Macau

Executive-Led Limited DemocracyPop644KGDP (PPP)$77.5BCP0.0→Beta

Macau

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Overview

Background: Portuguese ships began arriving in 1513. In the 1550s, Portuguese paying tribute to China settled in Macau, which became the official entrepôt for all international trade with China and Japan and the first European settlement in the Far East. The first governor was appointed in the 17th century, but the Portuguese remained largely under the control of the Chinese. In the 1930s and ’40s Macau was declared a neutral territory during the Sino-Japanese War and World War II and became a refuge for both Chinese and Europeans. Portugal officially made Macau an overseas province in 1951.

In April 1987, Portugal and China reached an agreement to return Macau to Chinese rule in 1999, using the Hong Kong Joint Declaration between China and the UK as a model. 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. However, after China's multi-year crackdown against the pro-democracy movement in nearby Hong Kong, the governments of China and the Macau Special Administrative Region worked to limit Macau's political autonomy by suppressing opposition activity in the 2021 legislative elections.

Geography

Area

Land: 28.2 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 28 sq km

Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain: generally flat

Land Use

Other: 100% (2022 est.)
Forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)

Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Coastline: 41 km

Elevation

Lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Highest point: Alto Coloane 172 m

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Map references: Southeast Asia

Land Boundaries

Total: 3 km
Regional borders: China 3 km

Maritime claims: not specified
Natural hazards: typhoons
Geography note: primarily urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring 5.2 sq km (2 sq mi) and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by three bridges
Natural resources: NEGL
Area comparative: less than one-sixth the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N, 113 33 E
Population distribution: population fairly equally distributed

People & Society

Languages

Note: note: Chinese and Portuguese are official languages; Macanese or Patua, a Portuguese-based Creole, is also spoken
Languages: Cantonese 81%, Mandarin 4.7%, other Chinese dialects 5.4%, English 3.6%, Tagalog 2.9%, Portuguese 0.6%, other 1.8% (2021 est.)
Major language sample(s): 世界概况, 必須擁有的基本資料参考书 (Cantonese)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: folk religion 58.9%, Buddhist 17.3%, Christian 7.2%, other 1.2%, none 15.4% (2020 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 8.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 41.5 years
Total: 43 years (2025 est.)
Female: 43.1 years

Population

Male: 304,988
Total: 644,426 (2024 est.)
Female: 339,438

Nationality

Noun: Chinese
Adjective: Chinese

Urbanization

Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 14.4% (male 47,346/female 45,216)
15 64 years: 69.9% (male 210,059/female 240,577)
65 years and over: 15.7% (2024 est.) (male 47,583/female 53,645)

Ethnic groups: Chinese 89.4%, Chinese and Portuguese 1%, Portuguese 0.8%, Chinese and non-Portuguese 0.2%, Portuguese and others 0.2%, other 8.5% (2021 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 43 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 20.5 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 4.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 22.5 (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population

Education expenditure: 6.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.64% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.61 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population fairly equally distributed

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 82.5 years
Female: 88.3 years
Total population: 85.3 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas population: 682,000 Macau (2023)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 17 years
Total: 18 years
Female: 19 years (2021)

Government

Flag: description: green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, under an arc of five five-pointed gold stars

meaning: the lotus is the national floral emblem, and the three petals represent the country's peninsula and two islands; the five stars echo the Chinese flag
Suffrage: 18 years of age in direct elections for some legislative positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past 7 years
Citizenship: see China

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)
Amendment process: 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

Country Name

Etymology: name derived from the Chinese ama-gao, or “Bay of Ama,” for Ama, the patron goddess of sailors
Official long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese)/ Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
Official short form: Aomen (Chinese)/ Macau (Portuguese)
Conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
Conventional short form: Macau

Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
Legal system: civil law system based on the Portuguese model
Government type: executive-led limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Court of Final Appeal of Macau Special Administrative Region (consists of the court president and 2 associate justices)
Subordinate courts: Court of Second Instance; Court of First instance; Lower Court; Administrative Court
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

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the chief executive
Chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
Election results: 2024: Sam Hou FAI (unopposed; received 394 out of 400 votes)

2019: HO lat Seng (unopposed; received 392 out of 400 votes)
Head of government: Chief Executive Sam Hou FAI (since 20 December 2024)
Most recent election date: president: 10 March 2023

chief executive: 13 October 2024
Election/appointment process: 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)
Expected date of next election: president: March 2028

chief executive: 2029

National holiday: National Day (anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)
Dependency status: special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
National color(s): green, white, yellow
Political parties: Alliance for a Happy Home or ABL
Association of Synergy of Macau ("Synergy Power" or Poder da Singeria) or PS
Macau-Guangdong Union or UGM
New Hope or NE
Union for Development or UPD
Union for Promoting Progress or UPP or UNIPRO
United Citizens Association of Macau or ACUM

Legislative Branch

Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 33 (14 directly elected, 12 indirectly elected, 7 appointed)
Electoral system: mixed
Legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau)
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 9/12/2021
Expected date of next election: September 2025
Parties elected and seats per party: United Citizens Association of Macau (ACUM) (3); Union for Development (UPD) (2); Macau-Guangdong Union (UGM) (2); Union for Promoting Progress (UPP) (2); Alliance for a Happy Home (ABL) (2); New Hope (NE) (2); Association of Synergy of Macau (PS) (1)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)
History: official anthem, as a Special Administrative Region of China
Lyrics/music: TIAN Han/NIE Er

National symbol(s): lotus blossom
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (Special Administrative Region of China)

Diplomatic Representation from the US

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

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

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $12.513 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $11.509 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $28.163 billion (2021 est.)

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2021: $28.163 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $21.097 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $41.839 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $23.77 billion (2021 est.)

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2021: $23.77 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $20.923 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $23.205 billion (2023 est.)

Industries: tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Labor force: 382,100 (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 0% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 0.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: patacas (MOP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 7.989 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 8.006 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 8.065 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 8.063 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 8.037 (2024 est.)

Economic overview: high-income, Chinese special administrative region economy; known for apparel exports and gambling tourism; currency pegged to Hong Kong dollar; significant recession due to 2015 Chinese anticorruption campaign; COVID-19 further halved economic activity

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.5% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 2.5% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: Hong Kong 73%, China 6%, USA 6%, Philippines 3%, Singapore 1% (2023)
Imports partners: China 36%, Hong Kong 17%, USA 6%, France 6%, Japan 5% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $112,800 (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $60,100 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $105,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $112,800 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: -19.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 75.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 8.8% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: pork, chicken, beef, eggs, pork offal, pork fat, pepper, beef offal, cattle hides, goose meat (2023)
Exports commodities: jewelry, garments, broadcasting equipment, precious metal watches, video and card games (2023)
Imports commodities: jewelry, garments, trunks and cases, broadcasting equipment, electricity (2023)

Current Account Balance

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2021: $2.705 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $3.476 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $14.38 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 22.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $50.183 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 29% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 12.2% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 13.8% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 89.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -45.4% (2024 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.5% (2023 est.)

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 0% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 6.8% (2023 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $77.524 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $40.699 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $71.248 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $77.524 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 7.2% (2024 est.)
Female: 5.6% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $25.971 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $27.771 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $29.392 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Services: 91.4% (2023 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 7 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Imports: 5.327 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 5.659 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 427,000 kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 161.125 million kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Imports: 121.716 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 121.747 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 64.641 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Fossil fuels: 58.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 41.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)

Broadcast media: local government dominates broadcast media; 2 TV 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: .mo

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 87,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 1.37 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 175 (2022 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 212,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 0
Medium: 1
Key ports: Macau
Very small: 0
Total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 1

Airports: 1 (2025)
Heliports: 4 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 5 (2023)
BY type: other 5

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: B-M

Environment

Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Land Use

Other: 100% (2022 est.)
Forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 377,900 tons (2024 est.)

Environmental issues: air pollution; coastal water pollution; solid-waste disposal; noise pollution

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 1.595 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 238,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: -1,239 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.358 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Military & Security

Military note: defense is the responsibility of China; the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) maintains a garrison in Macau
Military and security forces: Macau Public Security Police Force

Transnational Issues

Trafficking in Persons

Tier rating: Tier 3 — Macau does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Macau remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/macau

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Macau — vintage 2026-Q1: Macau factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/macau

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Sources: CIA World Factbook