Macanese Pataca

Overview

Economy

• Macau is a member of Represented by China, Various gambling industry associations.
• Main industries include: Tourism, Gambling, Clothing, Textiles, Electronics, Footwear, Toys.
• Imports are raw materials, foodstuffs, fuel, capital goods.
• Major exports include clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery.
• GDP: $24.3 billion (2023 est.).
• GDP per capita: $35,715 (2023 est.).
• Unemployment rate: 2.7% (2023 est.).
• Inflation rate: 1.0% (2023 est.).
• Main trading partners: Hong Kong, China, United States, Germany, United Kingdom.
• Trade agreements: CEPA with mainland China, Through China's trade agreements.

History

• Previous currencies used: Mexican peso, Chinese currency, Portuguese colonial currencies.
• The pataca was introduced in 1894, initially pegged to the Mexican peso. It has been pegged to the Hong Kong dollar since 1977.
• 1894: Pataca introduced
• 1935: Pegged to Portuguese escudo
• 1977: Pegged to Hong Kong dollar
• 1999: Handover to China as SAR
• 2002: Gaming liberalization boom
• 2020: COVID-19 pandemic impact on tourism
• Exchange rate peg: HKD (1977-present) at 1.03 MOP = 1 HKD.
• Currently pegged to HKD at 1.03 MOP = 1 HKD.

General Information

• ISO 4217 Code: MOP
• Symbols: MOP/P
• Currency Subunits: 100 avos
• Central Bank: Monetary Authority of Macao
• Monetary Policy: Currency board system maintaining HKD peg. Monetary policy follows Hong Kong's arrangements.
• Bills: 10 MOP, 20 MOP, 50 MOP, 100 MOP, 500 MOP, 1000 MOP
• Coins: 10 avos, 20 avos, 50 avos, 1 pataca, 2 patacas, 5 patacas, 10 patacas
• USD Exchange Rate: Variable (approximately 8.0 MOP per USD)
• Pegged To: HKD at 1.03 MOP = 1 HKD
• Capital: Macau (city-state)
• Population: 680,147 (2023 est.)
• Area: 28.2 km²
• Languages: Chinese (Cantonese) (official), Portuguese (official), English
• Time Zones: UTC+8 (China Standard Time)
• Government Type: Special Administrative Region of China
• Head of Government: Chief Executive
• Independence: Chinese SAR since December 20, 1999 (from Portugal)
• Ethnic Groups: Chinese 88.7%, Portuguese 1.1%, Mixed 1.1%, Other 9.2%
• Religions: Folk religion 58.9%, Buddhist 17.3%, Catholic 7.2%, Protestant 2.2%, Other Christian 1.2%, Other 0.7%, None 12.4%
• Literacy Rate: 96.5% (2016 est.)
• Transport: Macau International Airport, bridges to mainland China, ferry connections to Hong Kong
• Communications: Advanced telecommunications, 84% internet penetration, comprehensive mobile coverage
• Energy: Natural gas 100% (imported from mainland China)
• Countries Using This Currency: Macau
• Data Sources: Central Bank: Monetary Authority of Macao (amcm.gov.mo), Economic Data: Statistics and Census Service Macao, World Bank, Trade Data: Macao Customs Service, Demographic Data: Statistics and Census Service Macao, Geographic Data: Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau, Historical Data: Monetary Authority of Macao archives
• Last Updated: 2025