OFFICIAL NAME: Macau
CAPITAL: Mone de Deus De Macau
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: A Special Chinese Territory
AREA: 16 Sq Km (6 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION: 411,000
  LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Macau is located on the southern
coast of China on the Pearl River. It consists of the Macau
Peninsula and the two southern islands of Taipa and Cologne.
The country is low and flat with about 90% of the land under
urban development. The islands are hilly, rocky and largely
unusable. Major Cities; Macau 416,200 (1986). Land Use;
urban, wasteland and other 100% (1990).
CLIMATE: Macau has a subtropical climate with cool winters and
warm humid summers. Average annual precipitation varies between 200 to
250 mm (8 to 10 inches) while the average annual temperature is 22 degrees
Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit) all year round.
PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Chinese who account
for 74% of the population and are predominantly Cantonese, although there
are some Hakka minorities. The remainder are Portuguese and mixed Chinese-Portuguese
descendants.
DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 22,800 persons per sq
km (58,676 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 100% urban (95% land
dwellings, 5% sampans-water dwellings) (1991). Sex Distribution; 48.5%
male, 51.5% female (1991). Life Expectancy at Birth; 75.1 years male, 80.3
years female (1988). Age Breakdown; 25% under 15, 27% 15 to 29, 29% 30
to 44, 10% 45 to 59, 7% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1991). Birth Rate; 15.9
per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 3.3 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 12.6
per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 7.5 per 1,000 live births (1991).
RELIGIONS: Around 45% of the population are Buddhists, 9% are
Christians and there is a minority of Confucianists.
LANGUAGES: The official language is Portuguese, although Chinese
(Cantonese) is extensively used.
EDUCATION: Economically active population aged 10 or over and
having attained: no formal schooling 13.8%, primary 22.6%, incomplete secondary
27.2%, secondary 20.5%, incomplete post secondary 13.0%, higher 2.9% (1981).
Literacy; literate population aged 10 or over 127,359 or 61.3% (1981).
MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1990: In 1557 the Portuguese established
a permanent settlement in Macau and China has allowed them to remain as
Macau contributes to China's economy. In 1987 China and Portugal signed
an agreement under which control of Macau will be transferred from Portugal
to China in 1999.
CURRENCY: The official currency is the Pataca (P) divided into
100 Avos.
ECONOMY: Domestic Product; USD $4,158,000,000 (1991). Public
Debt; USD $190,000,000 (1988). Imports; P 14,832,422,000 (1991). Exports;
P 13,326,068,000 (1991). Tourism Receipts; N/A. Balance of Trade; P -1,506,400,000
(1991). Economically Active Population; 127,359 or 48.6% of total population
(1981). Unemployed; 3.9% (1990).
MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA,
Germany, France and Hong Kong.
MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Fish, Fruit and Vegetables, Livestock.
MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Electronics, Fishing, Gambling, Light Manufacturing,
Textiles, Tourism.
MAIN EXPORTS: Artificial Flowers, Clothing, Textile Yarns and Fabrics,
Toys.
TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 97 km (60 mi) (1988).
Vehicles; cars 27,364 (1990), trucks and buses 3,550 (1990). Merchant Marine;
vessels 6 (1990), deadweight tonnage 3,512 (1990). Air Transport; nil.
COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 8 (1988) with a total
circulation of 242,000 (1986). Radio; receivers 250,000 (1990). Television;
receivers 70,000 (1990). Telephones; units 96,353 (1990).
MILITARY: 1,800 (1990) total active duty personnel with 100%
paramilitary.
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