The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) conducted the 2016 Population By-census in August 2016 to obtain the latest information on population changes. DSEC releases the detailed results of the 2016 Population By-census following the announcement of the preliminary results at the end of last year.
Accelerated population growth coupled with continued population ageing in recent five years
Total population of Macao totalled 650,834 in August 2016, up by 17.8% from 552,503 in the 2011 Population Census, attributable to a surge in non-resident workers living in Macao and a rebound in birth rate. The average annual growth rate of the Macao population between 2011 and 2016 reached 3.3%, the highest in the past 20 years. Local population, excluding non-resident workers and foreign students living in Macao, totalled 537,018, up by 10.7% compared with 2011.
The population of Macao continued to age. The elderly population aged 65 and above increased substantially by 48.6% from five years ago to 59,383, accounting for 9.1% of the total population, up by 1.9 percentage points. Moreover, the percentage share of elderly population to the youth population aged 0-14 rose by 15.6 percentage points to 76.3%. On the other hand, population aged 55-64 took up 13.5% (87,583) of the total. The pace of population ageing is expected to accelerate further in the next decade.
An excess of females over males in the population of Macao
The female population outnumbered the male population. Females and males totalled 336,816 and 314,018 respectively, accounting for 51.8% and 48.2% of the total population. The gender ratio was 93.2, corresponding to 93.2 males per 100 females. As regards the local population, the gender ratio dropped from 92.7 five years ago to 90.2, and the surplus of females over males was more apparent.
Rising average age at first marriage
Unmarried persons accounted for 29.9% of the population aged 16 and above, an increase of 0.7 percentage points compared to five years ago. Married persons comprised 63.2%, down by 0.8 percentage points. The average age at first marriage rose continuously from 29.0 in 2011 to 29.5 in 2016.
Increasing population density
Population density of Macao was 21,340 people per square kilometre, up by 15.5% from 18,478 persons five years ago. Areia Preta & Iao Hon remained the most densely populated district, with 170,953 people per square kilometre, followed by Doca do Lamau with 146,857 people per square kilometre.
Largest population in Areia Preta & Iao Hon, highest population growth in Coloane Island
Areia Preta & Iao Hon remained the most populated statistical district, accounting for 11.8% of the total population, followed by Baixa da Taipa and NATAP, occupying 10.4% and 9.9% respectively. The population in Coloane Island surged by 530.9% from five years ago to 26,889 as more people were moving into the public housing units in the Island. Meanwhile, the populations in Pac On & Taipa Grande and Universidade & Baia de Pac On soared by 126.7% and 99.2% respectively due to an increase in tertiary education students moving into the dormitories.
Rising education level with over 20% of population having completed tertiary education
People who completed tertiary education comprised 23.1% of the population aged 3 and above, up by 6.4 percentage points compared to five years ago. Meanwhile, 50.7% of the population completed junior secondary education or lower, down notably by 6.5 percentage points.
Three-person households predominated
Number of households totalled 188,723, an increase of 10.5% compared to five years ago. Average household size was 3.07 persons, a slight decrease from 3.08 persons in 2011. Analysed by household size, three-person households predominated, accounting for 24.5% of the total households, up by 1.3 percentage points from five years earlier. By contrast, the proportion of four-person households fell by 1.6 percentage points to 21.4%.
Increasing households living in public housing
Due to an increase in supply of public housing, households living in economic housing (22,096) and social housing (12,223) increased by 34.2% and 108.8% respectively compared to five years ago, altogether accounting for 18.3% of the total households living in residential units, up by 5.1 percentage points. Households living in private housing totalled 153,299 (81.7%), up merely by 4.6%, with 8,573 households living in economic housing units of which ownership had been transferred.
Lower proportion of households living in owner-occupied units, increased proportion of tenant households
Households living in owner-occupied units (property belonging to member(s) of the household) totalled 124,126, accounting for 66.2% of the total households, down by 4.6 percentage points as compared with 2011. With an increasing number of people moving into social housing, as well as a surge in non-resident workers living in Macao, in recent years, the proportion of tenant households rose by 1.3 percentage points from five years ago to 25.8%, totalling 48,481.
Increasing number of households possessing motor vehicles
Households possessing motor vehicles (motorcycles or automobiles) rose by 13.1% from five years ago to 105,993. Households possessing multiple vehicles became more common; those owning 3 or more motor vehicles totalled 21,212, a substantial increase of 28.9% compared to five years ago. Meanwhile, households possessing one motor vehicle totalled 49,824, up by 6.8%, lower than the growth rate of households.
For more detailed results and information about the 2016 Population By-census, please visit the DSEC website (http://www.dsec.gov.mo).