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  Macau  
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  Geography
  People
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  Economy
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This page was last updated on 17 May, 2005


Map of Macau



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Macau
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 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 for the next 50 years.
   Geography    Macau
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 25.4 sq km
land: 25.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 0.34 km
regional border: China 0.34 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
41 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
not specified
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
generally flat
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
NEGL
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100%
note: "green areas" represent 22.4% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
   People    Macau
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
449,198 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 17% (male 39,564/female 36,947)
15-64 years: 75.1% (male 160,957/female 176,386)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 14,713/female 20,631) (2005 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 35.2 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 35.4 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.87% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
4.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 82.03 years
male: 79.2 years
female: 84.99 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry), Portuguese, other
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 97.2%
female: 92% (2003 est.)
   Government    Macau
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
special administrative region of China
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
limited democracy
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20 December 1999)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary, four legislators, four businessmen, and one pro-Beijing unionist
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee for up to two five-year terms
election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected on 29 August 2004; received 296 votes in Election Committee out of 300 possible; 3 members submitted blank ballots; 1 member was absent
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (27 seats; 10 elected by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and seven appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms); number of legislators will increase to 29 in September 2005
elections: last held 23 September 2001 (next in September 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by political bloc - Entertainment Industry 3, pro-democracy 2, pro-Beijing Labor Union 2, pro-Beijing Neighborhood Association 2, pro-business 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
some civic associations operate as de facto political parties: Electoral Union; Pro-Macao and Flower of Friendship and Development of Macao; Associacao para a Defesa dos Interesses de Macao; Centro Democratico de Macao; Grupo Independente de Macao; Macau Economic Promotion Association; Progress Promotion Union; Development Union
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Catholic Church [LAI Hung-sing, bishop]; Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO, managing director]; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong, leader]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
light 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 center of arc and four smaller
   Economy    Macau
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in the world since its reversion to China in 1999. Apparel exports and tourism are mainstays of the economy. Although the territory was hit hard by the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the global downturn in 2001, its economy grew 9.5% in 2002 and 15.6% in 2003. During the first three quarters of 2004, Macau registered year-on-year GDP increases of more than 20 percent. A rapid rise in the number of mainland visitors because of China's easing of restrictions on travel, increased public works expenditures, and significant investment inflows associated with the liberalization of Macau's gaming industry drove the recovery. The budget also returned to surplus in 2002 because of the surge in visitors from China and a hike in taxes on gambling profits, which generated about 70% of government revenue. The three companies awarded gambling licenses have pledged to invest $2.2 billion in the territory, which will boost GDP growth. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the mainland as the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory may have to rely more on gambling and trade-related services to generate growth. Two new casinos were opened by new foreign gambling licensees in 2004; development of new infrastructure and facilities in preparation for Macau's hosting of the 2005 East Asian Games will bolster the construction sector. The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into effect on 1 January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-free access to the mainland, and the range of products covered by CEPA was to be expanded on 1 January 2005.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $9.1 billion (2003)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15.6% (2003)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $19,400 (2003)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 7.2%
services: 92.7% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2% (3rd quarter, 2004)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
231,500 (3rd Quarter, 2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
manufacturing 18.3%, construction 8%, transport and communications 7%, wholesale and retail trade 16.2%, restaurants and hotels 10.9%, gambling 11.6%, public sector 8.8%, other services and agriculture 19.2% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.7% (3rd Quarter, 2004)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $1.84 billion
expenditures: $1.57 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers; fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important, some of catch is exported to Hong Kong; most food requirements are met by imports, primarily from China
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.719 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.772 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
1 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
179.7 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11,190 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.58 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2003)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 49.4%, China 14.1%, Germany 8.1%, Hong Kong 6.7%, UK 4.5% (2003)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.76 billion c.i.f. (2003)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods (foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and oils
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
China 43%, Hong Kong 12.8%, Japan 8.7%, Taiwan 5.7% (2003)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.7 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
pataca (MOP)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
MOP
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
patacas per US dollar - 8.009 (2004), 8.0212 (2003), 8.0334 (2002), 8.0335 (2001), 8.0259 (2000)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
174,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
364,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 853; HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2003)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.mo
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
89 (2003)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
120,000 (2003)
   Transportation    Macau
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 341 km
paved: 341 km
unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Macau
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
   Military    Macau
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
responsibility for defense reverted to China on 20 December 1999; there are local police forces
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 112,744 (2005 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Macau
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 17 May, 2005


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