MigrantoMacanese Diaspora
149.2K Macanese live abroad — 22% of the population of Macao
Macanese diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 95% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong | 76947 |
| China | 59238 |
| Canada | 5036 |
| Australia | 3081 |
| Portugal | 2571 |
| Taiwan | 1803 |
| Chile | 458 |
| Norway | 112 |
| Costa Rica | 1 |
| Denmark | 0 |
By region
92% of the diaspora lives in Asia
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Key facts
The Macanese diaspora in numbers
Most Macanese abroad live in Hong Kong
52% of the diaspora lives in Hong Kong, while the next country accounts for just 40%.
The community in China is growing fastest
The number of Macanese living in China has grown 80% since 2015, from 32.9K to 59.2K.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 77% to 52%.
1 in 5 people born in Macao lives abroad
149.2K people born in Macao now live in other countries — 21.7% of a population of 687K.
Macanese diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 73961 |
| 1995 | 79787 |
| 2000 | 86316 |
| 2005 | 93169 |
| 2010 | 101050 |
| 2015 | 116399 |
| 2020 | 139129 |
| 2024 | 149247 |
Largest communities over time
Macanese living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Hong Kong | China | Canada | Australia | Portugal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57222 | 9713 | 3946 | 1753 | 842 |
| 1995 | 58769 | 11662 | 5022 | 1912 | 1816 |
| 2000 | 60316 | 13895 | 6456 | 2042 | 2865 |
| 2005 | 64994 | 16551 | 6065 | 2090 | 2521 |
| 2010 | 69830 | 20066 | 5713 | 2558 | 1760 |
| 2015 | 71366 | 32934 | 5938 | 2781 | 1995 |
| 2020 | 74414 | 52065 | 5425 | 2961 | 2285 |
| 2024 | 76947 | 59238 | 5036 | 3081 | 2571 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Macanese in each country has changed since the selected year
Macanese among immigrants in other countries
Where Macanese make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Macanese live outside Macao?
Around 149.2K Macanese live abroad, the world's #141 largest diaspora.
Where do most Macanese abroad live?
Most Macanese live in Hong Kong, China and Canada — these three countries account for about 95% of all Macanese living abroad.
Which country has the largest Macanese population outside Macao?
Hong Kong is home to the largest Macanese community abroad — 76.9K people, about 52% of all Macanese living abroad.
What share of the population of Macao lives abroad?
About 22% of the population of Macao lives abroad — that's 149.2K out of a total population of 687K.
Is the Macanese diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Macanese living abroad has grown from 116.4K to 149.2K, about 28%.
Where does the data on the Macanese diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Macao who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
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Living in Macao
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