Macau

Macau Special Administrative Region

presidential limited democracyIndependence none (special administrative region of China)

Macau as the 2018 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 148 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
606,340 people July 2017 est. · 441,691 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.71% 2018 est. · 1.44% in 1993
Median ageyears
39.8 years 2018 est. · 33.1 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
84.6 years 2018 est. · 79.64 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
0.95 children per woman 2018 est. · 2.2 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
3.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 2018 est. · 7 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$110,000 2017 est. · $6,700 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
9.1% 2017 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

19 fields

Land useshare of 28.2 sq km

forest 0% (2011 est.)other 100% (2011 est.)agricultural land 0% (2011 est.) in all · arable land 0% (2011 est.) in all · permanent crops 0% (2011 est.) in all · permanent pasture 0% (2011 est.) in all · irrigated 0 sq km (2012)
Area
28.2sq km
land: 28.2 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmless than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
41km
Maritime claims: not specified
Land boundaries
3km
regional borders (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

Elevation

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

Population distribution

population fairly equally distributed

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

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

26 fields
Population
606,340
(July 2017 est.) (July 2018 est.)note: Macau's statistical agency estimated the total population to be approximately 648,550 as of September 2017growth rate: 0.71% (2018 est.)

Per 1,000 population

Birth
8.4 (2018 est.)Death
4.6 (2018 est.)Net migration
3.3 (2017 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2018 est.)84.6
81.6 · 87.7Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)3.1
3.2 · 2.9Literacy (2016 est.)96.5%
98.2% · 95%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2018 est.)39.8
39.9 · 39.7School life expectancy years (2015)15
14 · 15Youth unemployment ages 15-24 (2016 est.)5.1%
6.5% · 2.9%
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2016 est.)

Ethnic groups(2016 est.)

Chinese 88.7%Portuguese 1.1%mixed 1.1%other 9.2% (includes Macanese - mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) (2016 est.)

Religions(2010 est.)

folk religion 58.9%Buddhist 17.3%Christian 7.2%other 1.2%none 15.4% (2010 est.)
Urban population
100%of total population
(2018)rate of urbanization: 1.63% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Physicians density
2.41physicians/1,000 population
(2010)

Nationality

noun:
Chinese
adjective:
Chinese

Languages

Cantonese 80.1%, Mandarin 5.5%, other Chinese dialects 5.3%, Tagalog 3%, English 2.8%, Portuguese 0.6%, other 2.8% (2016 est.) note: Chinese and Portuguese are official languages

Age structure

0-14 years:
13.92% (male 43,730 /female 40,651)
15-24 years:
11.22% (male 35,874 /female 32,146)
25-54 years:
49.75% (male 134,301 /female 167,359)
55-64 years:
13.95% (male 42,409 /female 42,174)
65 years and over:
11.16% (male 31,689 /female 36,007) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio:
26.6 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio:
15.7 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:
10.9 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio:
9.2 (2015 est.)

Population distribution

population fairly equally distributed

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
0-14 years:
1.09 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
15-24 years:
1.11 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
25-54 years:
0.8 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
55-64 years:
1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
65 years and over:
0.88 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
total population:
0.91 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate

0.95 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

3% of GDP (2015)

Government

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

20 fields

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)
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"

Dependency status

special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Government type

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

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

history:
  • 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) (2018)
amendments:
  • proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, and the Macau Special Administrative Region;
  • submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Assembly of Macau, approval by two-thirds of Macau's deputies to the NPC, and consent of the Macau chief executive;
  • final passage requires approval by the NPC;
  • amended 2005, 2012 (2018)

Citizenship

see China

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

Judicial branch

highest courts:
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

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);
  • election last held on 17 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023);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);
election results:
Fernando CHUI Sai On reelected chief executive; Election Committee vote - 380 of 396

Legislative branch

description:
unicameral Legislative Assembly 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 17 September 2017 (next to be held in 2021)
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;
  • composition - men 27, women 6, percent of women 18.6%

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 (New Macau Progressives) or AMN or ANPM [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 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]

note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

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

39 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$71.82billion
(2017 est.) · $65.84 billion (2016 est.) · $66.41 billion (2015 est.)note: data are in 2017 dollarsofficial exchange rate: $50.36 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$110,000
(2017 est.) · $102,100 (2016 est.) · $102,600 (2015 est.)
Real growth rate
9.1%
(2017 est.) · -0.9% (2016 est.) · -21.6% (2015 est.)industrial production growth: 2% (2017 est.)
Inflation, consumer prices
1.2%
(2017 est.) · 2.4% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2016 est.)

agriculture 0% (2016 est.)industry 6.3% (2017 est.)services 93.7% (2017 est.)

By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)

Household consumption
24.2%Government consumption
9.9%Fixed capital
18.5%Inventories
0.8%Exports
79.4%Imports
-32%

Budget(2017 est.)

Revenues
14.71 billionExpenditures
9.684 billion

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 anti-corruption campaign brought Macau’s gambling boom to a halt in 2014, with spending in casinos contracting 34.3% in 2015. As a result, Macau's inflation-adjusted GDP contracted 21.5% in 2015 and another 2.1% in 2016 - down from double-digit expansion rates in the period 2010-13 - but the economy recovered handsomely in 2017.

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

400,000 (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
2.5%
industry:
9.8%
services:
4.4%
industry and services:
12.4%
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining:
15%
manufacturing:
25.9%
construction:
7.1%
transportation and utilities:
2.6%
commerce:
20.3% (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

2% (2017 est.) · 1.9% (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

29.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

10% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt

0% of GDP (2017 est.) · 0% of GDP (2016 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.25% (31 December 2017 est.) · 5.25% (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$8.866 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $7.858 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of broad money

$8.866 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $7.858 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$18.24 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $17.16 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

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

Current account balance

$16.75 billion (2017 est.) · $12.22 billion (2016 est.)

Exports

$1.137 billion (2013 est.) note: includes reexports

Exports - partners

Hong Kong 58.5%, China 18.8% (2017)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$11.55 billion (2016 est.) · $0 (2014 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 33.9%, Italy 9.3%, Hong Kong 9%, France 7.5%, Switzerland 7.4%, Japan 7.2%, US 4.4% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$20.17 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $18.89 billion (31 December 2015 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

Debt - external

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

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

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

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

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

Exchange rates

patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 8 (2017 est.) · 7.9951 (2016 est.) · 7.9951 (2015 est.) · 7.985 (2014 est.) · 7.9871 (2013 est.)

Energy

24 fields

Electrification% of population · (2012)

91%Urban
72%Rural
91%Total
population without electricity: 59,742 (2012)

Installed generating capacity, 472,000 kW(2016 est.)

Fossil fuels 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)Nuclear fuels 0% · Hydroelectric plants 0% · Other renewable sources 0%
Electricity production
929 million (2016 est.)Electricity consumption
5.077 billion (2016 est.)Electricity imports
4.306 billion (2016 est.)Refined petroleum imports
14,180 (2015 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
12,700 (2016 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

178.2 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

175.5 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Communications

7 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(2016–17 est.)

327Mobile cellular
77.6%Internet users, % of population
24Fixed lines
30Fixed broadband
Mobile cellular
1,969,972
(July 2016 est.)
Internet users
460,000
(July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines
142,000
(July 2016 est.)
Fixed broadband
177,959
(2017 est.) · country code .mo

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services;
  • high moible subscriber numbers and mobile penetration with 4 network operators and a mobile virtual network operator (MNVO), offering 4 G and LTE services;
  • 5G wireless technology for commerical use in 2020, possible synchronizing with neighbouring regions (2017)
domestic:
fixed-line 24 per 100 and mobile-celluar 327 per 100 subscriptions (2017)
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)

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)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
1

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers:
1 (registered in China) (2015); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 17 (registered in China) (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
2,276,436 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
25.435 million mt-km (2015)

Airports

1 (2013)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Roadways

total:
427 km (2016)
paved:
427 km (2016)

Merchant marine

total:
1 (2017)
by type:
other 1 (2017)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Macau

Military and Security

No regular indigenous military forces

2 fields

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces

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 2018. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/macau/2018.