MigrantoImmigrants in Macao
377.7K foreign-born residents — the #88 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 99% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| China | 317977 |
| Philippines | 31921 |
| Hong Kong | 23816 |
| Portugal | 2223 |
| Thailand | 1722 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 99%
375.4K
2.2K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Macao.
China is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
China accounts for 84% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 8%.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 2 residents of Macao is foreign-born — 377.7K out of 687K, representing 55.0% of the population.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
53% of the population growth of Macao since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 191385 |
| 1995 | 209943 |
| 2000 | 226329 |
| 2005 | 262533 |
| 2010 | 287358 |
| 2015 | 332717 |
| 2020 | 356981 |
| 2024 | 377659 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | China | Philippines | Hong Kong | Portugal | Thailand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Macao as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Macao
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Macao?
Around 377.7K foreign-born residents live in Macao, making it the #88-largest immigrant population in the world.
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 foreign-born residents.
What share 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.
How has immigration to Macao changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Macao has grown from 332.7K to 377.7K people, a growth of about 14%.
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