MigrantoImmigrants in Macao
377.7K foreigners live in Macao — 55% of the country's population
Immigrants in Macao by country
The 3 largest groups make up 99% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| China | 317977 |
| Philippines | 31921 |
| Hong Kong | 23816 |
| Portugal | 2223 |
| Thailand | 1722 |
By region of origin
99% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in Macao in numbers
Chinese are the largest group by a wide margin
84% of all immigrants were born in China, while the next group accounts for just 8%.
1 in 2 residents of Macao was born abroad
377.7K of 687K residents were born abroad — 55.0% of the population.
Immigration drives population growth
53% of the population growth of Macao since 1990 came from immigrants.
Immigrant population in Macao over time
Foreigners living in Macao, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 191385 |
| 1995 | 209943 |
| 2000 | 226329 |
| 2005 | 262533 |
| 2010 | 287358 |
| 2015 | 332717 |
| 2020 | 356981 |
| 2024 | 377659 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Macao, by year
| Year | Chinese | Filipinos | Hong Kongers | Portuguese | Thais |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 172346 | 1891 | 11736 | 3489 | 1923 |
| 1995 | 189060 | 2074 | 12873 | 3827 | 2109 |
| 2000 | 204282 | 5239 | 14240 | 1594 | 974 |
| 2005 | 236962 | 6077 | 16517 | 1848 | 1129 |
| 2010 | 251200 | 14193 | 18888 | 1790 | 1287 |
| 2015 | 280130 | 28124 | 20984 | 1960 | 1519 |
| 2020 | 300567 | 30173 | 22512 | 2101 | 1628 |
| 2024 | 317977 | 31921 | 23816 | 2223 | 1722 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Macao
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Macao
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Macao?
Around 377.7K immigrants live in Macao — the world's #88 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Macao are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 55% of the population of Macao — that's 377.7K out of a total population of 687K.
Where do most immigrants in Macao come from?
Most immigrants in Macao come from China, Philippines and Hong Kong — these three countries account for about 99% of all immigrants.
How many Chinese live in Macao?
Around 318K Chinese live in Macao — about 84% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Macao growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Macao has grown from 332.7K to 377.7K, about 14%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Macao come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Macao. Their children born in Macao are not included.
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Living in Macao
See the full country overview