Country explorer: Macao
EXPERIMENTAL
2024
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Overview
Macao is a cosmopolitan, high-income territory in eastern China with a very small population. Its economy has been volatile in recent decades, and is based on tourism, gambling, retail and hospitality.
Macao boasts the world's highest population density.
Economy
Macao has witnessed a dramatic transformation, characterized by a significant surge in GDP per capita, indicative of its rapid economic development and distinct status as a global gaming and tourism hub, setting it apart from many of its high-income counterparts.
Demographics
Macao has experienced significant demographic shifts characterized by persistent population growth, modest net migration increases, incrementally rising fertility rates, and notable improvements in life expectancy, aligning with trends observed in other high-income regions, yet distinguished by its rapid adaptation and elevated livability metrics.
Basic needs
Macao has achieved full access to electricity and safely managed drinking water, alongside significant improvements in safely managed sanitation facilities, mirroring the high standards of basic needs commonly seen in high-income countries.
Human development
Macao has experienced significant improvements in literacy rates and learning-adjusted years of schooling, indicating a robust investment in education that aligns with the standards of high-income countries, underscoring its distinctive progression in human development within the region.
Environment & energy
Macao has shown a significant reliance on non-renewable energy sources with minimal records of renewable energy production, highlighting its distinct energy production landscape in comparison to its high-income counterparts which have increasingly diversified their energy sources to include renewables.
Technology & innovation
Macao has witnessed a significant digital transformation, mirrored in its growing internet usage and mobile subscriptions, although its R&D spending as a share of GDP remains modest compared to regional tech-driven economies like Singapore, indicating a balanced yet cautious embrace of technological innovation.
Culture & society
Macao has experienced significant societal changes, marked by a high and increasing share of the population born in another country, and a rising age dependency ratio, suggesting distinctive trends in immigration and demographic shifts compared to its peers.
Governance
In the past two decades, Macao has navigated shifts in governance without specific data on rule of law, corruption perception, civil liberties, or press freedom, suggesting a unique context of development or challenges in transparency and data disclosure compared to its global peers.