Macau, also known as the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is a small autonomous region located on the southern coast of China. It was previously a Portuguese colony until it was handed over to China in 1999. Macau is comprised of a peninsula and two islands, and it has a total area of just 32.9 square kilometers.

Macau has a population of approximately 680,000 people, with a mix of Chinese and Portuguese cultural influences. The official languages are Chinese and Portuguese, and the local currency is the Macanese pataca (MOP).

Macau's economy is heavily dependent on tourism, and it is known for its casinos and luxury hotels. In fact, it is often referred to as the "Las Vegas of Asia". Macau's gaming industry is the largest in the world, with revenues exceeding those of Las Vegas.

In addition to its tourism industry, Macau also has a thriving textile and garment manufacturing industry. However, the region has faced some economic challenges in recent years due to a decline in tourism as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Macau has a unique political system, as it is a special administrative region (SAR) of China with a high degree of autonomy. The region has its own legal system and government, although China has ultimate sovereignty over it. The Chief Executive of Macau is the head of government, and the Legislative Assembly is the region's legislative body.

Macau has a rich history and culture, and it is home to numerous historical and cultural landmarks, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Historic Centre of Macao. It is also known for its fusion cuisine, which blends Chinese and Portuguese flavors.

Telephone Code
853

Local Emergency Phone
999

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations

Climate
Subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Currency (Code)
Patacas (MOP)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G

Major Languages
Cantonese, Mandarin, other Chinese dialects, Tagalog, English, Portuguese

Major Religions
folk religion 58.9%, Buddhist 17.3%, Christian 7.2%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Left

Tourist Destinations
Fortaleza do Monte; Maritime Museum & Fisherman's Wharf; Macau Tower; Giant Panda Pavilion; Guia Fortress; Coloane Island & Hac Sa Beach; Taipa Island & Taipa House; Senado (Senate) Square; Ruins of Saint Paul’s

Major Sports
Soccer, volleyball, basketball, dragon boat racing

Cultural Practices
Shake hands but never kiss someone's cheek in greeting.

Tipping Guidelines
A 10% service charge is usually included in most restaurants, but you can leave coins if paying with cash or round up the amount you wish to tip if paying by credit card. If a service charge is not included, you can leave 5-10% of the bill for good service. Round up taxi fares to the nearest dollar amount. Tip bellhops $1-2 (USD) per piece of luggage carried. Hotel staff, except bellhops, do not expect tips.

Souvenirs
Jewelry/watches, traditional silk robes; Chinese-inspired paintings, jade statues, and tea sets

Traditional Cuisine
Minchee — minced or ground beef or pork flavored with molasses and soy sauce and served with a fried egg on top

Geography
Area
total: 28 sq km
land: 28.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Climate
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Natural resources
NEGL

People and Society
Population
639,971 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Chinese 88.7%, Portuguese 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, other 9.2% (includes Macanese - mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) (2016 est.)

Languages
Cantonese 80.1%, Mandarin 5.5%, other Chinese dialects 5.3%, Tagalog 3%, English 2.8%, Portuguese 0.6%, other 2.8%; note - Chinese and Portuguese are official languages; Macanese, a Portuguese-based Creole, is also spoken (2016 est.)

Religions
folk religion 58.9%, Buddhist 17.3%, Christian 7.2%, other 1.2%, none 15.4% (2020 est.)

Population growth rate
0.71% (2023 est.)

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

Economy
Economic overview
high-income, Chinese special administrative region economy; known for apparel exports and gambling tourism; currency pegged to Hong Kong dollar; significant recession due to 2015 Chinese anticorruption campaign; COVID-19 further halved economic activity

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$44.49 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$64,800 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
pork, poultry, beef, pig fat, pig offals, eggs, pepper, cattle offals, cattle hides, goose/guinea fowl meat

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

Exports
$26.625 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Hong Kong 66%, China 9% (2019)

Exports - commodities
broadcasting equipment, jewelry, watches, trunks/cases, telephones (2019)

Imports
$22.788 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
China 33%, Hong Kong 31%, France 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
jewelry, watches, electricity, aircraft, cars (2019)