Statistical information Macau 1995

Macau in the World
Macau - Introduction 1995
top of pageBackground: 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 will become 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.
top of pageLocation: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Southeast AsiaAreaTotal area total: 16 km²
Land: 16 km²
Comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total 0.34 km, China 0.34 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: not specified
Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain: generally flat
ElevationNatural resources: negligible
Land useArable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: defense is responsibility of Portugal
top of pagePopulation: 490,901 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 1.25% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Macanese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Macau
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Cantonese is the language of commerce
Religions: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2% (1981)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 24% (female 56,991; male 60,944)
15-64 years: 68% (female 167,366; male 165,168)
65 years and over: 8% (female 23,537; male 16,895) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.25% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 14.5 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.21 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.24 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
Current issues natural hazards: NA
Current issues international agreements: party to - Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal)
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 5.4 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 79.86 years
Male: 77.41 years
Female: 82.43 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
Total population: 90%
Male: 93%
Female: 86%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Macau
Local long form: none
Local short form: Ilha de Macau
Government type: overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in 1999
Capital: Macau
Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho; Ilhas, Macau
Dependent areasIndependence: none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 year after transition)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by Beijing awaiting final approval
Legal system: Portuguese civil law system
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES (since 9 March 1986)
Head of government: Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since 20 March 1991)
Cabinet: Consultative Council; consists of five members appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five members elected for a four-year term (2 represent administrative bodies, 1 represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and 2 economic interests), and three statuatory members
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly: elections last held on 10 March 1991 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23 total, 8 elected by universal suffrage, 8 by indirect suffrage, and 7 appointed by the governor) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, IMO (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)
From the us: the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description
: the flag of Portugal is used
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries - toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry represented well over 40% of GDP in 1992. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: rice, vegetables; food shortages - rice, vegetables, meat; depends mostly on imports for food requirements
Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 180,000 (1986)
By occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $305 million
Expenditures: $298 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $1.8 billion (1992 est.)
Commodoties: textiles, clothing, toys
Partners: US 35%, Hong Kong 12.5%, Germany 12%, China 9.9%, France 8% (1992 est.)
Imports: $2 billion (1992 est.)
Commodoties: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods
Partners: Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, Japan 18% (1992 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $91 million (1985)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.034 (1991-94), 8.024 (1990), 8.030 (1989; note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 258,000 kW
Production: 950 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 2,093 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaMacau - Communication 1995
top of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 52,000 telephones; fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: high-frequency radio communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsMacau - Transportation 1995
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: none usable, 1 under construction; 1 seaplane station
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: none
Ports and terminalsMacau - Transnational issues 1995
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs