MigrantoMacanese Diaspora
149.2K Macanese live abroad — the #141 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 95% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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 destination region
Asia is the leading destination region at 92%
138K
5K
3.1K
2.7K
459
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Macao.
Hong Kong is the primary destination for emigrants
Hong Kong attracts 52% of all emigrants from Macao, while the second-largest destination receives just 40%.
China is the fastest-growing major destination
Emigration to China has increased by 80% since 2015, rising from 32.9K to 59.2K in 9 years.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 77% to 52%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
A significant share of the population lives abroad
1 in 5 residents of Macao has emigrated — 149.2K out of 687K, representing 21.7% of the population.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 73961 |
| 1995 | 79787 |
| 2000 | 86316 |
| 2005 | 93169 |
| 2010 | 101050 |
| 2015 | 116399 |
| 2020 | 139129 |
| 2024 | 149247 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| 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 destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Macao as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Macao
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Macanese move to?
Most Macanese have moved to Hong Kong, China and Canada — these three countries account for about 95% of all Macanese living abroad.
How many Macanese live abroad?
Around 149.2K Macanese live abroad, making it the #141-largest emigrant population in the world.
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.
How has emigration from Macao changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Macao has grown from 116.4K to 149.2K people, a growth of about 28%.
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