China–Macao

Summary

Official Name

Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China

Population

680,000

Principal Languages

Mandarin Chinese

Literacy Rate

97% (2016 UNESCO)

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for China–Macao is 6. All are living languages. Of these, 2 are indigenous and 4 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 4 are institutional, 1 is in trouble, and 1 is dying. Also listed is 1 unestablished language.

Languages

Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 362,800 in China–Macao, all users. L1 users: 34,800 in China–Macao (2016 census). L2 users: 328,000 (2016 census). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1999, Basic Law, Article 9). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Yue yue: Widespread. Users: 507,000 in China–Macao (2016 census). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Macao Special Administrative Region (1999, Basic Law, Article 9). Alternate Names: Macau Cantonese Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Scattered. Users: 196,700 in China–Macao, all users. L1 users: 17,700 in China–Macao (2016 census). L2 users: 179,000 (2016 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Macanese mzs: Scattered. Users: 50 in China–Macao (Bradley 2007a). Ethnic population: 5,000 (Bradley 2007b). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Macaense, Macao Creole Portuguese, Makista, Patuá Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
Macao Sign Language hks: Widespread. Users: 200 in China–Macao (Sze et al 2016), decreasing. At least 200 users (Sze et al 2016). Possibly as many as 600, assuming 0.1% of the total population. Ethnic population: 1,200 (Sze et al 2016). Approximately 1,200 Deaf and hard of hearing, using a variety of language systems. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Macau Sign Language, MacauSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Portuguese por: Scattered. Users: 18,680 in China–Macao, all users. L1 users: 3,680 in China–Macao (2017 UNSD). L2 users: 15,000 (2016 census). Ethnic population: 11,700 (2016 census). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Macao Special Administrative Region (1999, Basic Law, Article 9). Alternate Names: Português Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Tagalog tgl: Users: 19,000 in China–Macao (2016 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1999, Basic Law, Article 9). 362,800 in China–Macao, all users. L1 users: 34,800 in China–Macao (2016 census). L2 users: 328,000 (2016 census).

2 (Provincial)

Portuguese

[por] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Macao Special Administrative Region (1999, Basic Law, Article 9). 18,680 in China–Macao, all users. L1 users: 3,680 in China–Macao (2017 UNSD). L2 users: 15,000 (2016 census). Ethnic population: 11,700 (2016 census).

Chinese, Yue

[yue] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Macao Special Administrative Region (1999, Basic Law, Article 9). 507,000 in China–Macao (2016 census).

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 196,700 in China–Macao, all users. L1 users: 17,700 in China–Macao (2016 census). L2 users: 179,000 (2016 census).

7 (Shifting)

Macao Sign Language

[hks] 7 (Shifting). 200 in China–Macao (Sze et al 2016), decreasing. At least 200 users (Sze et al 2016). Possibly as many as 600, assuming 0.1% of the total population. Ethnic population: 1,200 (Sze et al 2016). Approximately 1,200 Deaf and hard of hearing, using a variety of language systems.