Page last updated on January 31, 2014
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 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 next 50 years.
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
total: 28.2 sq km
country comparison to the world: 237
land: 28.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
total: 0.34 km
regional border: China 0.34 km
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172 m
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2011)
NA; note - included in the total for China
party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)
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
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Chinese 92.4%, other 7.6% (includes Macanese - mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) (2011 census)
Cantonese 83.3%, Mandarin 5%, Hokkien 3.7%, other Chinese dialects 2%, English 2.3%, Tagalog 1.7%, Portuguese 0.7%, other 1.3%
note: Chinese and Portuguese are the official language (2011 census)
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none or other 35% (1997 est.)
583,003 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 44,454/female 40,089)
15-24 years: 14.5% (male 43,670/female 41,018)
25-54 years: 51% (male 133,043/female 164,369)
55-64 years: 11.1% (male 32,782/female 32,185)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 24,091/female 27,302) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 25.8 %
youth dependency ratio: 15.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 10.2 %
potential support ratio: 9.8 (2013)
total: 37.2 years
male: 37.9 years
female: 36.7 years (2013 est.)
0.85% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
9.03 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
3.97 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
3.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
urban population: 100% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.01% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.82 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 (2013 est.)
total: 3.15 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 218
male: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 84.46 years
country comparison to the world: 2
male: 81.5 years
female: 87.56 years (2013 est.)
0.93 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
2.6% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 156
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 97.8%
female: 93.7% (2011 est.)
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2008)
total: 5.8%
country comparison to the world: 134
male: 7%
female: 4.7% (2011)
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)
special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)
none (special administrative region of China)
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
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)
civil law system based on the Portuguese model
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 300-member Election Committee for the Chief Executive (CE) drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, central government bodies, and elected Macau officials
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 consists of 1 government secretary, 3 legislators, 4 businessmen, 1 pro-Beijing unionist, and 1 pro-Beijing educator
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee for a five-year term (current chief executive is eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 July 2009 (next to be held in July 2014)
note: the Legislative Assembly voted in August 2012 to expand the electoral committee to 400 seats for the 2014 election.
election results: Fernando CHUI Sai On elected in 2009 with 282 votes, took office on 20 December 2009
unicameral Legislative Assembly (33 seats; 14 geographical constituency seats elected by popular vote, 12 functional constituency seats elected by indirect vote, and 7 seats appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 15 September 2013 (next to be held in 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%, MUDAR 6.0%, others 14.5%; seats by political group - ACUM 3, UMG 2, UPP 2, NE 2, NUDM 1, UPD 1, APMD 1, ANMD 1, MUDAR 1; 12 seats filled by professional and business groups; 7 members appointed by the chief executive
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
Alliance for Change or MUDAR [Melinda CHAN Mei-yi]
note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies
Civic Power [Agnes LAM lok-fong]
ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WTO
none (Special Administrative Region of China)
the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong, currently Consul General Clifford A. HART Jr., is accredited to Macau
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
note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)
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. By 2006, Macau''s gaming revenue surpassed that of the Las Vegas strip, and gaming-related taxes accounted for more than 70% of total government revenue. Macau''s economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but strong growth resumed in 2010-11, largely on the back of tourism from mainland China and the gaming sectors. In 2012, this city of 582,000 hosted nearly 28 million visitors. Almost 60% came from mainland China. Macau''s traditional manufacturing industry has slowed greatly since the termination of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. China is Macau''s second largest goods export market, behind Hong Kong, and followed by the United States. In 2012, exports were less than US$1 billion, while gaming receipts were US$38 billion, a 13.5% increase over 2011. Macau''s economy expanded by 10% in 2012; although impressive, it was a slower growth rate than in previous years. Macau continues to face the challenges of managing its growing casino industry, money-laundering, 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.
$47.19 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$44.3 billion (2012 est.)
10% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$82,400 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
household consumption: 19.9%
government consumption: 6.8%
investment in fixed capital: 13.4%
investment in inventories: 1.4%
exports of goods and services: 108.3%
imports of goods and services: -49.7%
agriculture: 0%
industry: 6.3%
services: 93.7% (2012 est.)
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
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
8.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
356,700 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
manufacturing: 3%
construction: 6.6%
transport and communications: 4.3%
wholesale and retail trade: 12.7%
restaurants and hotels: 15.5%
gambling: 15.1%
public sector: 7.1%
financial services: 2.2%
other services: 33.5% (2012)
2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $16.06 billion
expenditures: $4.731 billion (2012 est.)
36.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
25.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
6.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
5.25% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$5.862 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$46.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$-5.689 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
$85.5 billion (2 March 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$16.13 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$1.02 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
note: includes reexports
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts
Hong Kong 50.3%, China 16.8%, US 6.2% (2012)
$8.866 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods (foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and oils
China 32.2%, Hong Kong 11.6%, France 8.8%, Switzerland 8.6%, Italy 7.5%, Japan 5.9%, US 5.2% (2012)
$16.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
note: the Fiscal Reserves Act that came into force on 1 January 2012 requires the fiscal reserve to be separated from the foreign exchange reserves and to be managed separately; the transfer of assets took place in February 2012
$0 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 204
$14.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$672.1 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
patacas (MOP) per US dollar -
561 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
4.214 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
3.86 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
472,000 kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 157
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
7,522 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
5,948 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
0 cu m (2012)
country comparison to the world: 166
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 163
1.805 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
162,500 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 132
1.613 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 150
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)
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)
327 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 189
270,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 134
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 224
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
total: 413 km
country comparison to the world: 199
paved: 413 km (2009)
no regular indigenous military forces
males age 16-49: 150,780 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 124,189
females age 16-49: 149,514 (2010 est.)
male: 4,274
female: 3,674 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of China
