Economy - overview:
Since opening up its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in 2001, Macau has attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign investment, transforming the territory into one of the world's largest gaming centers. Macau's gaming and tourism businesses were fueled by China's decision to relax travel restrictions on Chinese citizens wishing to visit Macau. In 2016, Macau's gaming-related taxes accounted for more than 76% of total government revenue.

Macau's economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but strong growth resumed in the 2010-13 period, largely on the back of tourism from mainland China and the gaming sectors. In 2015, this city of 646,800 hosted nearly 30.7 million visitors. Almost 67% came from mainland China. Macau's traditional manufacturing industry has slowed greatly since the termination of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. Services export — primarily gaming — increasingly has driven Macau’s economic performance. Mainland China’s anti-corruption campaign brought Macau’s gambling boom to a halt in 2014, with spending in casinos contracting 34.3% in 2015. As a result, Macau's inflation-adjusted GDP contracted 21.5% in 2015 and another 2.1% in 2016 - down from double-digit expansion rates in the period 2010-13 - but the economy recovered handsomely in 2017.

Macau continues to face the challenges of managing its growing casino industry, risks from money-laundering activities, and the need to diversify the economy away from heavy dependence on gaming revenues. 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):
$77.33 billion (2018)
$71.82 billion (2017 est.)
$65.84 billion (2016 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 97
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$50.36 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
9.1% (2017 est.)
-0.9% (2016 est.)
-21.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 6
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$122,000 (2018)
$110,000 (2017 est.)
$102,100 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 3
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 24.2% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 9.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 18.5% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 0.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 79.4% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -32% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 0% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 6.3% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 93.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

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:
2% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 131
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
400,000 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 159
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.5%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 9.8%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 4.4%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]
industry and services: 12.4%
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 15%
manufacturing: 25.9%
construction: 7.1%
transportation and utilities: 2.6%
commerce: 20.3% (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate:
2% (2017 est.)
1.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 18
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
NA
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
35 (2013)
38 (2008)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 98
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 14.71 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 9.684 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
29.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 85
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
10% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 2
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
0% of GDP (2017 est.)
0% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 210
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (2017 est.)
2.4% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 65
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.25% (31 December 2017 est.)
5.25% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 145
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$8.866 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$7.858 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 86
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$8.866 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$7.858 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 88
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$18.24 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$17.16 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 93
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$85.5 billion (2 March 2012 est.)
$2.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$46.1 billion (31 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 44
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
$16.75 billion (2017 est.)
$12.22 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 18
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$1.45 billion (2018)
note: includes reexports
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 148
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
Hong Kong 62.1%, China 16.5%, US 1% (2018)

Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts

Imports:
$11.1 billion (2018)
$9.7 billion (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 97
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods (foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, garments and footwear, motor vehicles), capital goods, mineral fuels and oils

Imports - partners:
China 35%, Italy 8.6%, Hong Kong 7.8%, France 8.4%, Switzerland 7.7%, Japan 8.1%, US 4.1% (2018)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$20.17 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$18.89 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
note: the Fiscal Reserves Act that came into force on 1 January 2012 requires the fiscal reserves to be separated from the foreign exchange reserves and to be managed separately; the transfer of assets took place in February 2012
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 59
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$0 (31 December 2013)
$0 (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 207
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$18.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$14.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 81
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.166 billion (2012 est.)
$667.8 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 89
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
patacas (MOP) per US dollar -
8 (2017 est.)
7.9951 (2016 est.)
7.9951 (2015 est.)
7.985 (2014 est.)
7.9871 (2013 est.)