)

Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Macanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Macau

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%

Religions: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none
45.8%, other 1.2% (1981)

Languages: Portuguese (official) 4%, Chinese (Cantonese) is the
language of commerce

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
total population: 90%
male: 93%
female: 86%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: none
local short form: Ilha de Macau

Data code: MC

Type of government: overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to
revert to China in 1999

Capital: Macau

Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular -
concelho); Ilhas, Macau

Independence: none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an
agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20
December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect
Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50
years after transition)

National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)

Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law
drafted primarily by Beijing promulgated 31 March 1993

Legal system: Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES (since
9 March 1986)
head of government: Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since
20 March 1991) was appointed by the President of Portugal after
consultation with the Legislative Assembly
cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members -
five appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five
elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies,
one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two
represent economic interests), and three statutory members

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly: elections last held 10 March 1991 (next to be
held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23 total,
8 elected by direct vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the
governor) number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates
including the president; lower court judges appoin