Demographics of Hong Kong

Population pyramid of Hong Kong in 2020

Population| 7,503,100 (2024 est.)
Growth rate| 0.4% (2024 est.)
Birth rate| 4.43 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate| 8.47 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy| 83.61 years
• male| 80.91 years
• female| 86.46 years (2022 est.)
Fertility rate| 0.75 children born/woman (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate| 2.55 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate| 1.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years| 13.04% (male 495,977/female 454,723)
15–64 years| 66.02% (male 2,164,667/female 2,646,774)
65 and over| 20.94% (male 706,761/female 819,265) (2023 est.)[1]
Sex ratio
Total| 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth| 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15| 1.09 male(s)/female
65 and over| 0.71 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality| Chinese
Major ethnic| Cantonese people
Language
Official| Cantonese (88.9%), English (4.3%), Mandarin (1.9%)

Demographic features of the population of Hong Kong include population density, ethnicity, education level, the health of the populace, religious affiliations, and other aspects.

Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with an overall density of some 6,300 people per square kilometre.[2] At the same time, Hong Kong has one of the world's lowest birth rates—0.68 per woman of child-bearing age as of 2022, far below the replacement rate of 2.1. It is estimated that 26.8% of the population will be aged 65 or more in 2033, up from 12.1% in 2005. Hong Kong recorded a crude birth rate of 8.2 per 1,000 people on average annually in 2005–2010.[3]

Ethnically, Hong Kong mainly consists of Chinese who constitute approximately 92% of the population.[4][5] Of these, many originate from various regions in Guangdong. There are also a number of descendants of immigrants from elsewhere in Southern China during and after the Chinese Civil War.

## Terminology

[edit]

Main article: Hongkongers

People from Hong Kong generally refer to themselves, in Cantonese, as Hèung Góng Yàhn (Chinese: 香港人; Cantonese Yale: Hèung Góng Yàhn; lit. 'Hong Kong people'); however, the term is not restricted to those of Chinese descent, owing to Hong Kong's roughly 160-year colonial history that saw the civil servants and traders of British, Indian, Russian and other ethnic groups stationed in Hong Kong.

In English, the term 'Hongkongers' (or sometimes 'Hong Kongers') is also used to refer to Hong Kongese people, while the term 'Hongkongese' is sometimes used as an adjective to describe people or things related to Hong Kong.[6][7]

## Population size and structure

[edit]

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1841 | 7,450| —
1851 | 32,983| +16.04%
1861 | 119,320| +13.72%
1871 | 120,124| +0.07%
1881 | 160,402| +2.93%
1891 | 221,441| +3.28%
1901 | 368,987| +5.24%
1911 | 456,739| +2.16%
1921 | 625,166| +3.19%
1931 | 840,473| +3.00%
1941 | 1,639,000| +6.91%
1945 | 600,000| −22.22%
1951 | 2,070,000| +22.92%
1961 | 3,128,648| +4.22%
1971 | 3,936,630| +2.32%
1981 | 5,183,400| +2.79%
1991 | 5,752,000| +1.05%
2001 | 6,714,300| +1.56%
2011 | 7,071,600| +0.52%
2021 | 7,413,070| +0.47%
Sources: Census and Statistics Department,[8][9][10][11] CICRED,[12] Office for National Statistics[13]

The following census data is available for Hong Kong between the years 1841–2011. In 2011, Hong Kong had a population of just over 7 million, with a density of approximately 6,300 people per square kilometer. This makes Hong Kong the fourth most densely populated region in the world, after Macau, Monaco, and Singapore.[2]

Population graph of Hong Kong

### Age groups

[edit]

#### United Nations data

[edit]

According to United Nations estimates from 1 July 2013, Hong Kong's population is distributed in the following age ranges, with the largest age group represented being 50–54 years:[14]

Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 3,330,700  | 3,856,800  | 7,187,500  | 100
0–4  | 134,500  | 125,700  | 260,200  | 3.62
5–9  | 128,000  | 120,200  | 248,200  | 3.45
10–14  | 149,100  | 139,600  | 288,700  | 4.02
15–19  | 208,000  | 196,300  | 404,300  | 5.63
20–24  | 226,400  | 230,700  | 457,100  | 6.36
25–29  | 221,800  | 295,800  | 517,600  | 7.20
30–34  | 231,900  | 343,200  | 575,100  | 8.00
35–39  | 229,500  | 331,000  | 560,500  | 7.80
40–44  | 239,800  | 338,700  | 578,500  | 8.05
45–49  | 271,000  | 337,900  | 608,900  | 8.47
50–54  | 313,500  | 341,100  | 654,600  | 9.11
55–59  | 281,300  | 287,900  | 569,200  | 7.92
60–64  | 220,000  | 223,100  | 443,100  | 6.16
65–69  | 148,800  | 146,400  | 295,200  | 4.11
70–74  | 109,600  | 103,700  | 213,300  | 2.97
75–79  | 100,600  | 109,900  | 210,500  | 2.93
80–84  | 69,500  | 88,400  | 157,900  | 2.20
85+  | 47,400  | 97,200  | 144,600  | 2.01
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Percent
0–14  | 411,600  | 385,500  | 797,100  | 11.09
15–64  | 2,443,200  | 2,925,700  | 5,368,900  | 74.70
65+  | 475,900  | 545,600  | 1,021,500  | 14.21

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020):[15]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 3 416 300  | 4 065 500  | 7 481 800  | 100
0–4  | 137 400  | 127 400  | 264 800  | 3.54
5–9  | 154 600  | 144 800  | 299 400  | 4.00
10–14  | 154 400  | 150 700  | 305 100  | 4.08
15–19  | 140 100  | 133 500  | 273 600  | 3.66
20–24  | 192 600  | 191 900  | 384 500  | 5.14
25–29  | 224 600  | 257 300  | 481 900  | 6.44
30–34  | 229 800  | 320 400  | 550 200  | 7.35
35–39  | 237 500  | 369 300  | 606 800  | 8.11
40–44  | 226 300  | 343 500  | 569 800  | 7.62
45–49  | 241 500  | 339 700  | 581 200  | 7.77
50–54  | 241 400  | 315 400  | 556 800  | 7.44
55–59  | 301 200  | 343 300  | 644 500  | 8.61
60–64  | 292 400  | 299 000  | 591 400  | 7.90
65–69  | 223 200  | 229 900  | 453 100  | 6.06
70–74  | 165 200  | 171 500  | 336 700  | 4.50
75–79  | 95 100  | 95 200  | 190 300  | 2.54
80–84  | 79 900  | 94 000  | 173 900  | 2.32
85+  | 79 100  | 138 700  | 217 800  | 2.91
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Percent
0–14  | 446 400  | 422 900  | 869 300  | 11.62
15–64  | 2 327 400  | 2 913 300  | 5 240 700  | 70.05
65+  | 642 500  | 729 300  | 1 371 800  | 18.34

#### Hong Kong government data

[edit]

The Hong Kong government provides the following estimates for mid-2013:[16]

age | percentage | males | females

|
|
|

0–14 years | 11.0% | 408,000 | 382,600
15–24 years | 11.7% | 424,500 | 417,900
25–34 years | 15.2% | 454,900 | 639,700
35–44 years | 15.9% | 471,500 | 671,800
45–54 years | 17.7% | 587,900 | 681,700
55–64 years | 14.2% | 503,700 | 512,600
65 and over | 14.3% | 479,500 | 547,700

Median age: 45.0 (2013 est.)

This graph was using the legacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to the new Chart extension.

|

This graph was using the legacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to the new Chart extension.

|

## Vital statistics

[edit]

The following table shows birth rates and mortality rates in Hong Kong between 1950 and 2024.[17][18][19]

At the end of the 20th century, Hong Kong had one of the lowest birth rates in the world. However, the number of births doubled in the decade between 2001 and 2011, largely due to an increase in the number of children born in Hong Kong to women with residence in mainland China. In 2001 there were 7,810 births to Mainland women (16%) out of a total of 48,219 births. By 2009 it increased to 37,253 births to Mainland women (45%) out of a total of 82,095 births.[20]

### Registered births and deaths

[edit]

| Average population  | Live births  | Deaths  | Natural change  | Crude birth rate (per 1,000)  | Crude death rate (per 1,000)  | Natural change (per 1,000)  | TFR

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1950  | 1,974,000  | 60,600 | 18,465 | 42,135  | 30.7 | 9.4 | 21.3 |
1951  | 2,044,000  | 68,500 | 20,580 | 47,920  | 34.0 | 10.2 | 23.8 |
1952  | 2,141,000  | 71,976 | 19,459 | 52,517  | 33.9 | 9.2 | 24.7 |
1953  | 2,253,000  | 75,544 | 18,300 | 57,244  | 33.7 | 8.2 | 25.5 |
1954  | 2,371,000  | 83,317 | 19,283 | 64,034  | 35.2 | 8.2 | 27.1 |
1955  | 2,490,000  | 90,511 | 19,080 | 71,431  | 36.3 | 7.7 | 28.7 |
1956  | 2,607,000  | 96,746 | 19,295 | 77,451  | 37.0 | 7.4 | 29.6 |
1957  | 2,721,000  | 97,834 | 19,365 | 78,469  | 35.8 | 7.1 | 28.7 |
1958  | 2,834,000  | 106,624 | 20,554 | 86,070  | 37.4 | 7.2 | 30.2 |
1959  | 2,951,000  | 104,579 | 20,250 | 84,329  | 35.2 | 6.8 | 28.4 |
1960  | 3,075,000  | 110,667 | 19,146 | 91,521  | 36.1 | 6.2 | 29.9 | 5.014
1961  | 3,207,000  | 108,726 | 18,738 | 89,988  | 34.3 | 5.9 | 28.4 | 5.030
1962  | 3,344,000  | 119,166  | 20,933  | 98,233  | 36.1 | 6.3 | 29.7 | 4.980
1963  | 3,477,000  | 118,413 | 20,340 | 98,073  | 34.6 | 5.9 | 28.7 | 4.857
1964  | 3,596,000  | 111,436 | 18,657 | 92,779  | 31.8 | 5.3 | 26.5 | 4.665
1965  | 3,692,000  | 106,362  | 18,160  | 88,202  | 29.6 | 5.0 | 24.5 | 4.422
1966  | 3,763,000  | 96,436 | 19,261 | 77,175  | 26.6 | 5.3 | 21.3 | 4.152
1967  | 3,812,000  | 94,368 | 20,234 | 74,134  | 25.3 | 5.4 | 19.9 | 3.887
1968  | 3,850,000  | 83,641 | 19,444 | 64,197  | 22.0 | 5.1 | 16.9 | 3.649
1969  | 3,889,000  | 82,482 | 19,256 | 63,226  | 21.3 | 5.0 | 16.4 | 3.448
1970  | 3,942,000  | 79,132 | 19,996 | 59,136  | 20.0 | 5.1 | 14.9 | 3.284
1971  | 4,009,000  | 79,789 | 20,374 | 59,415  | 19.7 | 5.0 | 14.7 | 3.459
1972  | 4,088,000  | 80,344 | 21,397 | 58,947  | 19.5 | 5.2 | 14.3 | 3.315
1973  | 4,180,000  | 82,252 | 21,251 | 61,001  | 19.5 | 5.0 | 14.5 | 3.177
1974  | 4,283,000  | 83,589 | 21,879 | 61,710  | 19.3 | 5.1 | 14.3 | 2.967
1975  | 4,396,000  | 79,790 | 21,591 | 58,168  | 17.9 | 4.9 | 13.0 | 2.666
1976  | 4,519,000  | 78,511 | 22,628 | 55,883  | 17.4 | 5.1 | 12.3 | 2.480
1977  | 4,652,000  | 80,022 | 23,331 | 56,691  | 17.5 | 5.1 | 12.4 | 2.376
1978  | 4,788,000  | 80,957 | 23,816 | 57,141  | 17.3 | 5.1 | 12.2 | 2.272
1979  | 4,919,000  | 81,975 | 25,110 | 56,865  | 16.8 | 5.1 | 11.7 | 2.120
1980  | 5,039,000  | 85,290 | 24,995 | 60,295  | 17.0 | 4.9 | 12.1 | 2.047
1981  | 5,145,000  | 86,751 | 24,822 | 61,929  | 16.8 | 4.8 | 12.0 | 1.933
1982  | 5,239,000  | 86,120 | 25,384 | 60,736  | 16.4 | 4.8 | 11.5 | 1.860
1983  | 5,322,000  | 83,293 | 26,512 | 56,781  | 15.6 | 5.0 | 10.6 | 1.722
1984  | 5,394,000  | 77,297 | 25,510 | 51,787  | 14.4 | 4.7 | 9.7 | 1.559
1985  | 5,456,000  | 76,126 | 25,248 | 50,878  | 14.0 | 4.6 | 9.3 | 1.491
1986  | 5,508,000  | 71,620 | 25,902 | 45,718  | 13.0 | 4.7 | 8.3 | 1.367
1987  | 5,551,000  | 69,958 | 26,916 | 43,042  | 12.6 | 4.8 | 7.8 | 1.311
1988  | 5,592,000  | 75,412 | 27,659 | 47,753  | 13.4 | 4.9 | 8.5 | 1.400
1989  | 5,641,000  | 69,621 | 28,745 | 40,876  | 12.3 | 5.1 | 7.2 | 1.296
1990  | 5,704,000  | 67,731 | 29,136 | 38,595  | 12.0 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 1.272
1991  | 5,786,000  | 68,281 | 28,429 | 39,852  | 12.0 | 4.9 | 7.1 | 1.281
1992  | 5,884,000  | 70,949 | 30,550 | 40,399  | 12.3 | 5.2 | 7.1 | 1.347
1993  | 5,992,000  | 70,451 | 30,571 | 39,880  | 12.0 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 1.342
1994  | 6,101,000  | 71,646 | 29,905 | 41,741  | 11.9 | 4.9 | 7.0 | 1.355
1995  | 6,206,000  | 68,637 | 31,468 | 37,169  | 11.2 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 1.295
1996  | 6,304,000  | 63,291 | 32,176 | 31,115  | 9.9 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 1.191
1997  | 6,492,000  | 59,250 | 31,738 | 27,512  | 9.1 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 1.127
1998  | 6,550,000  | 52,977 | 32,847 | 20,130  | 8.1 | 5.0 | 3.1 | 1.016
1999  | 6,611,000  | 51,281 | 33,255 | 18,026  | 7.8 | 5.0 | 2.7 | 0.981
2000  | 6,675,000  | 54,134 | 33,758 | 20,376  | 8.1 | 5.1 | 3.1 | 1.032
2001  | 6,721,000  | 48,219 | 33,378 | 14,841  | 7.2 | 5.0 | 2.2 | 0.931
2002  | 6,728,000  | 48,209 | 34,267 | 13,942  | 7.1 | 5.1 | 2.0 | 0.941
2003  | 6,745,000  | 46,965 | 36,971 | 9,994  | 7.0 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.901
2004  | 6,781,000  | 49,796 | 36,918 | 12,878  | 7.3 | 5.4 | 1.9 | 0.922
2005  | 6,818,000  | 57,098 | 38,830 | 18,268  | 8.4 | 5.7 | 2.7 | 0.959
2006  | 6,871,000  | 65,626 | 37,457 | 28,169  | 9.6 | 5.5 | 4.1 | 0.984
2007  | 6,921,000  | 70,875 | 39,476 | 31,399  | 10.2 | 5.7 | 4.5 | 1.028
2008  | 6,951,000  | 78,822 | 41,796 | 37,026  | 11.3 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 1.064
2009  | 6,980,000  | 82,095 | 41,175 | 40,920  | 11.8 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 1.055
2010  | 7,024,000  | 88,584 | 42,194 | 46,390  | 12.6 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 1.127
2011  | 7,072,000  | 95,451 | 42,346 | 53,105  | 13.5 | 5.9 | 7.6 | 1.204
2012  | 7,155,000  | 91,558 | 43,917 | 47,641  | 12.8 | 6.1 | 6.7 | 1.285
2013  | 7,187,000  | 57,084 | 43,397 | 13,687  | 7.9 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.125
2014  | 7,242,000  | 62,305 | 45,087 | 17,218  | 8.6 | 6.2 | 2.4 | 1.235
2015  | 7,306,000  | 59,878 | 46,108 | 13,770  | 8.2 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 1.196
2016  | 7,337,000  | 60,856 | 46,905 | 13,951  | 8.3 | 6.4 | 1.9 | 1.205
2017  | 7,410,000  | 56,548 | 46,829 | 9,719  | 7.7 | 6.3 | 1.4 | 1.125
2018  | 7,451,000  | 53,716 | 47,400 | 6,316  | 7.2 | 6.3 | 0.9 | 1.080
2019  | 7,507,400  | 52,856 | 48,957 | 3,899  | 7.0 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 1.064
2020  | 7,481,800  | 43,031 | 50,666 | −7,635  | 5.8 | 6.8 | −1.0 | 0.883
2021  | 7,413,100  | 36,953  | 51,354  | −14,401  | 5.0 | 6.9 | −1.9 | 0.772
2022  | 7,346,100  | 32,512  | 62,100  | −29,488  | 4.4 | 8.4 | −4.0 | 0.701
2023  | 7,498,100  | 33,288  | 56,776  | −23,488  | 4.4 | 7.6 | −3.2 | 0.751
2024  | 7,534,200  | 36,767  | 52,366  | −15,599  | 4.9 | 6.8 | −1.9 |

This graph was using the legacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to the new Chart extension.

|

### Death rates by leading causes of death

[edit]

No. of deaths per 100,000 population by leading causes of death (based on ICD 10th revision).[21] Red: increased compared with 2001.  | Cause of death | 2001 | 2011 | 2021

|
|
|
|

1. | Malignant neoplasms | 169.9 | 187.2 | 203.8
2. | Pneumonia | 45.1 | 87.8 | 132.6
3. | Diseases of heart | 70 | 89.6 | 89
4. | Cerebrovascular | 46.6 | 47.2 | 42.2
5. | External causes of
morbidity and mortality | 27.5 | 22.2 | 26.7
6. | Nephritis, nephrotic
syndrome and nephrosis | 15.7 | 21.8 | 24
7. | Dementia | 3.8 | 10.6 | 20.2
8. | Septicaemia | 6.3 | 10.8 | 16.8
9. | Chronic lower
respiratory diseases | 31.5 | 27.8 | 14.3
10. | Diabetes mellitus | 10.1 | 6.5 | 7.4
| All other causes | 69.7 | 85 | 118.1
| All causes | 496 | 596.6 | 695.2

### Life expectancy

[edit]

Hong Kong is the territory with the world's highest life expectancy according to the United Nations.

Period  | Life expectancy in
years  | Period  | Life expectancy in
years

|
|
|

1950–1955  | 63.1  | 1985–1990  | 77.0
1955–1960  | 65.9  | 1990–1995  | 78.1
1960–1965  | 68.8  | 1995–2000  | 80.0
1965–1970  | 70.9  | 2000–2005  | 81.4
1970–1975  | 72.5  | 2005–2010  | 82.4
1975–1980  | 73.7  | 2010–2015  | 83.4
1980–1985  | 75.6  |  |

Source: UN World Population Prospects[22]

### Marriage and fertility

[edit]

According to The World Factbook in 2006, the average marriage age in Hong Kong was 30 years for males and 27 years for females, and the population was subdivided into the following categories:

#### Marital status

[edit]

Married |

57.8%

| 3,423,995

|
|

Never married |

32%

| 1,920,522
Divorced |

3.2%

| 189,563
Separated |

0.6%

| 34,722

## Ethnicity

[edit]

According to Hong Kong census data more than 90% of the population are Chinese. The largest minority are Filipino with over 200,000 in 2021, almost doubled since 2006. Other minorities include Indonesians, Indians, Nepalese and Whites.

Census data from 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021.[23] Ethnic
group  | 2006 By-census  | 2011 Census  | 2016 By-census  | 2021 Census

|
|
|
|

Number | %  | Number | %  | Number | %  | Number | %
Chinese  | 6,522,148 |

95.0%

| 6,620,393 |

93.6%

| 6,752,202 |

92.0%

| 6,793,502 |

91.6%

Filipino  | 112,453 |

1.6%

| 133,018 |

1.9%

| 184,081 |

2.5%

| 201,291 |

2.7%

Indonesian  | 87,840 |

1.3%

| 133,377 |

1.9%

| 153,299 |

2.1%

| 142,065 |

1.9%

White  | 36,384 |

0.5%

| 55,236 |

0.8%

| 58,209 |

0.8%

| 61,582 |

0.8%

Indian  | 20,444 |

0.3%

| 28,616 |

0.4%

| 36,462 |

0.5%

| 42,569 |

0.6%

Nepalese  | 15,950 |

0.2%

| 16,518 |

0.2%

| 25,472 |

0.3%

| 29,701 |

0.4%

Pakistani  | 11,111 |

0.2%

| 18,042 |

0.3%

| 18,094 |

0.2%

| 24,385 |

0.3%

Thai  | 11,900 |

0.2%

| 11,213 |

0.2%

| 10,215 |

0.1%

| 12,972 |

0.2%

Japanese  | 13,189 |

0.2%

| 12,580 |

0.2%

| 9,976 |

0.1%

| 10,291 |

0.1%

Other Asian  | 12,663 |

0.2%

| 12,247 |

0.2%

| 19,589 |

0.3%

| 10,574 |

0.1%

Others  | 20,264 |

0.3%

| 30,336 |

0.4%

| 68,986 |

0.9%

| 70,124 |

0.9%

Total  | 6,864,346  | 7,071,576  | 7,336,585  | 7,413,070

### Chinese

[edit]

Ethnic groups in Hong Kong (2021)[23][24]

Ethnic groups (alone) |  |
Chinese |

| 91.6%
Filipino |

| 2.7%
Indonesian |

| 1.9%
South Asians |

| 1.4%
Other |

| 3%

Historically, the major Chinese groups in Hong Kong include the Cantonese (including Punti and Toishanese), Hakka, Hoklo,[25] and Tanka (mostly Cantonese speakers).[26] The Punti, and Tanka people in Hong Kong are largely descendants of the indigenous population, while the Hakka and Hoklo groups are composed of both indigenous groups and more recent migrants.

Most Teochew-speaking migrants immigrated to Hong Kong between the late 1940s and early 1970s, while migrants from Fujian (previously Southern Min speakers, and increasingly more Central Min and Northern Min speakers) have constituted a growing number of migrants since 1978.[27] Many Yue-speaking people such as Taishanese and Cantonese also migrated after 1949.

According to the 2016 by-census, 92% of the Hong Kong population belongs to a Chinese ethnicity.[4] The Hong Kong census does not currently categorise Han Chinese subgroups nor does it differentiate other Chinese ethnicities, although in the past the census would collect information on language and dialect use.[28] However, the majority of Hongkongers of Chinese descent trace their ancestry to various parts of Southern China: the Guangzhou area, followed by Siyi (Toishanese people), Chaoshan (a region of Eastern Guangdong home to Teochew speakers), Fujian, and Shanghai.[29] Some Cantonese people also originate from Hakka-speaking villages in the New Territories.[30]

Stanley Market

### Ethnic minorities

[edit]

8% of the population of Hong Kong are categorised as "ethnic minorities", including a large number of Filipinos and Indonesians, who together make up approximately 4.6% of the population.[31][32][33] However, the majority of the Filipinos and Indonesians population are short-termed foreign domestic helpers. After excluding foreign domestic helpers, the number of ethnic minorities was 263,593 in 2016, making up 3.6% of the whole Hong Kong population.[34]

Circa 2018 there were about 2,000 people of African origins with about 800–1,000 in Yuen Long.[35] Chungking Mansions is another area of settlement and employment. Some Africans seeking to asylum travelled to Hong Kong as of June 2020.[36] According to Lingnan University professor Lisa Leung Yuk-ming, African settlement began in the 1990s. The Hong Kong African Association (香港非洲人協會) is an ethnic association for those people.[37]

A Thai community began in Hong Kong when Thai women travelled with their husbands, of Chaozhou (Chiu Chow) origin, to Hong Kong in the 1970s. In 2016, Hong Kong had about 10,215 Thai residents, with around 33% residing in Kowloon City.[38]

## Nationality

[edit]

Due to its history as trading, business, and tourism hub, a large number of expatriates live in Hong Kong, representing 8% of the population.[39] The following lists ethnic groups with significant presence in Hong Kong in alphabetical order by category:

* Africa
* East Asia
* Japan
* Korea
* Europe
* Britain
* France
* Russia
* North America
* America
* Canada
* Oceania
* Australia
* South Asia
* India
* Nepal
* Pakistan
* Southeast Asia
* The Philippines
* Indonesia (mainly Javanese)
* Thailand
* Vietnam

## Language

[edit]

Main article: Languages of Hong Kong

As a former British colony, Hong Kong has 2 official languages: English, and Chinese, although the specific variety of Chinese is not specified. The majority of the population uses Cantonese as their usual spoken language. However, due to Hong Kong's role as an international trade and finance hub, there are also a wide variety of minority groups speaking dozens of languages present in the territory.

Language usually spoken at home (5+)  | 1961[40] | 1971[41] | 1991[42] | 1996[43] | 2001[44] | 2006[45] | 2011[45] | 2016[45] | 2021[39]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Number  | %  | Number  | %  | Number  | %  | Number  | %  | Number  | %  | Number  | %  | Number  | %  | Number  | %  | Number  | %
Cantonese | 2,076,210  | 79.0  | 3,469,235  | 88.1  | 4,583,322  | 88.6  | 5,196,240  | 88.7  | 5,726,972  | 89.2  | 6,030,960 | 90.8 | 6,095,213 | 89.5 | 6,264,700 | 88.9  | 6,382,947  | 88.2
Mandarin | 26,021  | 1.0  | 405,147  | 10.2  | 57,577  | 1.1  | 65,892  | 1.1  | 55,410  | 0.9  | 60,859 | 0.9 | 94,399 | 1.4 | 131,406 | 1.9  | 165,541  | 2.3
Other Chinese languages | 348,544  | 13.3  | 364,694  | 7.1  | 340,222  | 5.8  | 352,562  | 5.5  | 289,027 | 4.4 | 273,745 | 4.0 | 221,247 | 3.1  | 204,571  | 2.8
English | 31,824  | 1.2  | 41,119  | 1.1  | 114,084  | 2.2  | 184,308  | 3.1  | 203,598  | 3.2  | 187,281 | 2.8 | 238,288 | 3.5 | 300,417 | 4.3  | 330,782  | 4.6
Other languages  | 17,911  | 0.7  | 21,129  | 0.6  | 49,232  | 1.0  | 73,879  | 1.3  | 79,197  | 1.2  | 72,217 | 1.1 | 106,788 | 1.6 | 131,199 | 1.9  | 149,376  | 2.1
Total  | 2,628,942  | 3,936,630  | 5,168,909  | 5,860,541  | 6,417,739 | 6,640,344 | 6,808,433 | 7,048,969  | 7,179,127

However, a very large proportion of the population in Hong Kong are able to communicate in multiple languages. The school system is separated into English-medium and Chinese-medium school, both of which teach English and Mandarin.

Proportion of population (5+) able to speak selected languages[45] | 1991[44] | 1996[44] | 2001[44] | 2006[45] | 2011[45] | 2016[45] | 2021[39]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| %  | %  | %  | %  | %  | %  | %
Cantonese  |

95.8%

95.2%

96.1%

96.5%

95.8%

94.6%

93.7%

English  |

31.6%

38.1%

43.0%

44.7%

46.1%

53.2%

58.7%

Mandarin  |

18.1%

25.3%

34.1%

40.2%

47.8%

48.6%

54.2%

Hakka  |

5.3%

4.9%

5.1%

4.7%

4.7%

4.2%

3.6%

Hokkien  |

3.6%

3.9%

3.9%

3.4%

3.5%

3.6%

3.1%

Tagalog  |

1.1%

1.8%

1.9%

1.4%

1.7%

2.7%

2.8%

Chiu Chow  |

5.4%

5.0%

4.8%

3.9%

3.8%

3.4%

2.8%

Bahasa Indonesia  |

0.7%

0.9%

1.3%

1.7%

2.4%

2.7%

2.5%

Japanese  |

1.0%

1.2%

1.4%

1.2%

1.5%

1.8%

2.1%

Shanghainese  |

1.8%

1.6%

1.5%

1.2%

1.1%

1.1%

0.8%

## Religion

[edit]

Main article: Religion in Hong Kong

Religion in Hong Kong (2016)[46]

1. No religion (54.3%)
2. Organised Buddhism and Taoism (27.9%)
3. Protestantism (6.7%)
4. Catholicism (5.3%)
5. Islam (4.2%)
6. Hinduism (1.4%)
7. Sikhism (0.2%)

The Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island. People honouring gods in a dajiao celebration, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival.

Over half of all people (56.1% as of 2010) are not religious.[47] Religious people in Hong Kong follow a diverse range of religions, among which Taoist and Buddhist (specifically Chinese Buddhism) faiths are common for people of Chinese descent.

Confucian beliefs are popular in Hong Kong, but it is arguable whether Confucianism can be considered as a religion.[48] As such, Confucianism is excluded in some studies.[47]

The Christian beliefs of Protestantism (with 500,000 members) and Catholicism (401,000 members) are also common, as well as non-organised Chinese folk religions, whose followers may state that they are not religious.

Traditional religions including Chinese Buddhism were discouraged under British rule, which officially represented Christianity.[49] The handover of sovereignty from Britain to China has led to a resurgence of Buddhist and Chinese religions.[49]

Estimated number of adherents in Hong Kong by religion[50][51] Region | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2016  | 2021

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Buddhists | > 1 million | > 1 million | > 1 million | > 1 million | > 1 million | > 1 million | > 1 million  | > 1 million
Taoists | ≈ 1 million | ≈ 1 million | ≈ 1 million | ≈ 1 million | > 1 million | > 1 million | > 1 million  | > 1 million
Protestant | 320,000 | 320,000 | 480,000 | 480,000 | 480,000 | ≈ 500,000 | 500,000  | 500,000
Catholics | 350,000 | 350,000 | 353,000 | 363,000 | 363,000 | 368,000 | 384,000  | 401,000
Muslims | 220,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 | 270,000 | 300,000 | 300,000  | 300,000
Hindu | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 100,000  | 100,000
Sikhs | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 12,000  | 12,000

## See also

[edit]

Demographics and culture of Hong Kong

Demographics

* Census
* Health
* Hongkongers
* Hong Kong resident
* Hong Kong identity card
* Languages
* Religion
* Right of abode

Culture

* Cinema
* Comics
* Cuisine
* Media
* Music
* Opera
* Public holidays
* Shopping
* Sport
* Literature
* Visual art
* Slang

Other Hong Kong topics

* Economy
* Education
* Geography
* History
* Politics

* v
* t
* e

Part of a series on

Ethnicity in Hong Kong

* Africans
* Americans
* Australians
* Britons
* Canadians
* Han Chinese (Shanghainese, Tanka)
* Filipinos
* French
* Indonesians
* Japanese
* Koreans
* Russians
* South Asians (Nepalis, Pakistanis)
* Thais
* Vietnamese

* v
* t
* e

* Hong Kong portal

* Hong Kong drifter
* Hong Kong Kids phenomenon
* Hong Kongers
* Hong Kongers in the United Kingdom
* Indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories
* Right of abode in Hong Kong
* Emigration from Hong Kong

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Hong Kong". 21 February 2024.
2. ^ a b "Population – Overview | Census and Statistics Department". Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
3. ^ glenday, craig (2013). Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 121. ISBN 9781908843159.
4. ^ a b 2016 Population By-census – Summary Results (Report). Census and Statistics Department. February 2016. p. 37\. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
5. ^ "Race Relations Unit – Demographics". www.had.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
6. ^ Poon Angela and Jenny Wong, Struggling for Democracy Under China: The Implications of a Politicised 'Hongkongese' Identity http://www.civic-exchange.org/publications/Intern/2004-JennyandAngela.pdf Archived 7 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ Sidney Cheung, Hong Kong Handover http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/journal/vol5no1/sidney2.html Archived 21 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ Census of Hongkong (PDF) (Report). Hongkong Register Office. 31 December 1853. p. 89 – via University of Hong Kong.
9. ^ Hong Kong Statistics 1947–1967 (PDF) (Report). Census and Statistics Department. 1969. p. 14\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
10. ^ *Demographic Trends in Hong Kong 1981–2011 (PDF) (Report). Census and Statistics Department. December 2012. p. 8\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
11. ^ June 2018. Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (Report). Census and Statistics Department. June 2018. p. 4.[permanent dead link]
12. ^ Fan, Shuh Ching (1974). "The Population of Hong Kong" (PDF). World Population Year: 1–2\. OCLC 438716102. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
13. ^ Census of England and Wales, 1871 (Report). Parliament of the United Kingdom. 30 July 1873. p. 322\. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2018 – via Google Books.
14. ^ "United Nations Statistics Division – Demographic and Social Statistics". United Nations. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
15. ^ "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics".
16. ^ HK Census. "HK Census Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine." Statistical Table of population. Retrieved on 16 March 2007.
17. ^ "Statistics – By Subject". www.censtatd.gov.hk.
18. ^ B.R. Mitchell. International historical statistics 1750–2005: Africa, Asia and Oceania
19. ^ "United Nations Statistics Division – Demographic and Social Statistics". United Nations. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
20. ^ "The fertility trend in Hong Kong 1981–2009". Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
21. ^ "Death Rates by Leading Causes of Death, 2001 — 2022". Centre for Health Protection. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
22. ^ "World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations". Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
23. ^ a b "Main Tables". Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
24. ^ 2021 Population Census: Summary Results (PDF) (Report). February 2022. p. 43. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
25. ^ Kelly, Margaret. Fodor's China. Fodor's Travel Publications, 2011. ISBN 0307480534, 9780307480538. p. 392.
26. ^ Ng Lun, Ngai-ha. In: Ring, Trudy, Robert M. Salkin, Sharon La Boda (editors). International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania (Volume 5 of International Dictionary of Historic Places, Trudy Ring, ISBN 1884964052, 9781884964053). Taylor & Francis, 1996. ISBN 1884964044, 9781884964046. p. 358.
27. ^ Hu-DeHart, Evelyn (2006). Voluntary organizations in the Chinese Diaspora. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 122–125\. ISBN 978-962-209-776-6.
28. ^ Bauer, Robert Stuart (1984). "The Hong Kong cantonese speech community – Persée". Cahiers de Linguistique Asie Orientale. 13 (1): 57–90\. doi:10.3406/clao.1984.1144.
29. ^ Ng Sek Hong (2010). Labour Law in Hong Kong. Kluwer Law International. p. 19\. ISBN 978-90-411-3307-6.
30. ^ Melvin Ember; Carol R. Ember; Ian Skoggard, eds. (2005). Encyclopedia of diasporas: immigrant and refugee cultures around the world. Diaspora communities. Vol. 2\. Springer. pp. 94–95\. ISBN 978-0-306-48321-9.
31. ^ 2011 Population Census – Summary Results (PDF) (Report). Census and Statistics Department. February 2012. p. 37\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
32. ^ "Thematic Report : Ethnic Minorities" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
33. ^ "Immigration Autonomy". Immigration Department Annual Report 2009-2010. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
34. ^ "Statistical Product". www.censtatd.gov.hk. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
35. ^ Zheng, Mandy; Rachel Leung (17 January 2018). "Chinese woman threatens to sue another accused of throwing her dog out 6th floor window". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
36. ^ Sun, Fiona (27 June 2020). "Black lives matter in Hong Kong too: African migrants say racism leaves them feeling alienated, shunned". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
37. ^ Lee, Chermaine; Miguel Candela (2 August 2020). "What it's like to be black and African in Hong Kong: 'there is racism literally in every corner'". Post Magazine. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
38. ^ "Goodbye 'Little Thailand' in Hong Kong?". Bangkok Post. South China Morning Post. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
39. ^ a b c "2021 Population Census". Retrieved 8 May 2023.
40. ^ Hong Kong Statistics 1947–1967 (PDF) (Report). Hong Kong. 1969. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
41. ^ Hong Hong Population and Housing Census 1971 Main Report (PDF) (Report). Hong Kong: Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department. 1972.
42. ^ "Hong Kong 1991 Population Census – Main tables" (PDF). Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong. 1991. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
43. ^ "1996 Population By-census – Main Report" (PDF). Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong. 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
44. ^ a b c d "2001 Population Census – Main report" (PDF). Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong. 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
45. ^ a b c d e f g "Main Tables | 2016 Population By-census". www.bycensus2016.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
46. ^ "CIA – The World Factbook – Hong Kong". Cia.gov. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
47. ^ a b Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life (2012). The Global Religious Landscape: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Major Religious Groups as of 2010 (PDF). Pew Research Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
48. ^ Berling, Judith A. (1982). "Confucianism". Focus on Asian Studies. 2 (1): 5–7\. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
49. ^ a b Chan, Shun-hing. Leung, Beatrice. [2003] (2003). Changing Church and State Relations in Hong Kong, 1950–2000. Hong Kong: HK university press. Page 24. ISBN 962-209-612-3
50. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
51. ^ "Religion and Custom" (PDF). Retrieved 8 May 2023.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Fan, Shuh Ching (1974). "The Population of Hong Kong" (PDF). Committee for International Coordination of National Research in Demography. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
* Saw, Swee-Hock; Chiu, Wing Kin (1975). "Population Growth and Redistribution in Hong Kong, 1841–1975". Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science. 4 (1). Brill Publishers: 123–131\. doi:10.1163/080382476X00101. JSTOR 24489946. PMID 12263200.
* Yiu, William (15 October 2023). "19,000 children arrive in Hong Kong with parents recruited under talent scheme". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 15 October 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Hong Kong Population History
* HK Facts
* TopNews.in – Baby boom pushes Hong Kong population above 7 million
* Census and Statistics Department – Latest Official HK Population Statistics
* Hong Kong African Association (香港非洲人協會) Archived 2 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Hong Kong

* Outline
* Index of articles

History|

* Prehistoric
* Imperial China
* Bao'an County and Xin'an County
* British colony
* 1800s–1930s
* WWI
* Battle of Hong Kong
* Japanese occupation
* 1950s
* 1960s
* 1970s
* 1980s
* 1990s
* Handover of Hong Kong
* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s

Geography|

* Administrative divisions
* Air pollution
* Areas
* Bays
* Beaches
* Buildings and structures
* Channels
* Cities and towns
* Country parks and conservation
* Ecology
* Land reclamation
* Harbours
* Islands and peninsulas
* Lakes
* Marine parks
* Mountains and peaks
* Public parks and gardens
* Reservoirs
* Rivers
* Villages

Politics|

* National anthem
* Basic Law
* Chief Executive
* Districts
* Elections
* Emblem
* Flag
* Foreign relations
* Government
* Independence
* Judiciary
* Legal system
* Legislative Council
* LGBT rights
* Military
* One country, two systems
* Political parties
* Protests
* Sino-British Joint Declaration
* Special administrative regions of China

Public services|

* Education
* Fire services
* Food and Health Bureau
* Healthcare
* Police

Economy|

* Banks
* Companies
* Dollar (currency)
* Employment
* Hawkers
* Port
* Stock Exchange
* Communications
* The Hongs
* Tourism

Transport|

* Airlines
* Airport
* Buses
* Cycling
* Ferries
* List of roads
* Rail
* Taxis

Society|

* Crime
* Prostitution
* Sex trafficking

Culture|

* Architecture
* Cinema
* Comics
* Cheung Chau Bun Festival
* Cuisine
* Gambling
* Graffiti
* Heritage conservation
* Hong Kong orchid
* Honours system
* Hong Kong nationalism
* Languages
* LGBT
* Lion Rock Spirit
* Literature
* McDull
* Media
* Museums
* Music
* Ngai jong
* People
* Demographics
* Women
* Youth
* Public holidays
* Religion
* RTHK
* Shopping
* Sport
* Television
* Visual art
* Anglosphere
* CJKV
* Sinosphere

* v
* t
* e

Hong Kong diaspora

By country|

* Australia
* Canada
* Netherlands
* United Kingdom
* United States

By migration history|

* Indigenous inhabitants
* New immigrants
* Returnees
* Refugees and asylum seekers

By Chinese subgroup|

* Yue/Cantonese
* Guangzhou-Sam Yap, Punti/Wai Tau and Sze Yap/Taishanese
* list
* Hakka
* Fujianese/Hoklo/Hokkien
* Hoklo
* Shanghainese (and Ningbo)
* list
* Tanka
* Teochew

Non-Chinese ethnicity or nationality|

| From Asia|

* East Asians
* Japanese
* Koreans
* South Asians
* Nepalis
* Pakistanis
* Southeast Asians
* Filipinos
* Indonesians
* Thais
* Vietnamese

|

Others|

* Africans
* Americans
* Australians
* Britons
* Canadians
* French
* Jews
* Russians
* Ukrainians

See also: Demographics of Hong Kong

* v
* t
* e

Demographics of Asia

Sovereign states|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* Egypt
* Georgia
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste (East Timor)
* Turkey
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Northern Cyprus
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan

Dependencies and
other territories|

* British Indian Ocean Territory
* Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
* Hong Kong
* Macau

* Category
* Asia portal

* v
* t
* e

Ethnic groups in Asia

Sovereign states|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* Egypt
* Georgia
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste (East Timor)
* Turkey
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Northern Cyprus
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan

Dependencies and
other territories|

* British Indian Ocean Territory
* Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
* Hong Kong
* Macau

* Category
* Asia portal

*[lit.]: Literal translation
*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template