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 became the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) 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 next 50 years.

Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N 113 33 E

Area
Rank: 237
Land: 28.2 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: less than one-sixth the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries
Regional border: China 0.34 km

Coastline: 41 km

Maritime claims: not specified

Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters warm summers

Terrain: generally flat

Elevation
Extremes highest point: Coloane Alto 172 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 100% (2011)

Irrigated land: NA; note - included in the total for China

Natural hazards: typhoons

Geography
Note: essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring 5.2 km² and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by three bridges

Population: 583,003 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 170
Growth rate: 0.85% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 130
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Adjective: Chinese

Ethnic groups: Chinese 92.4% other 7.6% (includes Macanese - mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) (2011 census)

Languages: Cantonese 83.3% Mandarin 5% Hokkien 3.7% other Chinese dialects 2% English 2.3% Tagalog 1.7% Portuguese 0.7% other 1.3%

Religions: Buddhist 50% Roman Catholic 15% none or other 35% (1997 est.)

Age structure
15-24 years: 14.5% (male 43,670/female 41,018)
25-54 years: 51% (male 133,043/female 164,369)
55-64 years: 11.1% (male 32,782/female 32,185)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 24,091/female 27,302) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 15.6 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.2 %
Potential support ratio: 9.8 (2013)

Median age
Male: 37.9 years
Female: 36.7 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.85% (2013 est.)
Rank: 130

Birth rate: 9.03 births/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 208

Death rate: 3.97 deaths/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 209

Net migration rate: 3.43 migrant(s)/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 30

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 2.01% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Environment
Current issues: NA

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 218
Male: 3.31 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 2.99 deaths/1000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 2
Male: 81.5 years
Female: 87.56 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate: 0.93 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Rank: 223

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 156

Literacy
Total population: 95.6%
Male: 97.8%
Female: 93.7% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 14 years
Female: 14 years (2008)

Country name
Conventional short form: Macau
Official long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
Official short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)

Government type: limited democracy

Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)

Independence: none (special administrative region of China)

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

Constitution: previous 1976 (Organic Statute of Macau by Portugal); latest adopted 31 March 1993 effective 20 December 1999(Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region by the People's Republic of China serves as Macau's constitution) (2013)

Legal system: civil law system based on the Portuguese model

Suffrage: 18 years of age in direct elections for some legislative positions universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; note - indirect elections are limited to organizations registered as 'corporate voters' (973 were registered in the 2009 legislative elections) and a 300-member Election Committee for the Chief Executive (CE) drawn from broad regional groupings municipal organizations central government bodies and elected Macau officials

Executive branch
Head of government: Chief Executive Fernando CHUI Sai-on (since 20 December 2009)
Cabinet: Executive Council consists of 1 government secretary 3 legislators 4 businessmen 1 pro-Beijing unionist and 1 pro-Beijing educator
Elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee for a five-year term (current chief executive is eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 July 2009 (next to be held in July 2014)
Election results: Fernando CHUI Sai-on elected in 2009 with 282 votes took office on 20 December 2009

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 members elected by popular vote 10 by indirect vote and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 20 September 2009 (next to be held in September 2013)
Election results: percent of vote - UPD 14.9% ACUM 12% APMD 11.6% NUDM 9.9% UPP 9.9% ANMD 7.8% UMG 7.3% MUDAR 5.5% others 21.1%; seats by political group - UPD 2 ACUM 2 APMD 2 NE 1 NUMD 1 UPP 1 ANMD 1 UMG 1 MUDAR 1; 10 seats filled by professional and business groups; 7 members appointed by the chief executive

Judicial branch
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

Political parties and leaders:

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (Special Administrative Region of China)
From the us: the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong currently Consul General Clifford A. HART Jr. is accredited to Macau

Flag description: 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

National symbols: lotus blossom

Economy overview: 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. By 2006 Macau''s gaming revenue surpassed that of the Las Vegas strip and gaming-related taxes accounted for more than 70% of total government revenue. Macau''s economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown but strong growth resumed in 2010-11 largely on the back of tourism from mainland China and the gaming sectors. In 2012 this city of 582,000 hosted nearly 28 million visitors. Almost 60% came from mainland China. Macau''s traditional manufacturing industry has slowed greatly since the termination of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. China is Macau''s second largest goods export market behind Hong Kong and followed by the United States. In 2012 exports were less than US$1 billion while gaming receipts were US$38 billion a 13.5% increase over 2011. Macau''s economy expanded by 10% in 2012; although impressive it was a slower growth rate than in previous years. Macau continues to face the challenges of managing its growing casino industry money-laundering 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 98

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 9

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 4

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 6.8%
Investment in fixed capital: 13.4%
Investment in inventories: 1.4%
Exports of goods and services: 108.3%
Imports of goods and services: -49.7%: (2012 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 6.3%
Services: 93.7% (2012 est.)

Agriculture products: 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

Industries: tourism gambling clothing textiles electronics footwear toys

Industrial production growth rate: 8.4% (2012 est.)
Rank: 25

Labor force: 356,700 (2012 est.)
Rank: 161
By occupation construction: 6.6%
By occupation transport and communications: 4.3%
By occupation wholesale and retail trade: 12.7%
By occupation restaurants and hotels: 15.5%
By occupation gambling: 15.1%
By occupation public sector: 7.1%
By occupation financial services: 2.2%
By occupation other services: 33.5% (2012)

Unemployment rate: 2.6% (2011 est.)
Rank: 12

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Expenditures: $4.731 billion (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 25.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 3

Taxes and other revenues: 36.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 61

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 5.8% (2011 est.)
Rank: 164

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 5.25% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 155

Stock of narrow money: $4.434 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 95

Stock of broad money: $46.29 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 68

Stock of domestic credit: $-8.616 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 188

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 52

Current account balance: $12.06 billion (2010 est.)
Rank: 21

Exports: $1.111 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 155
Commodities: clothing textiles footwear toys electronics machinery and parts
Partners: Hong Kong 50.3% China 16.8% US 6.2% (2012)

Imports: $7.786 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 103
Commodities: raw materials and semi-manufactured goods consumer goods (foodstuffs beverages tobacco) capital goods mineral fuels and oils
Partners: China 32.2% Hong Kong 11.6% France 8.8% Switzerland 8.6% Italy 7.5% Japan 5.9% US 5.2% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $34.03 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 62

Debt external: $0 (2012)
Rank: 204

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $13.6 billion (#REF! est.)
Rank: 80

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $550.6 million (2010)
Rank: 81

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 561 million kWh (2012 est.)
Production rank: 160
Consumption: 4.214 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 121
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 97
Imports: 3.86 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 41
Installed generating capacity: 472,000 kW (2012 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 141
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 22
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 130
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 180
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 197

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 189
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 148
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 86
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 157

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Products production rank: 200
Products consumption: 7,522 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Products consumption rank: 160
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Products exports rank: 192
Products imports: 5,948 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Products imports rank: 144

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Production rank: 159
Consumption: 0 m³ (2012)
Consumption rank: 166
Exports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 139
Imports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 91
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 es)
Proven reserves rank: 163

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.805 million Mt (2011 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 150

Telephones
Main lines in use: 162,500 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 132
Mobile cellular: 1.613 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 150

Telephone system
Domestic: termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with mobile-cellular teledensity exceeding 200 per 100 persons; fixed-line subscribership appears to have peaked and is now in decline
International: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable network that provides links to Asia the Middle East and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)

Broadcast media: 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 (2012)

Internet
Country code: .mo
Hosts: 327 (2012)
Hosts rank: 189
Users: 270,200 (2009)
Users rank: 134

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 224
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2013)

Heliports: 2 (2013)

Roadways
Rank: 199
Paved: 413 km (2009)

Ports and terminals: Macau

Disputes international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs going into mainland China; consumer of opiates and amphetamines