World Factbook
Macau
Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese)/ Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, under an arc of five five-pointed gold stars meaning: the lotus is the national floral emblem, and the three petals represent the country's peninsula and two islands; the five stars echo the Chinese flag
Suffrage
18 years of age in direct elections for some legislative positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past 7 years
note: indirect elections are limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" and an election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, central government bodies, and elected Macau officials
Citizenship
see China
Constitution
history
previous 1976 (Organic Statute of Macau, under Portuguese authority); latest adopted 31 March 1993, effective 20 December 1999 (Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as Macau's constitution)
amendment process
proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, and the Macau Special Administrative Region; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Assembly of Macau, approval by two thirds of Macau's deputies to the NPC, and consent of the Macau chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC
Country name
etymology
name derived from the Chinese ama-gao , or “Bay of Ama,” for Ama, the patron goddess of sailors
official long form
Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese)/ Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
official short form
Aomen (Chinese)/ Macau (Portuguese)
conventional long form
Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form
Macau
Independence
none (special administrative region of China)
Legal system
civil law system based on the Portuguese model
Government type
executive-led limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Final Appeal of Macau Special Administrative Region (consists of the court president and 2 associate justices)
subordinate courts
Court of Second Instance; Court of First instance; Lower Court; Administrative Court
judge selection and term of office
justices appointed by the Macau chief executive upon the recommendation of an independent commission of judges, lawyers, and "eminent" persons; judge tenure NA
Executive branch
cabinet
Executive Council appointed by the chief executive
chief of state
President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
election results
2024: Sam Hou FAI (unopposed; received 394 out of 400 votes) 2019: HO lat Seng (unopposed; received 392 out of 400 votes)
head of government
Chief Executive Sam Hou FAI (since 20 December 2024)
most recent election date
president: 10 March 2023 chief executive: 13 October 2024
election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); chief executive chosen by a 400-member Election Committee for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
expected date of next election
president: March 2028 chief executive: 2029
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
Dependency status
special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
National color(s)
green, white, yellow
Political parties
Alliance for a Happy Home or ABL Association of Synergy of Macau ("Synergy Power" or Poder da Singeria) or PS Macau-Guangdong Union or UGM New Hope or NE Union for Development or UPD Union for Promoting Progress or UPP or UNIPRO United Citizens Association of Macau or ACUM
note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
33 (14 directly elected, 12 indirectly elected, 7 appointed)
electoral system
mixed
legislature name
Legislative Assembly (Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
9/12/2021
expected date of next election
September 2025
parties elected and seats per party
United Citizens Association of Macau (ACUM) (3); Union for Development (UPD) (2); Macau-Guangdong Union (UGM) (2); Union for Promoting Progress (UPP) (2); Alliance for a Happy Home (ABL) (2); New Hope (NE) (2); Association of Synergy of Macau (PS) (1)
National anthem(s)
title
"Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)
history
official anthem, as a Special Administrative Region of China
lyrics/music
TIAN Han/NIE Er
National symbol(s)
lotus blossom
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (Special Administrative Region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is accredited to Macau
International organization participation
ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO