Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry), Portuguese, other.

Following the Asian financial crisis, Macau's economy began to show signs of recovery in late 1999, particularly in the tourism sector -a vital part of the local economy-which recorded continued, obvious increases. In 1999 the total number of visitors hit the seven million mark and in the first half of the year 2000 there was a 20.8% increase in visitors as compared to the same period in the previous year. Exports also recorded an increase of 13.8% in the first six months of the year 2000, compared to the same period in 1999.

Macau's climate is warm and humid with a fairly wide variation in temperature over the year. From June to September, the temperature can rise to over 30oC while it can drop to below 10oC from November to February. The average temperature rarely drops below 14oC. Macau's weather is also influenced by tropical cyclones from the South Pacific Ocean during the typhoon season.