Hong Kong SAR (China) - Population





Hong Kong SAR (China): Population

Mnemonic POP.IHKG
Unit Ths. #, NSA
Adjustments Not Seasonally Adjusted
Annual 0.44 %
Data 2023:2 7,503
2023:1 7,536

Series Information

Source Census and Statistics Department Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG)
Release Population by age; net migration
Frequency Semiannual
Start Date 6/30/1961
End Date 12/31/2023

Hong Kong SAR (China): Demographics

Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Net Migration 2023:2 51.7 212 Ths. #, NSA Annual
Population 2023:2 7,503 7,536 Ths. #, NSA Annual
Birth Rate 2022 4.4 5 # per Ths. pop., NSA Annual
Births 2022 32.5 37 Ths. #, NSA Annual
Death Rate 2022 8.4 6.9 # per Ths. pop., NSA Annual
Deaths 2022 62.1 51.4 #, NSA Annual

Release Information

For Hong Kong SAR (China), estimated population by sex (all ages) and by five-year age bracket (both sexes), and net migration.

  • Age brackets: 0 to 4, 5 to 9, ..., 80 to 84, 85 and older
  • Measurement: Thousands of persons (Ths. #)
  • Adjustment: Not seasonally adjusted (NSA)
  • Native frequency: Semiannual
  • Start date: 1961s1 or 1961s2

Concepts and classifications: The population estimate compiled under the “resident population” approach is referred to as the “Hong Kong Resident Population”. 

The “Hong Kong Resident Population” comprises:

  • Usual Residents - refer to two categories of people:
    • (1) Hong Kong Permanent Residents who have stayed in Hong Kong for at least three months during the six months before or for at least three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point;
    • (2) Hong Kong Non-permanent Residents who are in Hong Kong at the reference time-point.
  • Mobile Residents - they are Hong Kong Permanent Residents who have stayed in Hong Kong for at least one month but less than three months during the six months before or for at least one month but less than three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point. 

Visitors are not included in the Hong Kong Population.

Population estimates: Population estimates are compiled based on the latest population census/by-census results and updated with monthly figures on births, deaths and net movement (inflow less outflow). 

Net movement refers to:

  • (i) Net flow of Hong Kong Permanent Residents and Hong Kong Non-permanent Residents into the Hong Kong Resident Population; and
  • (ii) Net change of persons from visitor status to Hong Kong Permanent/Non-permanent Resident status.

The figures from 1961 to 1995 are compiled based on the "extended de facto" method (a snapshot of all persons in the territory at the time-point) and those from 1996 onwards are compiled based on the "resident population" method (defined as "usual residents" and "mobile residents").

After a new benchmark is obtained form the next population census/by-census, the half-yearly estimates for the intercensal period will be revised to bring the intercensal estimates in line with the population census/by-census figures.

Revision of the provisional figures is due to the availability of information on the amount of time of stay in Hong Kong of residents during the six months after the reference time-point. The discrepancy between the provisional figures and revised figures is generally small.