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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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)

Internet country code [time series]

.mo

Internet users [time series]

total: 460,000 | percent of population: 77.6% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 300 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) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total: 142,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 1.896 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 320 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

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: $12.81 billion | expenditures: $10.11 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

6.1% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

5.25% (31 December 2016 est.) | 5.25% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

Current account balance [time series]

$12.31 billion (2016 est.) | $11.56 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Debt - external [time series]

$0 (31 December 2013) | $0 (31 December 2012) | country comparison to the world: 204

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

35 (2013) | 38 (2008) | country comparison to the world: 94

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 ongoing anti-corruption campaign has brought Macau’s gambling boom to a halt, with spending in casinos contracting 34.3% in 2015. As a result, Macau's inflation-adjusted GDP contracted 20.3% in 2015, down from double-digit expansion rates in the period 2010-13, and another 4.7% in 2016. | 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

patacas (MOP) per US dollar - | 7.9951 (2016 est.) | 7.9951 (2015 est.) | 7.985 (2014 est.) | 7.9871 (2013 est.) | 7.99 (2012 est.)

Exports [time series]

$1.137 billion (2013 est.) | $1.959 billion (2015 est.) | note: includes reexports | country comparison to the world: 155

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Hong Kong 64.1%, China 20.2% (2016)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$44.86 billion (2016 est.)

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

$63.75 billion (2016 est.) | $64.32 billion (2015 est.) | $81.1 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 104

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 0% | industry: 12.2% | services: 87.8% (2016 est.)

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

$98,800 (2016 est.) | $100,700 (2015 est.) | $130,500 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6

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

-2.1% (2016 est.) | -21.5% (2015 est.) | -1.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$14.2 billion (2014 est.) | $10.13 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

China 36.7%, Hong Kong 8.6%, Italy 7.9%, Switzerland 7.6%, France 7.4%, Japan 6.3%, US 5.8% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.4% (2016 est.) | 4.6% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Labor force [time series]

397,800 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$85.5 billion (2 March 2012 est.) | $46.1 billion (31 February 2011 est.) | $2.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

0% of GDP (2016 est.) | 0% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$19.49 billion (31 December 2016 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 | country comparison to the world: 63

Stock of broad money [time series]

$66.57 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $59.21 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$1.166 billion (2012 est.) | $667.8 million (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$18.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | $14.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$17.16 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $10.09 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$7.783 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $7.561 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

29% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.9% (2016 est.) | 1.8% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

1.8 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - consumption [time series]

4.834 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - imports [time series]

4.306 billion kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

472,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Electricity - production [time series]

904 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 59,742 | electrification - total population: 91% | electrification - urban areas: 91% | electrification - rural areas: 72% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

355,000 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Natural gas - imports [time series]

371,000 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 165

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

12,700 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

10,760 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 28.2 sq km | land: 28.2 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 238

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 [time series]

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m | highest point: Alto Coloane 172 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

air pollution; coastal waters pollution; insufficient policies in reducing and recycling solid wastes; increasing population density worsening noise pollution

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

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]

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3 km | regional border(s) (1): China 3 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 0% | arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0% | forest: 0% | other: 100% (urban area) (2011 est.)

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

Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]

population fairly equally distributed

Terrain [time series]

generally flat

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)

Citizenship [time series]

see China

Constitution [time series]

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); amended 2005, 2012 (2016)

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is accredited to Macau

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (Special Administrative Region of China)

Executive branch [time series]

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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

none (special administrative region of China)

International organization participation [time series]

ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

civil law system based on the Portuguese model

Legislative branch [time series]

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 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

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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

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

National symbol(s) [time series]

lotus blossom; national colors: green, white, yellow

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

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 or AMN [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 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

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

Bar-Bending Workers' Association [WONG Wai-Man] | Democratic Action [LEE Kin-yun] | Macau New Chinese Youth Association (Associacao de Nova Juventude Chinesa de Macau) or ANJCM [LEONG Sin-man] | Macau Workers' Union [HO Heng-kuok] | New Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong] | Workers' Self-Help Union [CHEONG Weng-fat]

Suffrage [time series]

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

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 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.

Military and Security

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of China

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

no regular indigenous military forces

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.1% (male 44,133/female 40,764) | 15-24 years: 11.73% (male 37,194/female 33,418) | 25-54 years: 50.1% (male 134,244/female 167,318) | 55-64 years: 13.5% (male 40,837/female 40,423) | 65 years and over: 10.57% (male 29,764/female 33,874) (2017 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

8.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 216

Death rate [time series]

4.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 205

Dependency ratios [time series]

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

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 148

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

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: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 214

Languages [time series]

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.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 84.6 years | male: 81.6 years | female: 87.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 96.5% | male: 98.2% | female: 95% (2016 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 39.3 years | male: 39.5 years | female: 39.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chinese | adjective: Chinese

Net migration rate [time series]

3.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

3.11 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population [time series]

601,969 (July 2017 est.) | note: Macau's statistical agency estimated the total population to be approximately 644,900 as of 31 December 2016 | country comparison to the world: 170

Population distribution [time series]

population fairly equally distributed

Population growth rate [time series]

0.74% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 15 years | male: 14 years | female: 15 years (2015)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

0.95 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 223

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 4.5% | male: 5.7% | female: 3.8% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 100% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 1.39% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 224

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 | over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

B-M (2016)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2013)

National air transport system [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Macau

Roadways [time series]

total: 424 km | paved: 424 km (2014) | country comparison to the world: 200