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 the People's Republic of
China on 20 December 1999. In this agreement, China promised that,
under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist
economic system would not be practiced in Macau, and that Macau
would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign
and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography ::Macau
Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:
22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 28.2 sq km
country comparison to the world: 236
land: 28.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 0.34 km
regional border: China 0.34 km
Coastline:
41 km
Maritime claims:
not specified
Climate:
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
generally flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution
(associate member)
Geography - note:
essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring
5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and
Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by
three bridges
People ::Macau
Population:
567,957 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 47,853/female 42,019)
15-64 years: 76.2% (male 199,593/female 227,010)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 20,245/female 23,126) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.6 years
male: 36.3 years
female: 35 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.89% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Birth rate:
8.98 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Death rate:
3.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Net migration rate:
3.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 217
male: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 84.38 years
country comparison to the world: 2
male: 81.42 years
female: 87.49 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
0.91 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 94.3%, other 5.7% (includes Macanese - mixed Portuguese and
Asian ancestry) (2006 census)
Religions:
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none or other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Cantonese 85.7%, Hokkien 4%, Mandarin 3.2%, other Chinese dialects
2.7%, English 1.5%, Tagalog 1.3%, other 1.6% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 95.3%
female: 87.8% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 15 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 166
Government ::Macau
Country name:
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:
special administrative region of China
Government type:
limited democracy
Administrative divisions:
none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of
China)
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
Constitution:
Basic Law, approved on 31 March 1993 by China's National People's
Congress, is Macau's charter
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:
direct election 18 years of age for some non-executive positions,
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:
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Fernando CHUI Sai-on (since 20
December 2009)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of 1 government secretary, 3
legislators, 4 businessmen, 1 pro-Beijing unionist, and 1
pro-Beijing educator
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee
for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last
held on 26 July 2009 (next to be held in July 2014)
election results: Fernando CHUI Sai-on elected in 2009 with 282
votes, took office on 20 December 2009
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 members elected by
popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief
executive; members to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 September 2009 (next to be held in
September 2013)
election results: percent of vote - UPD 14.9%, ACUM 12%, APMD 11.6%,
NUDM 9.9%, UPP 9.9%, ANMD 7.8%, UMG 7.3%, MUDAR 5.5%, others 21.1%;
seats by political group - UPD 2, ACUM 2, APMD 2, NUMD 1, UPP 1,
ANMD 1, UMG 1, MUDAR 1; 10 seats filled by professional and business
groups; 7 members appointed by the chief executive
Judicial branch:
Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Change or MUDAR; Macau Development Alliance or NUDM
[Angela LEONG On-kei]; Macau-Guangdong Union or UNG; Macau United
Citizens' Association or ACUM [CHAN Meng-kam]; New Democratic Macau
Association or APMD [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; New Hope or NE [Jose
Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Union for Promoting Progress or UPP [LEONG
Heng-teng]
note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no
registered political parties; politically active groups register as
societies or companies
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Civic Power [Agnes LAM Lok-fong]; Macau New Chinese Youth
Association [LEONG Sin-man]; Macau Society of Tourism and
Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO]; Macau Worker's Union [HO
Heng-kuok]; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]
International organization participation:
IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO
(correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is
accredited to Macau
Flag description:
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
the center of the arc and two smaller on either side; the lotus is
the floral emblem of Macau, the three petals represent the peninsula
and two islands that make up Macau; the five stars echo those on the
flag of China
National anthem:
note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyonggjun
Jinxingqu" is official (see China)
Economy ::Macau
Economy - overview:
Macau's economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the
global economic slowdown, but strong growth resumed in 2010, largely
on the back of strong tourism and gaming sectors. After opening up
its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in
2001, the territory attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign
investment, transforming Macau into one of the world's largest
gaming center. Macau's gaming and tourism businesses were fueled by
China's decision to relax travel restrictions on Chinese citizens
wishing to visit Macau. By 2006, Macau's gaming revenue surpassed
that of the Las Vegas strip, and gaming-related taxes accounted for
more than 70% of total government revenue. In 2008, Macau introduced
measures to cool the rapidly developing sector. This city of nearly
570,000 hosted more than 21 million visitors in 2009. Almost 51%
came from mainland China. Macau's traditional manufacturing industry
has virtually disappeared since the termination of the Multi-Fiber
Agreement in 2005. In 2009, total exports were less than US$1
billion, while gaming receipts were almost US$15 billion. By October
2010, gross gaming revenue had already reached US$19 billion for the
year. The Macau government plans to tighten control over the opening
of new casinos and strengthen supervision of local casino operations
in 2011 and has introduced measures to diversify the economy. The
Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and
mainland China that came into effect on 1 January 2004 offers
Macau-made products tariff-free access to the mainland;
nevertheless, China remains Macau's third largest goods export
market, behind Hong Kong and the United States. Macau's currency,
the Pataca, is closely tied to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also
freely accepted in the territory.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$18.47 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$18.14 billion (2008 est.)
$14.4 billion (2006)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$22.1 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
12.9% (2008)
26% (2007)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$33,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 41
$31,800 (2008)
$28,400 (2006)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 2.8%
services: 97.1% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
322,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Labor force - by occupation:
manufacturing: 4.9%
construction: 9.3%
transport and communications: 5.2%
wholesale and retail trade: 12.6%
restaurants and hotels: 13.6%
gambling: 14.2%
public sector: 6.6%
financial services: 2.1%
other services and agriculture: 31.5% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
3% (2008)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
8.6% (2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
5.43% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.831 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 101
$3.099 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$26.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$23.78 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.717 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$847 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$413.1 million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers;
fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the catch is
exported to Hong Kong
Industries:
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.424 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Electricity - consumption:
3.474 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.215 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - imports:
9,294 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Natural gas - consumption:
91.3 million cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - imports:
97.8 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - proved reserves:
300,000 cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Current account balance:
$NA
Exports:
$950 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$2 billion (2008); note - includes reexports
Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts
Exports - partners:
Hong Kong 38.7%, US 17.9%, China 14.4%, Germany 4% (2009)
Imports:
$4.5 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$5.4 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods
(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and
oils
Imports - partners:
China 31.1%, Hong Kong 10.8%, Japan 8.1%, France 8%, US 6.2% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA
Debt - external:
$0 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 198
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$13.6 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$11.1 billion (#REF! est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$980 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$1 billion (2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 7.985 (2009), 7.983 (2008), 8.011
(2007), 8.0015 (2006)
Communications ::Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:
168,903 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 131
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.109 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 144
Telephone system:
general 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 approaching 200 per 100 persons in 2010;
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) (2010)
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; cable and satellite TV services
are available; 3 radio stations broadcasting, of which 2 are
government-operated (2008)
Internet country code:
.mo
Internet hosts:
252 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 189
Internet users:
270,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 134
Transportation ::Macau
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 218
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 413 km
country comparison to the world: 198
paved: 413 km (2009)
Ports and terminals:
Macau
Military ::Macau
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 150,712 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 124,074
females age 16-49: 149,799 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 4,488
female: 3,900 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues ::Macau
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for drugs going into mainland China; consumer of
opiates and amphetamines
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Macedonia (Europe)
Introduction ::Macedonia
Background:
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in
1991. Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it
considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international
recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of
"the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted
a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize
relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its
constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations
continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue.
Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic
inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the
support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led
to the internationally-brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which
ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the
rights of minorities. Fully implementing the Framework Agreement and
stimulating economic growth and development continue to be
challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both
fronts over the past several years.
Geography ::Macedonia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 25,713 sq km
country comparison to the world: 149
land: 25,433 sq km
water: 280 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,
Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy
snowfall
Terrain:
mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three
large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by
the Vardar River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m
Natural resources:
low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel,
tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 22.01%
permanent crops: 1.79%
other: 76.2% (2005)
Irrigated land:
550 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
6.4 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.27
per capita: 1,118 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central
Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People ::Macedonia
Population:
2,072,086 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.2% (male 206,054/female 191,354)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 722,823/female 710,830)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 102,231/female 133,426) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.4 years
male: 34.4 years
female: 36.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.257% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Birth rate:
11.92 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Death rate:
8.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Net migration rate:
-0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.077 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 158
male: 8.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.92 years
country comparison to the world: 89
male: 72.4 years
female: 77.64 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.58 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%,
Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%,
other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)
Languages:
Macedonian (official) 66.5%, Albanian (official) 25.1%, Turkish
3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 98.2%
female: 94.1% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 133
Government ::Macedonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: Macedonia
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is
the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM)
former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of
Macedonia
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Skopje
geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions: