Macau is situated on the South-Eastern coast of China, 60 kilometers south west of Hong Kong and 145 kilometers south of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province. The territory is comprised of a peninsula and two islands and the total area is 28.2 square kilometers. Previously a Special Territory of Portugal, Macau became a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China on 20 December 1999.
In early 2002, the Macau government decided to break the gaming monopoly held for 40 years by casino magnate Stanley Ho, by awarding three new casino licenses with a minimum investment requirement for each successful licensee of US$800 million. In early 2002, the government announced that licenses had been awarded to SJM (Stanley Ho), Wynn Resorts and a Galaxy Holdings/Las Vegas Sands consortium out of a total of 21 applicants. This catalysed a massive influx of new foreign investment which as of end-2006 had reached a total combined commitment level of over US$30 billion. |
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| Location |
S.E. coast of China & 60 km south west of Hong Kong |
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| Population |
552,000 – world’s most densely populated city |
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| Ethnic mix |
95% Chinese origin, remainder Macanese/Portuguese |
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| Area |
29.2km²/11 miles² (about 2% the size of Greater London) |
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Official languages
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Chinese & Portuguese (English widely spoken) |
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| Monetary unit |
Pataca (pegged to the Hong Kong Dollar) |
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| Government |
Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China |
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| Chief Executive |
Edmund Ho Hau-wah |
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| GDP per capita |
US$36,360 |
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| GDP growth |
26% (H1 2008) |
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| GDP drivers |
Gaming, Tourism, Construction |
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Regional and Local Geography |
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| Economic Statistics |
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Period |
Figure |
YOY % Change |
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| Unemployment Rate |
Q2 2008 |
2.9% |
- 0.2% |
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Consumer Price Index
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Jul 2008 |
125.8 |
+ 9.2% |
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Visitor Arrivals
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H1 2008 |
15 million |
+ 18.0% |
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Gaming Revenues
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H1 2008 |
US$7.3 billion |
+ 54.0% |
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| Median Monthly Employment Income |
Q2 2008 |
US$1,000 |
+ 3.8% |
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| Real GDP |
H1 2008 |
US$9.5 billon |
+ 26.0% |
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| Retail Sales Value |
H1 2008 |
US$1.1 billion |
+ 43.0% |
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| Population |
Q2 2008 |
552,000 |
+ 4.9% |
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