Preliminary results of the 2011 Population Census (2011 Census) released by the Statistics and Census Services indicates that the population of Macao totals 552,500 on 12 August 2011, an increase of 26.9% compares with the 2001 Census. The annual average rate of population growth is 2.4% over the past ten years. Total number of households reaches 170,700 in August 2011, up by 26.5% from 2001; the average household size is 3.08 members, equivalent to a decrease of 0.06 compares with 3.14 in 2001. Average number of households per residential unit is 1.01, down by 0.02 from 1.03 households per unit in 2001.

In the last decade, total land area has increased at an annual average rate of 1.4%, lower than the average rate of population growth; consequently, population density rises to 18,600 per km2 in 2011, an increase of 1,730 (+10.3%) in comparison with 16,870 per km2 in 2001.

Analysed by age group, the youth population (aged 0-14) totals 65,900, making up 11.9% of the total population, a substantial decrease of 9.7 percentage points compares with 21.6% in 2001. The adult population (aged 15-64) reaches 446,600 to share 80.8% of the total, an increase of 9.7 percentage points from 71.1% in 2001. The elderly population (aged 65 and above) totals 40,000 that accounts for 7.2% of the total population, similar to 7.3% as in 2001, attributable to the majority immigrants and non-resident workers are adults that enables a slowdown in the pace of population ageing. Moreover, longer life expectancy lifts up the median age of the population to 36.0 years old in 2011, an increase of 2.7 years compares with the median age of 33.3 in 2001.

Gender structure holds stable as in 2001 Census, with male (265,100) and female (287,400) accounting for 48.0% and 52.0% of the total population respectively. The predominance of female over male is due to the fact that the majority of immigrants and non-resident workers are female. In addition, gender ratio of the population remains unchanged at 92.3 males per 100 females, same as in 2001.

With respect to the place of birth of the population, the majority (255,000) were born in Mainland China that make up 46.1% of the total population; besides, 227,000 (41.1%) were born in Macao and 19,000 (3.4%) in Hong Kong. 

An analysis of the population by statistical areas indicates that three of the more densely populated areas are Areia Preta & Iao Hon (66,900), NATAP (57,200) and Taipa Central (55,400), with the population size of Taipa Central growing by 26,200 from 2001. Furthermore, Pac On & Taipa Grande; and NAPE & Praia Grande register the highest rate of population growth, at 5.4 times and 1.6 times respectively, due to completion of more residential units in these areas.

Coverage of the 2011 Census includes 234 vessels and 233,870 building units, of which 81.8% are residential units. Besides, a total of 168,000 residential units are being occupied. Total number of vacant building units (i.e. for lease/for sale) is 23,058 and the rate of vacant units is 9.9%, down significantly by 14.5 percentage points from 2001.