Moving to Macau: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

614,458

Population - note

note: Macau's statistical agency estimated the total population to be approximately 646,800 as of 31 December 2015

Population Growth Rate

0.85%

Urban Population

100.000000

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Age Structure

14.220000

Median Age

37.200000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

9

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

3.97

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

.93

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.050000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

3.43

Ethnic Groups

Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry), Portuguese, other

Nationality Noun

Chinese

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Literacy - total population

91.3%

Literacy - male

97.2%

Literacy - female

92%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

2.7%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

14.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

84.460000

Infant Mortality Rate

3.150000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

3.150000

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

0.000000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

0.000000

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Economic 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.

In 2016, Macau's gaming-related taxes accounted for more than 76% of total government revenue.

Macau's economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but strong growth resumed in the 2010-13 period, largely on the back of tourism from mainland China and the gaming sectors.

In 2015, this city of 646,800 hosted nearly 30.7 million visitors.

Almost 67% came from mainland China.

Macau's traditional manufacturing industry has slowed greatly since the termination of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005.

Services export — primarily gaming — increasingly has driven Macau’s economic performance.

Mainland China’s anti-corruption campaign brought Macau’s gambling boom to a halt in 2014, with spending in casinos contracting 34.3% in 2015.

As a result, Macau's inflation-adjusted GDP contracted 21.5% in 2015 and another 2.1% in 2016 - down from double-digit expansion rates in the period 2010-13 - but the economy recovered handsomely in 2017.

Macau continues to face the challenges of managing its growing casino industry, risks from money-laundering activities, 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.

Industries

tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$88,700.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

11.9%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$35,580,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$88,700.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

11.9%

GDP - official exchange rate

$51,680,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 26.2% government
• consumption: 9.7% investment in fixed
• capital: 21.4% investment in
• inventories: -0.1% exports of goods and
• services: 84.2% imports of goods and
• services: -41.4%

GDP by Sector- Industry

8.4%

GDP by Sector- services

91.6%

Industrial Growth Rate

-23.7%

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Inflation Rate

2.8%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

pataca (MOP)

Currency Name and Code

Macanese Pataca (MOP)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

5.25%

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Labor Force

330,900

Unemployment Rate

2.9%

Major Industries

tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys

Agriculture Products

vegetables, livestock

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Labor Force By Occupation - financial services

2.6%

Labor Force By Occupation - restaurants and hotels

15%

Labor Force By Occupation - transport and communications

4.4%

Labor Force By Occupation - wholesale and retail trade

12.4%

Labor Force By Occupation- construction

9.8%

Labor Force By Occupation- gambling

25.9%

Labor Force By Occupation- manufacturing

2.5%

Labor Force By Occupation- other services

20.3%

Labor Force By Occupation- public sector

7.1%

Annual Budget

$9,950,000,000 (USD)

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

23.3%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

37.6%

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Full Country Name

Macau Special Administrative Region

Country Name

Macau

Local - Long

Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese)/ Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)

Local - Short

Aomen (Chinese)/ Macau (Portuguese)

Etymology- history of name

name is thought to derive from the A-Ma Temple - built in 1488 and dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen - which is referred to locally as "Maa Gok" - and in Portuguese became "Macau"; the Chinese name Aomen means "inlet gates"

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

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Government Type

executive-led limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

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)
• amendments: 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; amended 2005, 2012

Legal System:

civil law system based on the Portuguese model

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

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (33 seats; 14 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 12 indirectly elected by an electoral college of professional and commercial interest groups, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve 4-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 12 September 2021 (next to be held in September 2025)
• Election Results: percent of vote - ACUM 20.1%, UPD 18%, NE 13.8%, UMG 12.7%, UPP 11.4%, ABL 10.8%, PS 6.6%, other 6.6%; seats by political group - ACUM 3, UPD 2, UMG 2, UPP 2, ABL 2, NE 2, PS 1; composition NA

Judicial Branch:

• 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

Regions or States:

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

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Alliance for a Happy Home or ABL [WONG Kit-cheng]
• Association of Synergy of Macau ("Synergy Power" or Poder da Singeria) or PS [Vitor VAI]
• Macau-Guangdong Union or UGM [MAK Soi-kun]
• New Hope or NE [José Maria Pereira COUTINHO]
• Union for Development or UPD [HO Sut Heng]
• Union for Promoting Progress or UPP or UNIPRO [HO Ion-sang]
• United Citizens Association of Macau or ACUM [CHAN Meng-kam]
• Women's General Association of Macau or AGMM [HO Teng-iat]
• Note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

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

Citizenship Criteria:

see China

Capital Name

Macau

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International Organization Participation:

• ICC (national committees)
• IHO
• IMF
• IMO (associate)
• Interpol (subbureau)
• ISO (correspondent)
• UNESCO (associate)
• UNWTO (associate)
• UPU
• WCO
• WMO
• WTO

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Embassy: the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is accredited to Macau

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• none (Special Administrative Region of China)

Dependency Status

special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

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Geographic Location

Asia

Geographic Coordinates

22 10 N, 113 33 E

Total Area

11 Square Miles 28 Square Kilometers

Land Area

11 Square Miles 28 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

0 Miles 0 Kilometers

Border Countries

regional border: China 0.34 km

Coastline

25 Miles 41 Kilometers

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Terrain

generally flat

Highest Point

172 Meters

Highest Point Location

Coloane Alto 172.4 m

Lowest Point Location

South China Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

NEGL

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Climate

subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Terrain

generally flat

Location

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Total Area

11 Square Miles 28 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

regional border: China 0.34 km

Environment - Current Issues

NA

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

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Exports

$870,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$5,500,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

clothing, textiles, footwear, cement, machines, and parts

Major Imports

clothing, textiles, yarn, foodstuffs, fuel, automobiles, capital goods

Top Export Partners

US 48.5%, China 15.5%, Germany 7.4%, Hong Kong 5.8%, UK 5.4%

Top Import Partners

China 41.7%, Hong Kong 14.5%, Japan 6.8%, Taiwan 6.6%, South Korea 5%, France 4.3%, US 4.2%

Export Partners

US 48.5%, China 15.5%, Germany 7.4%, Hong Kong 5.8%, UK 5.4%

Import Partners

China 41.7%, Hong Kong 14.5%, Japan 6.8%, Taiwan 6.6%, South Korea 5%, France 4.3%, US 4.2%

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Country Description

Macau, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) since December 20, 1999, has a high degree of autonomy, except in the areas of defense and foreign policy.

Macau retains its own currency, laws, and border controls.

With a population of approximately 544,600, Macau covers a 29.5 square-kilometer area including the peninsula of Macau, which is connected to the PRC, and the two islands of Taipa and Coloane.

Gambling and tourism are the largest sectors in Macau's economy.

Facilities for tourism are well developed.

Safety & Security

While the Macau government does not have an office devoted solely to crime victim assistance, the social welfare department offers support to crime victims.

The support includes monetary benefits, health care, psychological services, and counseling.

These are available at the local Social Service Centers.

You will find more resources for victims of crime in Macau in our Help for U.S.

Victims of Crime in Macau information sheet.

In addition, the Macau Tourism Crisis Management Office emaintains a tourism hotline (Tel: 853-2833-3000, for visitors to Macau who encounter emergency situations.

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Crime

Petty street crime, including pick-pocketing, occasionally occurs in tourist areas in Macau, including in and around casinos and at the airport.

You should protect your personal belongings and travel documents at all times.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them, you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Macau, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.

In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings.

In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Macau, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

If you violate Macau’s laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Penalties for possession of, use of, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Macau are severe, and if you are convicted of these offenses, you can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case in Macau.

To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

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Medical Facilities

Several major hospitals in Macau have adequate medical facilities, and Kiang Wu and Conde de Sao Januario hospitals are able to provide emergency medical care.

The U.S.

Consulate General Hong Kong maintains a list of medical providers in Macau on the consulate website.

Highly developed medical facilities and trained personnel are available in Hong Kong, which is about an hour by jetfoil and 10 minutes by helicopter from Macau.

Traffic Safety

While in Macau, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning Macau is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Traffic moves on the left in Macau, and roads are narrow and winding.

Traffic is generally congested throughout the day.

Most visitors to Macau choose not to drive.

Taxis are inexpensive and plentiful at the airport, ferry terminal, and gaming venues.

Public buses are also inexpensive and frequent, but you may have difficulty finding them outside major tourist areas.

For specific information concerning Macau driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, email the Public Security Police Force, or contact them by telephone (853) 2837 4214 or fax (853) 2852 3407 or the Macau Transport Department, 762-804 Avenida da Praia Grande, China Plaza Bldg., 2nd floor; telephone (853) 8866-6363; fax (853) 2875 0626.

(Please note: This website is available only in Chinese and Portuguese).

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Airports - total

1

Airports with Paved Runways

1

Heliports

2

Roadways- total

257 Miles 413 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Macau

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Telephones

168,903

Cell Phones

856,200

Internet Users

300,000

Internet Country Code

.mo

Internet Hosts

252

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

Telephone System

• assessment: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services
• 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)

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

3,660,000,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

2,790,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

1,100,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

355,000

Natural Gas Imports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

371,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

7,376

Anthem History

Special Administrative Region of China