Macau ISO Codes: MO, MAC, and 446

Macau ISO codes are used in forms, databases, websites, financial systems, and international communications. For most country or territory fields, the values you need are the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code MO, alpha-3 code MAC, and numeric code 446. Macau also uses .mo for its country-code top-level domain and +853 for international calls, while its currency is identified as MOP. This guide explains what each value means and where to use it.

Quick Answer: Macau ISO Codes

ISO 3166-1 provides separate two-letter, three-letter, and numeric identifiers. The ISO Online Browsing Platform uses the standards name Macao for the entry commonly searched for as Macau. The current ISO code set is:

The Three ISO 3166-1 Identifiers in One View

These three values identify the territory in the ISO 3166-1 system. They are not telephone, currency, or sports codes, even when another system uses a similar abbreviation or repeats one of the same numbers.

What Each ISO 3166-1 Code Means

ISO 3166-1 is part of the ISO 3166 framework for identifying countries and territories. The ISO 3166 Country Codes overview explains that the ISO 3166 Maintenance Agency maintains the officially assigned code set. Each format serves a similar identification purpose but fits a different field length.

UK or GB? - Why Every Country Has A Two Letter Code

ISO Alpha-2 Code: MO

MO is Macau's ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. It is the compact form used when a system asks for a two-letter country or territory code, including standardized location records and other geographic data exchanges. Use the uppercase letters exactly as shown when a system expects the ISO value.

MO is not an international dialing prefix. Telephone routing uses a separate standard, and Macau's calling code is +853. Therefore, a form labeled ISO alpha-2 calls for MO, not a telephone number prefix.

ISO Alpha-3 Code: MAC

MAC is Macau's ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code. The three-letter format is useful in statistical, trade, and database contexts that allow a longer identifier. It remains a territory identifier, not a telephone code or a currency abbreviation.

Always read the field label before interpreting MAC. Another organization can reuse the same letters for its own list, so the appearance of MAC in an external dataset does not by itself prove that the dataset follows ISO 3166-1. If the field explicitly requests the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 value, enter MAC.

ISO Numeric Code: 446

446 is Macau's three-digit ISO 3166-1 numeric code. Numeric identifiers are useful in databases or forms that prefer numbers and avoid differences in spelling or language. When documenting it, write the full label ISO 3166-1 numeric code rather than calling it only a generic country code.

The number can appear in more than one standard. ISO 4217 also assigns numeric 446 to Macau's currency, so the surrounding field name determines whether 446 refers to the territory or to money. A bare three-digit value is not self-defining.

Macau's Internet and Telephone Codes

ISO territory codes are often displayed beside other identifiers in travel, web, and communications systems. The formats below look similar but serve different technical purposes.

Internet Country-Code Top-Level Domain: .mo

.mo is Macau's internet country-code top-level domain, or ccTLD. It is used in the domain-name system for website addresses that end in .mo. Its connection to MO reflects the two-letter territory identifier, but the dot changes the context: .mo is a web and DNS value, not a general ISO field.

IANA .mo Domain Delegation Data identifies .mo as the delegated country-code top-level domain representing Macao. Use .mo when selecting or describing a domain extension. Do not place it in a phone-number field, currency field, or a form that specifically asks for ISO 3166-1 alpha-2.

International Calling Code: +853

+853 is Macau's international telephone country code under the ITU-T E.164 system. It tells telephone networks how to route an international call; it is not part of ISO 3166-1. The ITU-T assigned country codes reference provides the telephone-code context for Macau.

Use the plus sign when a field expects an international calling code: +853. If a website, shipping form, identity record, or database asks for an ISO country or territory code, use MO, MAC, or 446 according to the requested format instead. These values cannot be interchanged simply because they all identify Macau in everyday conversation.

Currency and Sports Codes Are Separate

Financial systems and sporting organizations maintain their own code lists. These values may resemble ISO 3166-1 codes or even repeat a number, but their meanings depend on the standard named by the field.

Currency Code: MOP

MOP is the ISO 4217 alphabetic currency code for the Macanese pataca, the currency associated with Macau. It identifies a monetary unit, while MO, MAC, and ISO 3166-1 numeric 446 identify the territory. A payment or accounting field that asks for a three-letter currency code therefore needs MOP, not MAC.

The numeric value creates the most important possible mix-up: ISO 4217 also lists the Macanese pataca with numeric code 446. That shared number does not make the two standards interchangeable. Use MOP only in a currency field. When a financial system requests a numeric currency value, confirm that the field is explicitly labeled as an ISO 4217 currency code before processing a payment. The ISO 4217 currency codes list shows the Macanese pataca as MOP 446.

Sports Abbreviations and Other Code Lists

Sports organizations can assign short codes for teams, delegations, or athletes. Their lists are separate from ISO 3166-1, even when a sports abbreviation happens to match an ISO value. For example, the referenced IOC country code list shows MAC for Macau, China.

That match should not be treated as a universal rule. A sports database may use its own current abbreviation, a longer label, or a different convention for a particular event. When importing results or registering a team, check the sports organization's current code list and map the value to the correct governing system. Do not assume that a sports abbreviation is an ISO 3166-1 code simply because it has two or three familiar letters.

Using the Correct Macau Code in Practice

Correct code selection is mainly a data-mapping task. Start with the field's standard and format, then enter the value that belongs to that field instead of choosing the most familiar Macau abbreviation.

Match the Code to the Data Field

Use this copy-ready reference when a form or database presents several code fields:

Labels matter more than position. In a country field, the words country code may mean alpha-2, alpha-3, numeric, or a provider-specific list, so read the requested standard or field specification. For a website address use .mo; for international dialing use +853; for a currency field use MOP. If a system requests a numeric value, keep the standard name beside it in documentation, such as ISO 3166-1 numeric: 446 or ISO 4217 numeric: 446.

Macao and Macau: Handling Name Variants

Search results and official data may use Macao instead of Macau. The ISO entry displays the short name as MACAO, the lower-case form as Macao, and the full name as Macao Special Administrative Region of China. A reader may still encounter Macau in general English text or when searching for the territory.

The spelling difference does not create a second ISO identity: MO, MAC, and 446 remain the same code set for the entry. In formal data, preserve the source's displayed name when the exact official label matters. In explanatory text, using both Macao and Macau helps connect the standards listing with the term used in the search.

Conclusion

For Macau, the ISO 3166-1 codes are MO for alpha-2, MAC for alpha-3, and 446 for numeric identification. Keep those territory identifiers separate from .mo for websites, +853 for international calls, and MOP for the Macanese pataca. The right choice is simple: identify the standard named by the field, then enter the matching value and preserve that label when sharing or storing the data.