overview

Since opening up its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in 2001, Macau has attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign investment, transforming the territory 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. In 2016, Macau's gaming-related taxes accounted for more than 76% of total government revenue. Macau's economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but strong growth resumed in the 2010-13 period, largely on the back of tourism from mainland China and the gaming sectors. In 2015, this city of 646,800 hosted nearly 30.7 million visitors. Almost 67% came from mainland China. Macau's traditional manufacturing industry has slowed greatly since the termination of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. Services export — primarily gaming — increasingly has driven Macau’s economic performance. Mainland China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign has brought Macau’s gambling boom to a halt, with spending in casinos contracting 34.3% in 2015. As a result, Macau's inflation-adjusted GDP contracted 20.3% in 2015, down from double-digit expansion rates in the period 2010-13, and another 4.7% in 2016. Macau continues to face the challenges of managing its growing casino industry, risks from money-laundering activities, and the need to diversify 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 - 7.9951 (2016 est.) 7.9951 (2015 est.) 7.985 (2014 est.) 7.9871 (2013 est.) 7.99 (2012 est.)

Exports

$1.137 billion (2013 est.) $1.959 billion (2015 est.) includes reexports

note

includes reexports

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Hong Kong 64.1%, China 20.2% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

26.6% 10.3% 21.6% 0.4% 75.7% -34.7% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

75.7%

government consumption

10.3%

household consumption

26.6%

imports of goods and services

-34.7% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.6%

investment in inventories

0.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

0% 12.2% 87.8% (2016 est.)

agriculture

0%

industry

12.2%

services

87.8% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$98,800 (2016 est.) $100,700 (2015 est.) $130,500 (2014 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-2.1% (2016 est.) -21.5% (2015 est.) -1.2% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$44.86 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$63.75 billion (2016 est.) $64.32 billion (2015 est.) $81.1 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$14.2 billion (2014 est.) $10.13 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 36.7%, Hong Kong 8.6%, Italy 7.9%, Switzerland 7.6%, France 7.4%, Japan 6.3%, US 5.8% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2016 est.)

Industries

tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2016 est.) 4.6% (2015 est.)

Labor force

397,800 (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

2.5% 9.8% 4.4% 12.4% 15% 25.9% 7.1% 2.6% 20.3% (2013 est.)

construction

9.8%

financial services

2.6%

gambling

25.9%

manufacturing

2.5%

other services

20.3% (2013 est.)

public sector

7.1%

restaurants and hotels

15%

transport and communications

4.4%

wholesale and retail trade

12.4%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$85.5 billion (2 March 2012 est.) $46.1 billion (31 February 2011 est.) $2.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

0% of GDP (2016 est.) 0% of GDP (2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$19.49 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $18.89 billion (31 December 2015 est.) the Fiscal Reserves Act that came into force on 1 January 2012 requires the fiscal reserves to be separated from the foreign exchange reserves and to be managed separately; the transfer of assets took place in February 2012

note

the Fiscal Reserves Act that came into force on 1 January 2012 requires the fiscal reserves to be separated from the foreign exchange reserves and to be managed separately; the transfer of assets took place in February 2012

Stock of broad money

$66.57 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $59.21 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.166 billion (2012 est.) $667.8 million (2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$18.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $14.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$17.16 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $10.09 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$7.783 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $7.561 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

29% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.9% (2016 est.) 1.8% (2015 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.8 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

4.834 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

4.306 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

472,000 kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

904 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

59,742 91% 91% 72% (2012)

electrification - rural areas

72% (2012)

electrification - total population

91%

electrification - urban areas

91%

population without electricity

59,742

Natural gas - consumption

355,000 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

371,000 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

12,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

10,760 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 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; 1 cable TV and 4 satellite TV services available; 3 radio stations broadcasting, of which 2 are government-operated (2015)

Internet country code

.mo

Internet users

460,000 77.6% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

77.6% (July 2016 est.)

total

460,000

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 300 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) (2016)

domestic

termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with mobile-cellular teledensity exceeding 300 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) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

142,000 24 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

24 (July 2016 est.)

total

142,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.896 million 320 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

320 (July 2016 est.)

total

1.896 million

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2017)

over 3,047 m

1 (2017)

total

1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

B-M (2016)

Heliports

2 (2013)

National air transport system

1 (registered in China) 17 (registered in China) 2,276,436 25.435 million mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

25.435 million mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

2,276,436

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

17 (registered in China)

number of registered air carriers

1 (registered in China)

Ports and terminals

Macau

major seaport(s)

Macau

Roadways

424 km 424 km (2014)

paved

424 km (2014)

total

424 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of China

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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