Demographics
With an annual growth rate of 4.7%, Macao (China) had a year-end estimated resident population of 538 100 in 2007, 50.6% female and 49.4% male; 13.5% of the population were aged 0-14 and 7.1% were 65 years and above. The population density was 18 428 persons per square kilometre, with the entire resident population urban dwellers.
In 2007, there were 4537 live births, up by 11.8% compared with 2006, while mortality decreased by 1.3% to 1545. The natural growth rate for the same year was 5.7, with a crude birth rate of 8.6 and a crude death rate of 2.9 per 1000 population. The infant mortality rate was 2.4 per 1000 live births and the under-five mortality rate 3.5 per 1000 live births, while the total fertility rate was 1.0 birth per woman (aged 15-49), with no recorded maternal mortality. Life expectancy at birth for males was 79.0 years in 2003-2006, and 83.8 years for females.
Besides natural increases, migration flow is another important factor in determining population growth. In 2007, an estimated inflow of 22 500 persons was recorded, including legal and illegal immigrants from Mainland China, persons authorized to reside in Macao and non-resident workers.
Political situation
Macao became a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China on 20 December 1999. The constitutional document, the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region, came into force on the same day. It stipulates the system to be practised in Macao, and lays down the political and administrative framework for 50 years from 1999.
Under the Basic Law, Macao is entitled to a high degree of autonomy in all areas except defence and foreign affairs. The principles of “One country, two systems”, “Macao people governing Macao” and “a high degree of autonomy” have passed their initial tests with flying colours, and are now broadly recognized in Macao and infused into its social and political culture.
The first Chief Executive, Edmund Ho Hau Wah, is currently serving his second term of office. The Government will soon begin preparing for the elections of the third-term Chief Executive and the fourth-term Legislative Assembly in 2009.
Socioeconomic situation
With the support of Mainland China, the economy of Macao has remained strong. The real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for 2007 was 27.3% higher than for 2006 in real terms and per capita GDP rose by 26% year on year. Prosperity in the gaming and tourism sector has brought about a large amount of investment, which has soared on the back of the construction in gaming and tourism facilities and has become an impetus for economic growth, along with improvements in residents’ employment conditions and the rise in income-stimulated private consumption expenditure. Exports of services have continued to be bolstered by the growth in the number of tourists from Mainland China. On the other hand, the cancellation of the global textile and garment quota system and the weak economy in the Euro Zone have resulted in a fall in exports.
The health expenditure share of GDP was 2.2% in 2006, less than the 2.6% in 2005, with government expenditure accounting for 69.3%.
Macao has maintained sound economic and trade relations with more than 120 countries and regions, particularly with the European Union and Portuguese-speaking countries.
In 2007, the total local labour force was estimated to be 309 800, of which 300 400 were employed, giving an unemployment rate of 3.1%, down by 0.7% compared with 2006; the underemployment rate held stable at 1.0%.
Vulnerabilities and hazards
Located at the Pearl River Delta of the southeastern coast of Mainland China, Macao is humid and rainy in spring and summer. Thunderstorms and heavy rain always occur from May to September. Macao is occasionally hit by tropical storms, tropical cyclones and typhoons during summer and autumn, causing traffic disruption and, on occasions, major floods and landslips, but seldom casualties.