Macau is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China. It is situated on the western side of the Pearl River Delta. The region is bordered by Guangdong province on the north and the South China Sea on the east and south.
Macau covers a total area of 11.39 square miles. According to the 2010 estimate, the population of the region was 544,600. It is the most densely populated region in the world, with a population density of 47,728 per square mile.
What are the ethnic groups in Macau?
The majority of Macau's population is Chinese followed by Portuguese and the Macanese. Macanese is an ethnic group that is a blend of Chinese and the Portuguese.
What are the administrative divisions of Macau?
Earlier, the region of Macau was divided into municipalities that were administered by a municipal council, with a supervising municipal assembly. However, on January 1, 2002, the municipalities were abolished and their functions were transferred to the Instituto para os Assuntos Civicos e Municipais. Presently, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau under the Secretariat for Administration and Justice government is responsible for the administrative functions of the region.
Who are the political leaders of Macau?
Macau is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. The chief executive is the head of the government. He is appointed by the central government.
Chief Executive - Fernando Chui Sai On
President of the Court of Final Appeal - Sam Hou Fai
President of the Legislative Assembly - Lau Cheok Va
What is the official currency used in Macau?
The pataca denoted by the ISO 4217 code MOP is the official currency of Macau. It is subdivided into 100 avos and is normally abbreviated as MOP$.
What is the official language of Macau?
The region of Macau has two official languages: Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese. Local communities in the region also speak languages such as Mandarin, English and Hokkien. The Macanese language is a creole generally known as Patua and is spoken by many Macanese.
What is the official religion of Macau?
Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism are the official and most widely practiced religion in Macau. There is a sizeable Christian community with Roman Catholicism and Protestantism being the major denominations. Mahayana Buddhism is practiced by seventeen percent of the population. Chinese folk religions maintain a firm hold over the people.
The economy of Macau is largely driven by tourism, about 14.6% of the workforce is employed in restaurants and hotels. Gambling is an important industry employing 10.3% of the population. In 2009, the gross domestic product (nominal) of Macau was estimated at US$21.700 billion, while the per capita stood at US$39,800. Agriculture and fishing are small sectors of the the economy of Macau. Germany, China, Hong Kong, and the United States are the major trading partners.
When is the national day of Macau celebrated?
The national day of the Macau Special Administrative Region is celebrated on December 20. On this day in 1999, the region was established as a separate region and sovereignty of Macau was transferred from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China.
