Macao SAR, China: Population in largest city

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Macao SAR, China's population in largest city rose 1.4% on 2024 (from 691,748 to 701,381).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +2% and a typical year strayed about 0.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 5.3% in 1964 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.9% in 1975. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 9,902 a year. A straight line explains 100% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

A straight-line projection, tested first

Extending that straight line gives about 732,470 for 2028. We show this only because the same method, fitted on earlier years, predicted 2023 to 2025 better than "no change" would have: its average miss was 3,843, against 19,810 for assuming no change. Treat it as a continuation of the recent pattern, not a forecast of events: it cannot see a recession, a policy change or a revision to the data.

See how a linear trend forecast works and the guide on forecasting without fooling yourself.

How it compares

In 2025, Macao SAR, China had the 135th highest value of the 153 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Macao SAR, China in the 2025 ranking

• Lao PDR — 132nd of 153: 755,941
• Bahrain — 133rd of 153: 743,066
• Guinea-Bissau — 134th of 153: 709,092
• Croatia — 136th of 153: 684,359
• Sri Lanka — 137th of 153: 647,557
• North Macedonia — 138th of 153: 620,825

What this measures

Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.

Limitations: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements.

All 66 values

Population in largest city in nearby economies

• Australia — 5.39 million (2025)
• Cambodia — 2.43 million (2025)
• China — 30.48 million (2025)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 7.77 million (2025)
• Indonesia — 11.63 million (2025)
• Japan — 37.04 million (2025)
• Korea, Dem. People's Rep. — 3.21 million (2025)
• Korea, Rep. — 10.03 million (2025)
• Lao PDR — 755,941 (2025)
• Malaysia — 9 million (2025)
• Mongolia — 1.72 million (2025)

More environment data for Macao SAR, China

• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 100% (2025)
• Rural population — 0 (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 0% (2025)
• Urban population — 685,900 (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 100% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 0 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons) — 1,500 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 1,500 (2024)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — -0.16% (2025)
• Land area (sq. km)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Macao SAR, China's population in largest city?

701,381 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 338.66% from 159,892 in 1960 (2.3% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 701,381 in 2025 and the lowest 159,892 in 1960.

How does Macao SAR, China rank?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator EN.URB.LCTY, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), uri: https://population.un.org/wup/, publisher: UN Population Division, date published: 2018 Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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