Macao population pyramid 2026
723,188 people in 2026 (projected). Macao’s fertility is about 0.7 children per woman, and migration has made its pyramid a zigzag with women in the majority at ages 20–64.
- 2026 population
- 723.2Krank 168 of 237
- Median age
- 40.3 yearsoldest rank 61
- Fertility rate
- 0.70births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older15.9% age 65+
Macao population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Hover over or tap a bar to see exact values.
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Macao age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 13.4% of the population, while 15.9% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 70.6% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Macao’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 41.6: about 42 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (19.0 children and 22.6 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Macao’s population pyramid
A pyramid made by migration
Macao is a dense city of about 720,000 people, and its pyramid owes more to movement in and out than to births. The UN estimates for the 1970s are highly irregular: in 1975 under-20s made up almost three-fifths of residents, the bands from 20 to 44 were very thin, and men in their thirties outnumbered women two to one. The chart alone cannot explain this pattern, which reflects migration flows in a small population as much as births and deaths.
Growth since then has been driven by arrivals. Net immigration was about 67,000 over 1950–99 and about 220,000 over 2000–23, a period of rapid expansion after the casino industry was opened to new operators in the early 2000s. The 2026 pyramid has a series of bulges and notches between ages 10 and 64, with the 35–39 band, born around 1987–91, the largest. Women outnumber men in every band from 20 to 64, with 81 men per 100 women at 25–29 and 73 at 60–64, consistent with a migrant workforce in which women are well represented; the chart alone cannot say which occupations are responsible.
Very low fertility
Fertility fell from about 5.5 children per woman in 1950 to around replacement level by 1970, and to about 0.7 in 2023, comparable to Hong Kong; the lowest fertility rates ranking shows how it compares worldwide. Only about 4,400 births are projected for 2026. The 10–14 bulge, born around 2012–16, stands out against a notch at 15–19 and a smaller base.
Under the medium scenario Macao peaks at about 727,000 in 2031 and falls to about 330,000 by 2100, with about a third of residents aged 65 or older by 2050. Its 2026 profile is among the closest to those of small, migration-shaped European states such as Malta, Cyprus and Luxembourg.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
Comparing each five-year band with its neighbours picks out the cohorts that break a smooth slope. These irregularities usually record past surges or deficits in births, or migration concentrated at particular ages; the pattern alone does not identify which. The guide to baby booms and echo cohorts explains how to date and interpret them.
| Age band in 2026 | Born about | Feature | Versus neighbouring bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | 2012–2016 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +19% |
| 35–39 | 1987–1991 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +18% |
| 45–49 | 1977–1981 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −17% |
| 15–19 | 2007–2011 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −17% |
Births outnumber deaths in 2026 (deaths were higher in 1974); the medium scenario projects deaths to exceed births from 2030. People aged 65 and older came to outnumber children under 15 between 2023 and 2025.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Macao is projected to record 4,437 births (about 12 births a day) and 3,593 deaths, a natural increase of 844. Net migration adds +826 people, ranking #71 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 124,621 births, 58,843 deaths, and cumulative net migration of +219,179. Over that period migration moved the total more than the balance of births and deaths did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +5,219 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 85.6 years59.9 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 81.5 years56.5 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 20.8 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 2.4per 1,000 births · 66 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 3.2per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 32.1 yearssex ratio at birth 107.8
Women in Macao are projected to live 4.1 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 66 to 2.4 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #217 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 32.1 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Macao
The median age of 40.3 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 0.70 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 83.6 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 723,188 | #168 | Largest first |
| Median age | 40.3 years | #61 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 0.70 | #237 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +0.2% | #159 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 83.6 years | #22 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 15.9% | #77 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Macao
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35–39 | 73,976 | 10.2% | 34.2K / 39.7K |
| 2 | 40–44 | 65,468 | 9.1% | 29.6K / 35.9K |
| 3 | 30–34 | 60,048 | 8.3% | 27.7K / 32.4K |
| 4 | 50–54 | 54,310 | 7.5% | 24.2K / 30.1K |
| 5 | 45–49 | 49,752 | 6.9% | 21.6K / 28.2K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Macao has 332,664 males and 390,524 females. That is 85.2 males per 100 females, ranking #233 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 46.0% of the population and females for 54.0%. There are 57,860 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 89.9 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 107.8 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, above the biological norm of about 105 (see the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Macao has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 196,654 in 1950 to 723,188 in 2026, a change of 268%. Over the same span, median age moved from 24.4 to 40.3 years.
The under-15 share changed from 28.2% to 13.4%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 3.1% to 15.9%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Macao’s population is projected to decline by about 8%, reaching 668,860 in 2050. The median age changes from 40.3 to 56.2 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 18.2 percentage points to 34.1%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 7.2%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest projected population of 727,318 in 2031. That turning point depends on the medium scenario and may move in later revisions. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 196,654 | 24.4 | 5.55 | 58.3 | 9,360 | 2,174 | −1,151 | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 173,315 | 21.9 | 4.96 | 63.9 | 5,778 | 1,639 | −8,727 | -2.6% |
| 1970 | 257,396 | 17.0 | 2.08 | 68.8 | 2,641 | 1,444 | +5,733 | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 246,097 | 23.4 | 1.73 | 73.0 | 3,358 | 1,770 | +3,290 | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 351,123 | 27.4 | 1.71 | 76.6 | 6,943 | 1,651 | +6,251 | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 437,309 | 31.5 | 0.93 | 79.4 | 3,849 | 1,816 | +4,775 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 562,806 | 35.3 | 1.05 | 81.7 | 5,452 | 2,326 | +10,079 | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 683,066 | 37.0 | 0.86 | 84.6 | 5,708 | 2,600 | +8,842 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 713,912 | 38.3 | 0.66 | 83.1 | 4,515 | 3,423 | +8,807 | +1.4% |
| 2024* | 720,262 | 38.9 | 0.68 | 83.2 | 4,600 | 3,426 | +1,620 | +0.4% |
| 2026* | 723,188 | 40.3 | 0.70 | 83.6 | 4,437 | 3,593 | +826 | +0.2% |
| 2030* | 726,723 | 43.1 | 0.74 | 84.3 | 3,958 | 4,138 | +681 | +0.1% |
| 2040* | 706,891 | 50.2 | 0.83 | 85.8 | 3,071 | 6,363 | +227 | -0.4% |
| 2050* | 668,860 | 56.2 | 0.91 | 87.1 | 3,242 | 8,293 | +1,014 | -0.6% |
| 2060* | 614,250 | 60.2 | 0.97 | 88.3 | 2,453 | 9,135 | +2,305 | -0.7% |
| 2070* | 544,455 | 61.5 | 1.03 | 89.4 | 2,077 | 9,903 | +123 | -1.4% |
| 2080* | 463,626 | 62.8 | 1.08 | 90.6 | 2,049 | 10,404 | +278 | -1.7% |
| 2090* | 385,682 | 63.3 | 1.12 | 91.6 | 1,780 | 8,614 | +389 | -1.7% |
| 2100* | 331,168 | 62.2 | 1.15 | 92.6 | 1,515 | 6,359 | +196 | -1.4% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 12,301 | 11,504 | 23,805 | 3.3% |
| 5–9 | 17,592 | 16,988 | 34,580 | 4.8% |
| 10–14 | 20,013 | 18,740 | 38,753 | 5.4% |
| 15–19 | 15,088 | 15,276 | 30,364 | 4.2% |
| 20–24 | 15,841 | 18,337 | 34,178 | 4.7% |
| 25–29 | 21,401 | 26,427 | 47,828 | 6.6% |
| 30–34 | 27,697 | 32,351 | 60,048 | 8.3% |
| 35–39 | 34,231 | 39,745 | 73,976 | 10.2% |
| 40–44 | 29,613 | 35,855 | 65,468 | 9.1% |
| 45–49 | 21,563 | 28,189 | 49,752 | 6.9% |
| 50–54 | 24,192 | 30,118 | 54,310 | 7.5% |
| 55–59 | 17,784 | 27,843 | 45,627 | 6.3% |
| 60–64 | 20,792 | 28,497 | 49,289 | 6.8% |
| 65–69 | 21,079 | 23,667 | 44,746 | 6.2% |
| 70–74 | 16,628 | 17,816 | 34,444 | 4.8% |
| 75–79 | 10,220 | 10,439 | 20,659 | 2.9% |
| 80–84 | 4,151 | 4,611 | 8,762 | 1.2% |
| 85–89 | 1,654 | 2,390 | 4,044 | 0.6% |
| 90–94 | 631 | 1,277 | 1,908 | 0.3% |
| 95–99 | 180 | 396 | 576 | 0.1% |
| 100+ | 14 | 57 | 71 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Macao’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba94% overlap · median age 39.7
- Ukraine93% overlap · median age 41.8
- Cyprus93% overlap · median age 39.1
- Malta93% overlap · median age 41.5
- Luxembourg93% overlap · median age 39.7
- Belarus93% overlap · median age 41.8
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Macao.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Macao Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/macao/
MLA
“Macao Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/macao/.
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World Population Pyramid. “Macao Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/macao/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Macao in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Macao's population in 2026 is projected at 723,188.
What is the median age in Macao?
The projected median age in Macao in 2026 is 40.3 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Macao?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 0.70 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Macao's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will decline by about 8%, from 723.2K to 668.9K.
What share of Macao is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 15.9% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 34.1%.
How many babies are born in Macao each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 4,437 births and 3,593 deaths in 2026, about 12 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 844.
What is life expectancy in Macao for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 85.6 years for women and 81.5 years for men, a gap of 4.1 years in favour of women.
Does Macao have more immigrants or emigrants?
Macao is projected to gain about 826 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of +219,179.
What is the sex ratio in Macao?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 85.2 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.