Macau

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

limited democracyIndependence none (special administrative region of China)

Macau as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 105 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

Position22 10 N, 113 33 E

Area25.4 sq km

LocationEastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Populationas each edition published it

449,198 people July 2005 est. · 441,691 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.87% 2005 est. · 1.44% in 1993

Median ageyears

35.2 years 2005 est. · 33.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

82.12 years 2005 est. · 79.64 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

0.93 children per woman 2005 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

4.39 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 7 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$19,400 2003 · $6,700 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

15.6% 2003 · 3.1% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 China on 20 December 1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in Macau, and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Geography

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

17 fields

Land useshare of 25.4 sq km

permanent crops 0%other 100%arable land 0% in allnote: "green areas" represent 22.4% (2001)

Area

25.4sq km

land: 25.4 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

41km

Maritime claims: not specified

Highest point

172.4m

Coloane Altolowest point: South China Sea 0 m

Land boundaries

0.34km

regional border: China 0.34 km

Location

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates

22 10 N, 113 33 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Climate

subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Terrain

generally flat

Natural resources

NEGL

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

typhoons

Environment - current issues

Geography - note

essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland

People

19 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

14,713

65 and over7.9%

20,631

160,957

15-6475.1%

176,386

39,564

0-1417%

36,947

MaleFemale

Population

449,198

(July 2005 est.)growth rate: 0.87% (2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)

Birth

8.04Death

4.23Net migration

4.86

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)82.12

79.29 · 85.09Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)4.39

4.59 · 4.19

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)94.5%

97.2% · 92%Median age years (2005 est.)35.2

34.9 · 35.4

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(2001 census)

Chinese 95.7%Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) 1%other 3.3% (2001 census)

Religions(1997 est.)

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

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

0.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun:: Chinese
adjective:: Chinese

Languages

Cantonese 87.9%, Hokkien 4.4%, Mandarin 1.6%, other Chinese dialects 3.1%, other 3% (2001 census)

Government

Limited democracy; President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003); Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20 December 1999)

18 fields

Country name

conventional long form:: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form:: Macau
local long form:: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
local short form:: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)

Dependency status

special administrative region of China

Government type

limited democracy

Administrative divisions

none (special administrative region of China)

Independence

none (special administrative region of 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

Constitution

Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"

Legal system

based on Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage

direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years;
indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies

Executive branch

chief of state:: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
head of government:: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20 December 1999)
cabinet:: Executive Council consists of one government secretary, four legislators, four businessmen, and one pro-Beijing unionist
elections:: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee for up to two five-year terms
election results:: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected on 29 August 2004;
received 296 votes in Election Committee out of 300 possible;
3 members submitted blank ballots;
1 member was absent

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (29 seats; 12 elected by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and seven appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms)

elections:: last held 26 September 2005 (next in September 2009)
election results:: percent of vote - Development Union 12.8%, Macau Development Alliance 9%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16%, New Democratic Macau Association 18.2%, others na;
seats by political group - Development Union 2, Macau Development Alliance 1, Macau United Citizens' Association 2, New Democratic Macau Association 2, New Hope 1, Union Forces 2, others 2;
10 seats filled by professional and business groups;
seven members appointed by chief executive

Judicial branch

Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region

Political parties and leaders

Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO];
Development Union [KWAN Tsui-hang];
Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONG On-kei];
Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam];
New Democratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong];
United Forces [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (special administrative region of China)

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag description

light 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 center of arc and four smaller

Economy

Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in the world since its reversion to China in 1999.

34 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$9.1billion

(2003)

Real growth rate

15.6%

(2003)industrial production growth: NA

Inflation, consumer prices

(3rd quarter, 2004)

Unemployment rate

4.7%

(3rd Quarter, 2004)

GDP - composition by sector(2002 est.)

agriculture 0.1%industry 7.2%services 92.7% (2002 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

48.7%

4.1%

13.9%

China

44.4%

7.6%

Hong Kong

10.6%

Japan

9.6%

8.3%

Germany

Taiwan

4.9%

4.4%

Singapore

4.1%

Exports $2.58 billion f.o.b. , including reexports (2003)Imports $2.76 billion c.i.f. (2003)(2004)

Budget

Revenues

$1.84 billionExpenditures

$1.57 billion (2003)

expenditures including capital expenditures of NA

Electricity

Electricity production

1.719 billion (2003)Electricity consumption

1.772 billion (2003)Electricity exports

1 million (2003)Electricity imports

179.7 million (2003)

Economy - overview

Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in the world since its reversion to China in 1999. Apparel exports and tourism are mainstays of the economy. Although the territory was hit hard by the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the global downturn in 2001, its economy grew 9.5% in 2002 and 15.6% in 2003.

During the first three quarters of 2004, Macau registered year-on-year GDP increases of more than 20 percent. A rapid rise in the number of mainland visitors because of China's easing of restrictions on travel, increased public works expenditures, and significant investment inflows associated with the liberalization of Macau's gaming industry drove the recovery.

The budget also returned to surplus in 2002 because of the surge in visitors from China and a hike in taxes on gambling profits, which generated about 70% of government revenue. The three companies awarded gambling licenses have pledged to invest $2.2 billion in the territory, which will boost GDP growth.

Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the mainland as the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory may have to rely more on gambling and trade-related services to generate growth. Two new casinos were opened by new foreign gambling licensees in 2004; development of new infrastructure and facilities in preparation for Macau's hosting of the 2005 East Asian Games will bolster the construction sector.

The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into effect on 1 January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-free access to the mainland, and the range of products covered by CEPA was to be expanded on 1 January 2005.

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $19,400 (2003)

Labor force

231,500 (3rd Quarter, 2004)

Labor force - by occupation

manufacturing 18.3%, construction 8%, transport and communications 7%, wholesale and retail trade 16.2%, restaurants and hotels 10.9%, gambling 11.6%, public sector 8.8%, other services and agriculture 19.2% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

Agriculture - products

only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers;
fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important, some of catch is exported to Hong Kong;
most food requirements are met by imports, primarily from China

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

364,000

(2003)

Internet users

(2003)

Fixed lines

174,600

(2003) · country code .mo

Telephone system

general assessment:: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services
domestic:: NA
international:: country code - 853;
HF radiotelephone communication facility;
access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Transportation

4 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m

Highways

total:: 341 km
paved:: 341 km
unpaved:: 0 km (2002)

Ports and harbors

Macau

Airports

1 (2004 est.)

Military

3 fields

Military branches

China's People's Revolutionary Army (PLA) constitutes the only armed force in Macau;
several police forces constitute the Security Forces of Macau (SFM) that are subordinate to the General Secretariat of Security, a body comparable to a ministry of interior (2004)