Background: 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.

Map reference:

Area
Total: 16 km²
Land: 16 km²

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

Natural resources: negligible

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 100%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Population: 477,850 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 1.44% (1993 est.)

Nationality
Noun: 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)

Population growth rate: 1.44% (1993 est.)

Birth rate: 14.99 births/1000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate: 4.05 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.45 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)

Environment
Current issues: essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge connect the two islands to the peninsula on mainland

Infant mortality rate: 5.5 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 79.64 years
Female: 82.17 years (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.44 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
Total population: 90%
Male: 93%
Female: 86%

Country name
Conventional 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:

Independence: 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

Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by Beijing awaiting final approval

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: president of Portugal, governor, Consultative Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), GATT, IMO (associate), WTO (associate)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: as Chinese territory under Portuguese administration, Macanese interests in the US are represented by Portugal
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

Economy 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 growth rate: 3.1% (1991)

Agriculture 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% (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $305 million; expenditures $298 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $1.8 billion (1992 est.)
Commodoties: textiles, clothing, toys
Partners: US 36%, Hong Kong 13%, Germany 12%, France 8% (1991)

Imports: $2.0 billion (1992 est.)
Commodoties: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods
Partners: Hong Kong 35%, China 22%, Japan 17% (1991)

Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.034 (1991), 8.024 (1990), 8.030 (1989), 8.044 (1988), 7.993 (1987; note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar

Electricity
Production: 258,000 kW capacity; 855 million kWh produced, 1,806 kWh per capita (1992)

Airports: none useable, 1 under construction; 1 seaplane station

Disputes international: none