Hong Kong - HK - HKG - HKG - East and Southeast Asia

special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

chief of mission: Consul General Gregory MAY (since September 2022); note - also accredited to Macau

embassy: 26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong

mailing address: 8000 Hong Kong Place, Washington DC  20521-8000

telephone: [852] 2523-9011

FAX: [852] 2845-1598

email address and website:
acshk@state.gov

https://hk.usconsulate.gov/

0-14 years: 13.2% (male 505,718/female 459,956)

15-64 years: 64.8% (male 2,123,216/female 2,609,102)

65 years and over: 21.9% (2024 est.) (male 738,878/female 860,951)

22 15 N, 114 10 E

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

occasional typhoons

six times the size of Washington, D.C.

The UK seized Hong Kong in 1841, and China formally ceded it the following year at the end of the First Opium War. The Kowloon Peninsula was added in 1860 at the end of the Second Opium War, and the UK obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories in 1898. Pursuant to a UK-China agreement in 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China as of 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic and strict political system would not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

After the handover, Hong Kong continued to enjoy success as an international financial center. However, growing Chinese political influence and dissatisfaction with the Hong Kong Government in the 2010s became central issues and led to considerable civil unrest, including large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019 after the HKSAR attempted to revise a local ordinance to allow extraditions to mainland China. In response to the protests, the governments of the HKSAR and China reduced the city's autonomy and placed new restrictions on the rights of Hong Kong residents, moves that were widely criticized as contravening obligations under the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Democratic lawmakers and political figures were arrested in a widespread crackdown, while others fled abroad. At the same time, dozens of civil society groups and several independent media outlets were closed or disbanded. In 2021, Beijing imposed a more restrictive electoral system, restructuring the Legislative Council (LegCo) and allowing only government-approved candidates to run for office. The changes ensured that virtually all seats in the 2021 LegCo election went to pro-establishment candidates and effectively ended political opposition to Beijing. In 2024, the LegCo passed a new national security law (Article 23 of the Basic Law) further expanding the Hong Kong Government's power to curb dissent.

air and water pollution from rapid urbanization; urban waste pollution; industrial pollution

19.9% (2016 est.)

lowest 10%: 1.8%

highest 10%: 38.1% (2016)

gold, integrated circuits, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment, jewelry (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 22%, Vietnam 12%, S. Korea 8%, Netherlands 5%, Switzerland 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)

pork, chicken, spinach, vegetables, pork offal, game meat, beef, fruits, onions, pork fat (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong Police Force (specialized units include the Police Counterterrorism Response Unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, the Special Duties Unit, the Airport Security Unit, and the VIP Protection Unit)

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison is responsible for defense duties; the garrison includes elements of the PLA Army, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force and are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Southern Theater Command (2025)

revenues: $70.124 billion (2020 est.)

expenditures: $105.849 billion (2020 est.)

integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, gold, machine parts, jewelry (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

733 km

history: several previous (governance documents while under British authority); latest drafted April 1988 to February 1989, approved March 1990, effective 1 July 1997 (Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as the constitution) 

amendment process: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, or the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, approval by two thirds of Hong Kong’s deputies to the NPC, and approval by the Hong Kong chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC

note: since 1990, China's National People's Congress has interpreted specific articles of the Basic Law

Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
7.83 (2023 est.)
7.831 (2022 est.)
7.773 (2021 est.)
7.757 (2020 est.)
7.836 (2019 est.)

chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)

head of government: Chief Executive John LEE Ka-chiu (since 1 July 2022)

cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo appointed by the chief executive

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 March 2023 (next to be held in March 2028); chief executive indirectly elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the PRC Government for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 May 2022 (next to be held in 2027)

election results:
2022: John LEE was the only candidate and won with over 99% of the vote by the Election Committee

2017: Carrie LAM elected; Election Committee vote - Carrie LAM (non-partisan) 777, John TSANG (non-partisan) 365, WOO Kwok-hing (non-partisan) 21, 23 ballots rejected (1,186 votes cast)

note: electoral changes that Beijing imposed in March 2021 expanded the Election Committee to 1,500 members

red with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower in the center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star in its middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flag and represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region; the five stars echo those on the flag of China

none (special administrative region of China)

trading and logistics, financial services, professional services, tourism, cultural and creative, clothing and textiles, shipping, electronics, toys, clocks and watches

highest court(s): Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges, and 20 non-permanent judges)

judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the Hong Kong Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, an independent body consisting of the Secretary for Justice, other judges, and judicial and legal professionals; permanent judges serve until normal retirement at age 65, but term can be extended; non-permanent judges appointed for renewable 3-year terms without age limit

subordinate courts: High Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance); District Courts (includes Family and Land Courts); magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals

total: 33 km

regional borders (1): China 33 km

agricultural land: 3.8% (2022 est.)

arable land: 1.9% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 1% (2022 est.)

forest: 0% (2022 est.)

other: 96.2% (2022 est.)

mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law (in matters of family and land tenure); PRC imposition of National Security Law incorporates elements of Chinese civil law

legislature name: Legislative Council or LegCo

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 90

electoral system: 20 members directly elected; 70 members indirectly elected

scope of elections: full

most recent election date: 19 December 2021

parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) 19, Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions (HKFTU) 8, Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) 7, NPP 5, Liberal (LP) 4, New Territories Association of Societies (NTAS) 4, Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW) 2, Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions (HKFLU) 2, Civil Force (CF) 2, Roundtable (RT) 1, Professional Power (PP) 1, Kowloon West New Dynamic (KWND) 1, New Prospect for Hong Kong (NPHK) 1, New Century Forum (NCF-1); other/independent 41

expected date of next election: December 2025

note 1: all political candidates are evaluated by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (CERC), which was established in April 2022; CERC members are all appointed by the chief executive

note 2: Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy political parties boycotted the 2021 election

territorial sea: 12 nm

ADB, APEC, BIS, FATF, ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC (NGOs), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July (1997) is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

noun: Chinese/Hong Konger

adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

consists of a mainland area (the New Territories) and more than 200 islands

high-income tourism- and services-based economy; global financial hub; COVID-19 and political protests fueled recent recession; ongoing recovery but lower-skilled unemployment remains high; investing in job-reskilling programs

Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong or BPA 
Civil Force or CF 
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB 
Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions or HKFLU 
Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers or HKFEW 
Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions or HKFTU 
Kowloon West New Dynamic or KWND
Liberal Party or LP 
New Century Forum or NCF 
New People's Party or NPP
New Prospect for Hong Kong or NPHK 
New Territories Association of Societies or NTAS 
Professional Power or PP 
Roundtable or RT 
Third Side or TS

note 1: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

note 2: by the end of 2021, the leading pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong had been effectively removed from the political arena under the provisions of Beijing's 2021 electoral changes or via charges under the 2020 national security law; in addition, dozens of pro-democracy organizations, including political parties, unions, churches, civil rights groups, and media organizations have disbanded or closed; as of 2023, nearly all politically active groups were pro-Beijing

18 years of age in direct elections for 20 of the 90 Legislative Council seats and all of the seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past 7 years; note - in indirect elections, suffrage is limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies for the other 70 legislature seats and a 1,500-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad sectoral groupings, central government bodies, municipal organizations, and elected Hong Kong officials

general assessment: Hong Kong’s telecommunications sector continues to stay near the top of world rankings for the industry; it has kept its #1 spot in the Asian region in terms of the maturity of its telecom market – a reflection of the high penetration rates across mobile, mobile broadband, and fixed broadband; even fixed-line teledensity in Hong Kong is impressive at over 50%, although it too has started a gradual decline in keeping with most other telecom markets around the world, as consumers slowly transition over to the mobile platform for all of their communication needs (2022)

domestic: fixed-line is over 51 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 319 subscriptions per 100 (2021)

international: country code - 852; landing points for the AAE-1, AAG, APCN-2, APG, ASE, FEA, FNAL, RNAL, H2HE, SeaMeWe-3, SJC and TGN-IA submarine cables that provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China (2022)

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

defense is the responsibility of China

conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

conventional short form: Hong Kong

local long form: Heung Kong Takpit Hangching Ku (Eitel/Dyer-Ball)

local short form: Heung Kong (Eitel/Dyer-Ball)

abbreviation: HK

etymology: probably an imprecise phonetic rendering of the Cantonese name meaning "fragrant harbor"

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Southeast Asia

10 sq km (2012)

chief of mission: none (Special Administrative Region of China)

HKETO offices: New York, San Francisco, Washington DC

Note:  Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China and does not have a diplomatic presence; the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) carries out normal liaison activities and communication with the US Government and other US entities; the position of the Hong Kong Commissioner to the US Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is vacant; address: 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone: [1] (202) 331-8947; FAX: [1] (202) 331-8958; email:  hketo@hketowashington.gov.hk; website: https://www.hketowashington.gov.hk/

percent of population: 96% (2022 est.)

.hk

$380.812 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Fitch rating: AA- (2020)

Moody's rating: Aa3 (2020)

Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2017)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

total: 17 years

male: 17 years

female: 17 years (2021)

urban population: 100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

34 commercial terrestrial TV networks each with multiple stations; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; 3 licensed broadcasters of terrestrial radio, one of which is government funded, operate about 12 radio stations; note - 4 digital radio broadcasters operated in Hong Kong from 2010 to 2017, but all digital radio services were terminated in September 2017 due to weak market demand (2019)

note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)

7.685 million Hong Kong (2023)

2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

4.9 beds/1,000 population (2020)

bauhinia flower; national colors: red, white

29.8 years (2008 est.)

66.7% (2017)

household consumption: 70.6% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 13.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 16.8% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -1.3% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 176.8% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -176% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

total dependency ratio: 54.2 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 20.4 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 33.8 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3 (2024 est.)

see China

population fairly evenly distributed

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

B-H

Chinese 91.6%, Filipino 2.7%, Indonesian 1.9%, other 3.7% (2021 est.)

Buddhist or Taoist 27.9%, Protestant 6.7%, Roman Catholic 5.3%, Muslim 4.2%, Hindu 1.4%, Sikh 0.2%, other or none 54.3% (2016 est.)

note: many people practice Confucianism, regardless of their religion or not having a religious affiliation

Cantonese (official) 85.4%, English (official) 4.5%, Putonghua (official) 2.2%, other Chinese dialects 2.8%, other 2%, persons under 5 or mute 3.2% (2021 est.)

major-language sample(s):

世界概况, 必須擁有的基本資料参考书 (Cantonese)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: data represent population by usual spoken language

China 40%, Taiwan 10%, Singapore 7%, Japan 5%, S. Korea 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020)

improved:

urban: 96.4% of population

rural: NA

total: 96.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 3.6% of population

rural: NA

total: 3.6% of population (2017)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,679,816 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,931,138 tons (2016 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34% (2016 est.)

on food: 11.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 43.64 megatons (2016 est.)

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Hong Kong was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/hong-kong/

consumption: 5.567 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 16,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 5.884 million metric tons (2023 est.)

fossil fuels: 99.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

consumption: 5.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 5.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

total petroleum production: 96 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 233,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

0.6 (2024 est.)

47.7% (2023 est.)

0.11% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.12% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.12% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

total ports: 1 (2024)

large: 1

medium: 0

small: 0

very small: 0

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Hong Kong

3.876 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total: 10.5% (2023 est.)

male: 11.3% (2023 est.)

female: 9.6% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 47.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 45.3 years

female: 48.6 years

$425.554 billion (2023 est.)
$424.03 billion (2022 est.)
$496.867 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

0.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

1.24 children born/woman (2024 est.)

3.93% (2023 est.)
4.32% (2022 est.)
5.17% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 7,297,821 (2024 est.)

male: 3,367,812

female: 3,930,009

58.433 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 12.935 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 35.453 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 10.045 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 1,108 sq km

land: 1,073 sq km

water: 35 sq km

23.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

$485.834 billion (2023 est.)
$470.421 billion (2022 est.)
$488.412 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

2 (2025)

total: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 23.8 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 292 (2022 est.)

53.9 (2016 est.)

2.1% (2023 est.)
1.88% (2022 est.)
1.57% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$34.901 billion (2023 est.)
$36.525 billion (2022 est.)
$43.659 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$64,500 (2023 est.)
$64,000 (2022 est.)
$65,900 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 2.97 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2023 est.)

116.811 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

7.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

installed generating capacity: 13.3 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 45.54 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 11.593 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 3.684 billion kWh (2023 est.)

total: 2,537 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 1,047, container ship 560, general cargo 144, oil tanker 394, other 392

NA

$670.434 billion (2023 est.)
$682.881 billion (2022 est.)
$732.087 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$673.189 billion (2023 est.)
$697.583 billion (2022 est.)
$752.621 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

142 (2025)

total subscriptions: 3.487 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2023 est.)

total population: 84 years (2024 est.)

male: 81.3 years

female: 86.8 years

3.28% (2023 est.)
-3.68% (2022 est.)
6.45% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

4.59% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture: 0% (2023 est.)

industry: 6.3% (2023 est.)

services: 91.5% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

4% of GDP (2021 est.)

0.12% (2024 est.)