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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.mo

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

108 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

201,000 (2004)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

174,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

532,800 (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2006)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.16 billion expenditures: $3.16 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (FY05/06)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

pataca (MOP)

Debt - external [time series]

$3.1 billion (2004)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and the global downturn in 2001, its economy grew 10.1% in 2002, 14.2% in 2003, and 28.6% in 2004. During the first three quarters of 2005, Macau registered year-on-year GDP increases of 6.2%. A rapid rise in the number of mainland visitors because of China's easing of travel restrictions, increased public works expenditures, and significant investment inflows associated with the liberalization of Macau's gaming industry drove the four-year recovery. The budget also returned to surplus since 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 led 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 expanded on 1 January 2005.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.899 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports [time series]

153.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.893 billion kWh (2004)

Exchange rates [time series]

patacas per US dollar - 8.011 (2005), 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003), 8.033 (2002), 8.034 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$3.465 billion f.o.b.; note - includes reexports (2004)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 48.7%, China 14.9%, Hong Kong 9.8%, Germany 5.9% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$10.05 billion (2004)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$10 billion (2004)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$22,000 (2004)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.8% (3rd Quarter 2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$3.478 billion c.i.f. (2004)

Imports - commodities [time series]

raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods (foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and oils

Imports - partners [time series]

China 43.1%, Japan 10.9%, Hong Kong 10%, Singapore 5.2%, US 4.1%, Taiwan 4% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.8% (2nd quarter, 2005)

Labor force [time series]

251,200 (3rd Quarter, 2005)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

manufacturing 13.7%, construction 10.5%, transport and communications 5.9%, wholesale and retail trade 14.6%, restaurants and hotels 10.3%, gambling 17.9%, public sector 7.8%, other services and agriculture 19.3% (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.1% (3rd Quarter 2005)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 28.2 sq km land: 28.2 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Coastline [time series]

41 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

Geographic coordinates [time series]

22 10 N, 113 33 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 0.34 km regional border: China 0.34 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Location [time series]

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

not specified

Natural hazards [time series]

typhoons

Natural resources [time series]

NEGL

Terrain [time series]

generally flat

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (special administrative region of China)

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

special administrative region of China

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (special administrative region of China)

Executive branch [time series]

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, three legislators, four businessmen, one pro-Beijing unionist, and one pro-Beijing educator elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 29 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected received 296 votes; three members submitted blank ballots; one member was absent

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

limited democracy

Independence [time series]

none (special administrative region of China)

International organization participation [time series]

IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region

Legal system [time series]

based on Portuguese civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 elected by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 25 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, United Forces 2, others 2; 10 seats filled by professional and business groups; seven members appointed by chief executive

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

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

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 112,744 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsiblity of China

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.2% (male 37,934/female 35,412) 15-64 years: 75.9% (male 163,975/female 179,830) 65 years and over: 7.9% (male 15,099/female 20,875) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

8.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.35 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 82.19 years male: 79.36 years female: 85.17 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.5% male: 97.2% female: 92% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 36.1 years male: 35.7 years female: 36.4 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese

Net migration rate [time series]

4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

453,125 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.86% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.02 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Macau is a transit and destination territory for women trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; most females in Macau's sizeable sex industry come from the interior regions of China or Mongolia, though a significant number also come from Russia, Eastern Europe, Thailand, and Vietnam; the majority of women in Macau's prostitution trade appear to have entered Macau and the sex trade voluntarily, though there is evidence that some are deceived or coerced into sexual servitude, often through the use of debt bondage; organized criminal syndicates are reportedly involved in bringing women to Macau, and fear of reprisals from these groups may prevent some women from seeking help tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Macau is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to show evidence of increasing efforts to address trafficking since 2004

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Macau

Roadways [time series]

total: 368 km paved: 368 km (2005)