World · permanent entity record · MO
Macau
Thirty-second orientation
Macau at a glance
- Population
- total: 644,426 (2024 est.) male: 304,988 female: 339,438
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05
- Area
- total : 28 sq km land: 28.2 sq km water: 0 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05
- Government
- executive-led limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05
- 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. note: Chinese and Portuguese are official languages; Macanese or Patua, a Portuguese-based Creole, is also spoken
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05
Claims are attributed · classifications are dated
Claims and contested status
Maintained classification
Dependency or area of special sovereignty
China — special administrative region
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31A claim’s appearance records that the cited source reports it. It does not constitute an Almanac ruling on sovereignty.
Maintained profile
- Classification
- Dependency or area of special sovereignty
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · Federal classification and wording follow the current State Department register.
- Sovereignty or administration
- China — special administrative region
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty ·
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography17 fields
- Location
- Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- total : 28 sq km land: 28.2 sq km water: 0 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- less than one-sixth the size of Washington, D.C.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land boundaries
- total: 3 km regional borders (1): China 3 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Alto Coloane 172 m lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 100% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- population fairly equally distributed
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society23 fields
- Population
- total: 644,426 (2024 est.) male: 304,988 female: 339,438
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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. note: Chinese and Portuguese are official languages; Macanese or Patua, a Portuguese-based Creole, is also spoken
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Religions
- folk religion 58.9%, Buddhist 17.3%, Christian 7.2%, other 1.2%, none 15.4% (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 43 (2024 est.) youth dependency ratio: 20.5 (2024 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 22.5 (2024 est.) potential support ratio: 4.5 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 43 years (2025 est.) male: 41.5 years female: 43.1 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 8.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- 3.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- population fairly equally distributed
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major urban areas - population
- 682,000 Macau (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 85.3 years (2024 est.) male: 82.5 years female: 88.3 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total: 18 years male: 17 years female: 19 years (2021)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment6 fields
- Environmental issues
- air pollution; coastal water pollution; solid-waste disposal; noise pollution
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 100% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- 1.595 million 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.) from consumed natural gas: 238,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 377,900 tons (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government20 fields
- Country name
- 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 derived from the Chinese ama-gao, or “Bay of Ama,” for Ama, the patron goddess of sailors
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- executive-led limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency status
- special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legal system
- civil law system based on the Portuguese model
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Suffrage
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Executive branch
- chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013) head of government: Chief Executive Sam Hou FAI (since 20 December 2024) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the chief executive 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) most recent election date: president: 10 March 2023 chief executive: 13 October 2024 election results: 2024: Sam Hou FAI (unopposed; received 394 out of 400 votes) 2019: HO lat Seng (unopposed; received 392 out of 400 votes) expected date of next election: president: March 2028 chief executive: 2029
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 33 (14 directly elected, 12 indirectly elected, 7 appointed) electoral system: mixed scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 9/12/2021 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) expected date of next election: September 2025
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Judicial branch
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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 note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none (Special Administrative Region of China)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- embassy: the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is accredited to Macau
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International organization participation
- ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Independence
- none (special administrative region of China)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers) lyrics/music: TIAN Han/NIE Er history: official anthem, as a Special Administrative Region of China
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy27 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- $77.524 billion (2024 est.) $71.248 billion (2023 est.) $40.699 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP growth rate
- 8.8% (2024 est.) 75.1% (2023 est.) -19.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP per capita
- $112,800 (2024 est.) $105,000 (2023 est.) $60,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $50.183 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- 0.5% (2023 est.) 1% (2022 est.) 0% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- industry: 5.4% (2023 est.) services: 91.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 29% (2024 est.) government consumption: 12.2% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 13.8% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.7% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 89.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -45.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Agricultural products
- pork, chicken, beef, eggs, pork offal, pork fat, pepper, beef offal, cattle hides, goose meat (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industries
- tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industrial production growth rate
- 6.8% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Labor force
- 382,100 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Unemployment rate
- 2.5% (2024 est.) 2.3% (2023 est.) 2.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total: 7.2% (2024 est.) male: 9.4% (2024 est.) female: 5.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Remittances
- 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Budget
- revenues: $12.513 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $11.509 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Taxes and other revenues
- 22.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Current account balance
- $14.38 billion (2023 est.) $3.476 billion (2022 est.) $2.705 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports
- $41.839 billion (2023 est.) $21.097 billion (2022 est.) $28.163 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- Hong Kong 73%, China 6%, USA 6%, Philippines 3%, Singapore 1% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- jewelry, garments, broadcasting equipment, precious metal watches, video and card games (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports
- $23.205 billion (2023 est.) $20.923 billion (2022 est.) $23.77 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- China 36%, Hong Kong 17%, USA 6%, France 6%, Japan 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- jewelry, garments, trunks and cases, broadcasting equipment, electricity (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
- $29.392 billion (2024 est.) $27.771 billion (2023 est.) $25.971 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 8.037 (2024 est.) 8.063 (2023 est.) 8.065 (2022 est.) 8.006 (2021 est.) 7.989 (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Energy7 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity
- installed generating capacity: 427,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 5.659 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 5.327 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 161.125 million kWh (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity generation sources
- fossil fuels: 58.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 41.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Coal
- exports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 7 metric tons (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Petroleum
- refined petroleum consumption: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural gas
- consumption: 121.747 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 121.716 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Energy consumption per capita
- 64.641 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications6 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 87,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 1.37 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 175 (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 212,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation5 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- B-M
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Merchant marine
- total: 5 (2023) by type: other 5
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ports
- total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Macau
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Military and Security2 fields
Transnational Issues1 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
The underlying United States government material is public domain. The Almanac’s reuse terms do not change the legal status of this preserved source layer.