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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 177,959 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2017 est.)

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 (2019)

Internet country code [time series]

.mo

Internet users [time series]

total: 460,000 | percent of population: 77.6% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services; high mobile 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 commercial use in 2020, possible synchronizing with neighbouring regions (2018) | domestic: fixed-line 20 per 100 and mobile-celluar 344 per 100 persons (2018) | international: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 142,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (July 2016 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 1,969,972 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 327 (July 2016 est.)

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: 14.71 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 9.684 billion (2017 est.)

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

10% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

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

Current account balance [time series]

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

Debt - external [time series]

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

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

35 (2013) | 38 (2008)

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 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$1.45 billion (2018) | note: includes reexports

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Hong Kong 47.9%, China 12.6%, Japan 1% (2018)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$50.36 billion (2017 est.)

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

$71.82 billion (2017 est.) | $65.84 billion (2016 est.) | $66.41 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 24.2% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 9.9% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 18.5% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 0.8% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 79.4% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -32% (2017 est.)

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

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

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

$110,000 (2017 est.) | $102,100 (2016 est.) | $102,600 (2015 est.)

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

9.1% (2017 est.) | -0.9% (2016 est.) | -21.6% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$9.7 billion (2017 est.)

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 33.9%, Italy 9.3%, Hong Kong 9%, France 7.5%, Switzerland 7.4%, Japan 7.2%, US 4.4% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.2% (2017 est.) | 2.4% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

400,000 (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$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

Stock of broad money [time series]

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

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

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

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

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

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

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

Stock of narrow money [time series]

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

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

29.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2% (2017 est.) | 1.9% (2016 est.)

Energy

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

2.563 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.077 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

4.306 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

472,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

929 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

178.2 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

175.5 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

12,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

14,180 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

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 [time series]

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 borders (1): China 3 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) | arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | forest: 0% (2011 est.) | other: 100% (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 [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]

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) | 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)

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); 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 24 August 2019 (next to be held in 2024) | election results: Fernando CHUI Sai On reelected chief executive; Election Committee vote - 380 of 396; note - HO Iat Seng was elected chief executive (receiving 392 out of 400 votes) on 24 August 2019 and will take office on 20 December 2019

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]

executive-led 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 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

Legal system [time series]

civil law system based on the Portuguese model

Legislative branch [time series]

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%

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 (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

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 and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) maintains a garrison in Macau.

Military and security forces [time series]

no regular indigenous military forces

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

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.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Macau Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Macau. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

8.4 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

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.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2.7% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Chinese 88.7%, Portuguese 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, other 9.2% (includes Macanese - mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) (2016 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 (2018 est.) | male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 84.6 years (2018 est.) | male: 81.6 years | female: 87.7 years

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 39.8 years (2018 est.) | male: 39.9 years | female: 39.7 years

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chinese | adjective: Chinese

Net migration rate [time series]

3.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.41 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population [time series]

606,340 (July 2018 est.) | note: Macau's statistical agency estimated the total population to be approximately 648,550 as of September 2017

Population distribution [time series]

population fairly equally distributed

Population growth rate [time series]

0.71% (2018 est.)

Religions [time series]

folk religionist 58.9%, Buddhist 17.3%, Christian 7.2%, other 1.2%, none 15.4% (2010 est.)

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

total: 16 years | male: 15 years | female: 16 years (2017)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

0.95 children born/woman (2018 est.)

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

total: 5.3% | male: 6.7% | female: 3.9% (2017 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 100% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: 1.63% 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)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

B-M (2016)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 | by type: other 1 (2018)

National air transport system [time series]

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)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Macau

Roadways [time series]

total: 428 km (2017) | paved: 428 km (2017)