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

Last updated: February 12, 2025
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Hong Kong Images

  • Close-up of the Tian Tan Great Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

    Close-up of the Tian Tan Great Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

  • View of Victoria Harbor and the Hong Kong skyline from Kowloon Island.

    View of Victoria Harbor and the Hong Kong skyline from Kowloon Island.

  • A Hong Kong Star Ferry.

    A Hong Kong Star Ferry.

  • A street scene in downtown Kowloon in Hong Kong.

    A street scene in downtown Kowloon in Hong Kong.

  • A street scene on Nathan Road in downtown Kowloon in Hong Kong. Double-decker buses are popular.

    A street scene on Nathan Road in downtown Kowloon in Hong Kong. Double-decker buses are popular.

  • A Hong Kong street scene.

    A Hong Kong street scene.

  • The Hong Kong Museum of Art.

    The Hong Kong Museum of Art.

  • Fruit for sale in Tai Po, Hong Kong.

    Fruit for sale in Tai Po, Hong Kong.

  • Nuts for sale in a market in Tai Po, Hong Kong.

    Nuts for sale in a market in Tai Po, Hong Kong.

  • The Hong Kong skyline at night.

    The Hong Kong skyline at night.

  • A nighttime view of Hong Kong, viewed from Victoria Peak.

    A nighttime view of Hong Kong, viewed from Victoria Peak.

  • The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong is 26 km (16 mi) from the harbor. The temple, dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military), was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.

    The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong is 26 km (16 mi) from the harbor. The temple, dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military), was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.

  • The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong is 26 km (16 mi) from the harbor. The temple is dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military) and was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.

    The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong is 26 km (16 mi) from the harbor. The temple is dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military) and was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.

  • The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong. Dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military), the temple was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.

    The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong. Dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military), the temple was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.

  • The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong. The temple, dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military), was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.

    The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong. The temple, dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military), was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.

  • Huge incense coils hang from the ceiling of the Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong, one of the oldest and most famous temples in the city.

    Huge incense coils hang from the ceiling of the Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong, one of the oldest and most famous temples in the city.

  • These golden Buddhas are located in the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas in Hong Kong. Life-size statues line the steep flight of over 400 steps leading to the temple. The actual number of Buddhas is more than 13,000.

    These golden Buddhas are located in the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas in Hong Kong. Life-size statues line the steep flight of over 400 steps leading to the temple. The actual number of Buddhas is more than 13,000.

  • One of the many life-size statues lining the steep staircase leading to the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas in Hong Kong.

    One of the many life-size statues lining the steep staircase leading to the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas in Hong Kong.

  • Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall in Hong Kong was built in the early 16th century to honor the Tang clan's founding ancestor.

    Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall in Hong Kong was built in the early 16th century to honor the Tang clan's founding ancestor.

  • Lo Wai walled village in Hong Kong was the first of five walled villages built by the Tang clan.

    Lo Wai walled village in Hong Kong was the first of five walled villages built by the Tang clan.

  • Lo Wai walled village in Hong Kong was the first of five walled villages built by the Tang clan.

    Lo Wai walled village in Hong Kong was the first of five walled villages built by the Tang clan.

  • Tai Fu Tai Mansion in Yuen Long, Hong Kong, dates to 1865 and was built by Man Chung Lien of the Man Clan. The building is regarded as a fine example of a traditional dwelling of the scholar-gentry class and one of the most elegant buildings in Hong Kong.

    Tai Fu Tai Mansion in Yuen Long, Hong Kong, dates to 1865 and was built by Man Chung Lien of the Man Clan. The building is regarded as a fine example of a traditional dwelling of the scholar-gentry class and one of the most elegant buildings in Hong Kong.

  • The Peak Tramway is a funicular railway that carries tourists and residents to the upper levels of Hong Kong Island.

    The Peak Tramway is a funicular railway that carries tourists and residents to the upper levels of Hong Kong Island.

  • The Tian Tan Great Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.

    The Tian Tan Great Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.

  • Close-up of the Tian Tan Great Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

    Close-up of the Tian Tan Great Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

1 of 25

  • View of the Hong Kong skyline from Victoria Peak.
  • View of Victoria Harbor and the Hong Kong skyline from Kowloon Island.
  • A Hong Kong Star Ferry.
  • A street scene in downtown Kowloon in Hong Kong.
  • A street scene on Nathan Road in downtown Kowloon in Hong Kong. Double-decker buses are popular.
  • A Hong Kong street scene.
  • The Hong Kong Museum of Art.
  • Fruit for sale in Tai Po, Hong Kong.
  • Nuts for sale in a market in Tai Po, Hong Kong.
  • The Hong Kong skyline at night.
  • A nighttime view of Hong Kong, viewed from Victoria Peak.
  • The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong is 26 km (16 mi) from the harbor. The temple, dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military), was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.
  • The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong is 26 km (16 mi) from the harbor. The temple is dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military) and was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.
  • The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong. Dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military), the temple was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.
  • The Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong. The temple, dedicated to Man (literature) and Mo (military), was built in 1893 in the style of a central walled compound to emphasize seclusion.
  • Huge incense coils hang from the ceiling of the Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong, one of the oldest and most famous temples in the city.
  • These golden Buddhas are located in the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas in Hong Kong. Life-size statues line the steep flight of over 400 steps leading to the temple. The actual number of Buddhas is more than 13,000.
  • One of the many life-size statues lining the steep staircase leading to the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas in Hong Kong.
  • Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall in Hong Kong was built in the early 16th century to honor the Tang clan's founding ancestor.
  • Lo Wai walled village in Hong Kong was the first of five walled villages built by the Tang clan.
  • Lo Wai walled village in Hong Kong was the first of five walled villages built by the Tang clan.
  • Tai Fu Tai Mansion in Yuen Long, Hong Kong, dates to 1865 and was built by Man Chung Lien of the Man Clan. The building is regarded as a fine example of a traditional dwelling of the scholar-gentry class and one of the most elegant buildings in Hong Kong.
  • The Peak Tramway is a funicular railway that carries tourists and residents to the upper levels of Hong Kong Island.
  • The Tian Tan Great Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.
  • Close-up of the Tian Tan Great Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Factbook Data

Dependency status

special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Diplomatic representation from the US

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/

Age structure

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)
2023 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for Hong Kong. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Sex ratio

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.)

Heliports

94 (2024)

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons

Area - comparative

six times the size of Washington, DC

Background

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.

Environment - current issues

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

Population below poverty line

19.9% (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.8%

highest 10%: 38.1% (2016)

Exports - commodities

gold, integrated circuits, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment, machine parts (2022)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

China 21%, India 13%, Netherlands 6%, Switzerland 4%, US 3% (2022)

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

Administrative divisions

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

Agricultural products

pork, chicken, spinach, vegetables, game meat, pork offal, fruits, onions, lettuce, pork fat (2022)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Military and security forces

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) (2024)

note: the Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Army, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Southern Theater Command

Budget

revenues: $70.124 billion (2020 est.)

expenditures: $105.849 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - commodities

integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, machine parts, gold, jewelry (2022)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

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

Coastline

733 km

Constitution

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

amendments: 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

Exchange rates

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.)

Executive branch

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

Flag description

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

Illicit drugs

modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; groups involved in money laundering range from local street organizations to sophisticated international syndicates involved in assorted criminal activities, including drug trafficking; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

Independence

none (special administrative region of China)

Industries

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges, and 20 non-permanent judges); note - a sitting bench consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges, and 1 non-permanent judge

judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the Hong Kong Chief Executive upon 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

Land boundaries

total: 33 km

regional borders (1): China 33 km

Land use

agricultural land: 5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 3.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0.9% (2018 est.)

forest: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 95% (2018 est.)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

International organization participation

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 holiday

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

Nationality

noun: Chinese/Hong Konger

adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong

Natural resources

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Geography - note

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

Economic overview

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

Political parties

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

Suffrage

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

Telecommunication systems

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)

Terrain

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Government type

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

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of China

Country name

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"

Location

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Map references

Southeast Asia

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2012)

Diplomatic representation in the US

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/

Internet users

percent of population: 96% (2022 est.)

Internet country code

.hk

GDP (official exchange rate)

$380.812 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

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.

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years

male: 17 years

female: 17 years (2021)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Broadcast media

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)

National anthem

note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)
This is an audio of the National Anthem for Hong Kong. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

7.685 million Hong Kong (2023)

Physician density

2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

4.9 beds/1,000 population (2020)

National symbol(s)

orchid tree flower; national colors: red, white

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.8 years (2008 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

66.7% (2017)

GDP - composition, by end use

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

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 46.6

youth dependency ratio: 17.8

elderly dependency ratio: 28.7

potential support ratio: 3.5 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

see China

Population distribution

population fairly evenly distributed

Electricity access

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

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 12 (2020) (registered in China)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 275 (registered in China)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 47,101,822 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 12,676,720,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

B-H

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

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

Languages

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
Cantonese audio sample

Imports - partners

China 44%, Taiwan 11%, Singapore 8%, South Korea 5%, Japan 4% (2022)

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

Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Elevation

highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

Current health expenditure

NA

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020)

Sanitation facility access

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)

Waste and recycling

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.)

Average household expenditures

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

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

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions: 43.64 megatons (2016 est.)

Trafficking in persons

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/

Coal

consumption: 6.217 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports: 800 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports: 5.681 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 99.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 4.835 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports: 4.835 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Petroleum

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

refined petroleum consumption: 414,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.6 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

47.7% (2023 est.)

Remittances

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

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024)

large: 1

medium: 0

small: 0

very small: 0

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Hong Kong

Labor force

3.876 million (2023 est.)

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

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 10.5% (2023 est.)

male: 11.3% (2023 est.)

female: 9.6% (2023 est.)

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

Net migration rate

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

Median age

total: 47.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 45.3 years

female: 48.6 years

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$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

Public debt

0.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.24 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

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

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 7,297,821

male: 3,367,812

female: 3,930,009 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

87.498 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 14.039 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 63.975 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 9.484 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Area

total : 1,108 sq km

land: 1,073 sq km

water: 35 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

23.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

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

note: data in 2021 dollars

Roadways

total: 2,193 km

paved: 2,193 km (2021)

Airports

3 (2024)

Infant mortality rate

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 23.8 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 292 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

53.9 (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

$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

Real GDP per capita

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

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 2.97 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

167.815 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Death rate

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

Birth rate

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

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 13.388 million kW (2022 est.)

consumption: 44.677 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports: 12.573 billion kWh (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 3.834 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 2,537 (2023)

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

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Imports

$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

Exports

$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

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 3.487 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2023 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 84 years (2024 est.)

male: 81.3 years

female: 86.8 years

Real GDP growth rate

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

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

4.59% (2023 est.)

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

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

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Population growth rate

0.12% (2024 est.)
Sources: