Macau

Macau Special Administrative Region

limited democracyIndependence none (special administrative region of China)

Macau as the 2015 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 143 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
Area28.2 sq km
LocationEastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Populationas each edition published it
592,731 people July 2015 est. · 441,691 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.8% 2015 est. · 1.44% in 1993
Median ageyears
38.2 years 2015 est. · 33.1 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
84.51 years 2015 est. · 79.64 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
0.94 children per woman 2015 est. · 2.2 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
3.12 deaths per 1,000 live births 2015 est. · 7 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$88,700 2013 est. · $6,700 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
11.9% 2013 est. · 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 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.

Geography

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

18 fields

Land useshare of 28.2 sq km

forest 0%other 100% (urban area) (2011 est.)agricultural land: 0%; arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
Area
28.2sq km
land: 28.2 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 237less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
41km
Maritime claims: not specified
Highest point
172m
Coloane Altolowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Land boundaries
3km
regional border (1): China 3 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

Irrigated land

NA; note - included in the total for China

Environment - international agreements

party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

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

People and Society

23 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2015 est.)

26,555
65 and over9.58%
30,201
37,118
55-6412.42%
36,527
133,897
25-5450.67%
166,418
40,337
15-2413.02%
36,862
44,335
0-1414.31%
40,481
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 28.2% · youth dependency ratio: 16.7% · elderly dependency ratio: 11.5% · potential support ratio: 8.7% (2015 est.)
Population
592,731
note: Macau's statistical agency estimated the total population to be approximately 607,500 as of 31 December 2013 (July 2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 170growth rate: 0.8% (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 138

Per 1,000 population(2015 est.)

Birth
8.88Death
4.22Net migration
3.37

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2015 est.)84.51
81.55 · 87.61Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)3.12
3.27 · 2.95Literacy (2015 est.)96.2%
98% · 94.6%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2015 est.)38.2
38.7 · 37.9Youth unemployment ages 15-24 (2011 est.)5.8%
7% · 4.7%
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 4 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 214 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write · Youth unemployment ages 15-24 country comparison to the world: 123

Ethnic groups(2011 est.)

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

Religions(1997 est.)

Buddhist 50%Roman Catholic 15%none or other 35% (1997 est.)
Urban population
100%of total population
(2015)rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Chinese
adjective:
Chinese

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% note: Chinese and Portuguese are official languages (2011 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.1 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
1.09 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.81 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.88 male(s)/female
total population:
0.91 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

0.94 children born/woman (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 223

Education expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 148

Government

Limited democracy; President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013); Chief Executive Fernando CHUI Sai On (since 20 December 2009)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

18.0%
ACUM 18.0%UMG 11.1%UPP 10.8%NE 9.0%NUDM 8.9%UPD 8.2%APMD 7.5%ANMD 6.0%APM 6.0%other 14.5%last held on 15 September 2013 (next to be held in September 2017)

Legislature, elected 15 September 2013percent of vote

ACUM 18.0%UMG 11.1%UPP 10.8%NE 9.0%NUDM 8.9%UPD 8.2%APMD 7.5%ANMD 6.0%APM 6.0%other 14.5%

Country name

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

Government type

limited democracy

Administrative divisions

none (special administrative region of the People's Republic 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

  • previous 1976 (Organic Statute of Macau, by Portugal);
  • latest adopted 31 March 1993, effective 20 December 1999 (Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region, by the People's Republic of China, serves as Macau's constitution) (2013)

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 400-member Election Committee for the Chief Executive drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, central government bodies, and elected Macau officials

Executive branch

chief of state:
President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
head of government:
Chief Executive Fernando CHUI Sai On (since 20 December 2009)
cabinet:
Executive Council appointed by the chief executive
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
election results:
Fernando CHUI Sai On reelected chief executive; Election Committee vote count - 380 of 396

Legislative branch

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)
elections:
last held on 15 September 2013 (next to be held in September 2017)
election results:
  • percent of vote - ACUM 18.0%, UMG 11.1%, UPP 10.8%, NE 9.0%, NUDM 8.9%, UPD 8.2%, APMD 7.5%, ANMD 6.0%, APM 6.0%, other 14.5%;
  • seats by political group - ACUM 3, UMG 2, UPP 2, NE 2, NUDM 1, UPD 1, APMD 1, ANMD 1, APM 1;
  • 12 seats filled by professional and business groups;
  • 7 members appointed by the chief executive

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

  • Alliance for Change or APM [Melinda CHAN Mei-yi]
  • Macau-Guangdong Union or UMG [MAK Soi-kun]
  • New Democratic Macau Association or ANMD (an electoral list of the New Macau Association)
  • New Hope or NE [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]
  • New Macau Association or ANM [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 New Macau Association)
  • Union for Development or UPD [KWAN Tsui-hang]
  • Union for Promoting Progress or UPP [HO Ion-sang]
  • United Citizens Association of Macau or ACUM [CHAN Meng-kam]

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]
  • Civic Power [Agnes LAM lok-fong]
  • Democratic Action [LEE Kin-yun]
  • Macau New Chinese Youth Association [LEONG Sin-man]
  • Macau Worker's Union [HO Heng-kuok]
  • New Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]
  • Workers' Self-Help Union [CHEONG Weng-fat]

International organization participation

ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, 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 Consulate General in Hong Kong is accredited to Macau

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

National symbol(s)

lotus blossom; national colors: green, white, yellow

National anthem

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

Economy

38 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$51.68billion
(2013 est.) · $46.19 billion (2012 est.) · $42.34 billion (2011 est.)note: data are in 2013 US dollarscountry comparison to the world: 106official exchange rate: $51.68 billion (2013 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$88,700
(2013 est.) · $79,900 (2010 est.) · $73,900 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 4
Real growth rate
11.9%
(2013 est.) · 9.1% (2012 est.) · 21.3% (2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 1industrial production growth: 10% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 11
Inflation, consumer prices
6%
(2014 est.) · 5.5% (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 182

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2014 est.)

agriculture 0%industry 5.9%services 94.1% (2014 est.)

By end use% of GDP

Household consumption
18.5%Government consumption
6.5%Fixed capital
16.7%Inventories
0%Exports
101.7%Imports
-43.4%
(2014 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$23.3 billionExpenditures
$4.931 billion (2014 est.)

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 2014, Macau's gaming-related taxes accounted for more than 83% of total government revenue. Macau's economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but strong growth resumed in 2010-13, largely on the back of tourism from mainland China and the gaming sectors.

In 2014, this city of 636,200 hosted nearly 31.5 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 2.6% in 2014. As a result, Macau's inflation-adjusted GDP contracted 0.4% from 2013, down from double-digit expansion rates in 2010-13. Non-inflation adjusted exports of goods and services dropped 0.4% from 2013, reflecting the slowdown in gaming exports.

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.

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

Industries

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

Labor force

367,800 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Labor force - by occupation

manufacturing:
2.5%
construction:
9.8%
transport and communications:
4.4%
wholesale and retail trade:
12.4%
restaurants and hotels:
15%
gambling:
25.9%
public sector:
7.1%
financial services:
2.6%
other services:
20.3% (2013)

Unemployment rate

1.9% (2013 est.) · 1.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35 (2013) · 38 (2008) country comparison to the world: 90

Taxes and other revenues

45.1% of GDP (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

35.5% of GDP (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Fiscal year

calendar year

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.3% (31 December 2014 est.) · 5.25% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Stock of narrow money

$7.17 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $7.35 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Stock of broad money

$64.67 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $55.29 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Stock of domestic credit

$-4.956 billion (31 December 2014 est.); $-5.517 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Market value of publicly traded shares

$85.5 billion (2 March 2012 est.) · $46.1 billion (31 February 2011) · $2.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Current account balance

$20.77 billion (2013 est.) · $17.39 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Exports

$1.137 billion (2013 est.) · $1.384 billion (2012 est.) note: includes reexports country comparison to the world: 158

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Hong Kong 58.6%, China 15.7% (2014 est.)

Imports

$10.13 billion (2013 est.) · $8.866 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

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 33.2%, Hong Kong 10.3%, Switzerland 9.1%, France 8.4%, Italy 6.9%, US 6.5%, Japan 5.6% (2014 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$16.15 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

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

country comparison to the world: 69

Debt - external

$0 (31 December 2013) · $0 (31 December 2012) country comparison to the world: 205

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$18.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $14.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.166 billion (2012 est.) · $667.8 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Exchange rates

patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 7.99 (2014 est.) · 7.9893 (2013 est.) · 7.99 (2012 est.) · 8.0182 (2011 est.) · 8.0022 (2010 est.)

Energy

23 fields

Installed generating capacity, 472,000 kW(2013 est.)

Fossil fuels 100% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)Nuclear fuels 0% · Hydroelectric plants 0% · Other renewable sources 0%
Electricity production
413.7 million (2013 est.)Electricity consumption
4.291 billion (2013 est.)Electricity imports
3.855 billion (2012 est.)Refined petroleum imports
5,780 (2013 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
11,600 (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas - consumption

355,000 cu m (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas - imports

371,000 cu m (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.694 million Mt (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Communications

8 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(2009–12)

279Mobile cellular
48.3%Internet users, % of population
28Fixed lines
Mobile cellular
1.6 million
(2012)
Internet users
270,200
(2009)
Fixed lines
160,000
(2012) · country code .mo

Telephone system

general assessment:
fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services
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
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) (2011)

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 (2012)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2009)

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
1

Airports

1 (2013) country comparison to the world: 224

Heliports

2 (2013)

Roadways

total:
421 km
paved:
421 km (2013)

country comparison to the world: 200

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Macau

Military

No regular indigenous military forces

5 fields

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 150,780 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
124,189
females age 16-49:
149,514 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of China

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Illicit drugs

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

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Macau.” The World Factbook 2015. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/macau/2015.