Macau
NAIndependence none (territory of Portugal
Macau as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 92 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
18 fieldsLand useshare of 16 sq km
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal)
- signed, but not ratified:
- NA
Geography - note
essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands to the peninsula on mainland
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1997 est.)
Religions(1981)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 23% (male 60,270; female 56,803)
- 15-64 years:
- 68% (male 169,850; female 171,551)
- 65 years and over:
- 9% (male 18,208; female 25,643) (July 1997 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.71 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
- total population :
- 80.05 years
- male:
- 77.57 years
- female :
- 82.65 years (1997 est.)
Government
NA; President of Portugal Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996); Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIERA (since 20 March 1991)
20 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Macau
- local long form:
- none
- local short form :
- Ilha de Macau
Dependency status
overseas territory of Portugal; note - scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999
Independence
none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China 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)
Constitution
17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by Beijing, promulgated 31 March 1993
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
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
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 NA
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
International organization participation
CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
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
Economy
The economy is based largely on tourism (including | gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing.
22 fieldsEconomy - 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.
Exports
- total value:
- $1.99 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
- commodities:
- textiles, clothing, toys
- partners:
- US 42%, Hong Kong 10%, Germany 9.9%, China 9.6%, France 8%, UK 7.2% (1995)
Imports
- total value :
- $1.99 billion (c.i.f.,1996 est.)
- commodities:
- raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods
- partners:
- Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, Japan 18% (1992 est.)
Exchange rates
patacas (P) per US$1 - 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
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone 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)
Transportation
6 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
NA
4 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Macau.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/macau/1997.