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. 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.
Ethnically, Hong Kong mainly consists of Chinese who constitute approximately 92% of the population. 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
People from Hong Kong generally refer to themselves, in Cantonese, as Hèung Góng Yàhn (); 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.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 Sidney Cheung, Hong Kong Handover http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/journal/vol5no1/sidney2.html
Population size and structure
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.
Age groups United Nations data 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:
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% 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 2.01Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 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): Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% 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 2.91Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 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 The Hong Kong government provides the following estimates for mid-2013:HK Census. "HK Census ." Statistical Table of population. Retrieved on 16 March 2007.
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.)
Vital statistics 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.
Source: B.R. Mitchell. International historical statistics 1750–2005: Africa, Asia and Oceania
Notable events in demography of Hong Kong:
1942-1945 – Second World War 1950-1965 – Mid-20th-century baby boom 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
Average populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1,000)Crude death rate (per 1,000)Natural change (per 1,000)Crude migration rate (per 1,000)TFR1900275,0008,2503,5754,67530.013.017.01901283,00011,8867,9243,96242.028.014.0 -2.521902296,82812,3188,1334,18541.527.414.10.751903311,33112,7658,3444,42141.026.814.20.761904326,54313,2258,5554,67040.526.214.30.761905342,50413,6968,7674,92940.025.614.40.791906359,25414,3188,9225,39639.924.915.01.301907376,83415,0709,0835,98739.924.115.81.571908395,28915,9039,2556,64839.823.416.41.671909414,66716,8039,4487,35539.822.817.01.701910435,01817,7719,6628,10939.822.217.61.731911456,00016,87210,0326,84037.022.015.0 -2.781912478,17117,6879,9957,69237.021.415.61.781913501,65818,55810,1968,36236.920.816.11.341914526,50419,47510,4079,06836.920.116.81.341915552,74720,44310,6289,81536.919.517.41.351916580,43121,46110,85810,60336.918.918.01.361917609,60322,53311,09811,43536.918.418.51.361918640,31123,66111,34812,31336.917.919.01.371919672,60724,85011,60813,24236.917.419.51.381920706,54226,10311,87814,22536.916.920.01.391921625,00023,06313,1259,93837.021.016.0 -6.861922655,64524,27613,76810,50837.020.616.40.871923687,62825,46014,23911,22137.020.116.91.041924721,03526,67814,50712,17137.019.617.41.321925755,96227,93014,80313,12736.919.117.81.275.471926792,51129,15615,14914,00736.818.618.21.115.431927830,79330,56715,45515,11236.818.118.71.335.391928870,92532,06915,74116,32836.817.819.01.405.361929913,03233,61216,13417,47836.817.719.11.265.321930957,24135,29517,23018,06536.818.018.80.615.281931849,00028,01715,28212,73533.018.015.0 -6.295.241932875,46328,92915,15213,77733.017.715.31.195.201933903,08929,80214,99514,80733.017.415.61.145.161934931,95030,77114,85915,91233.017.115.91.195.121935962,12031,74914,64817,10133.016.916.11.245.091936993,68532,78014,44818,33233.016.616.41.245.0519371,026,73533,88114,27219,60933.016.416.61.245.0119381,000,00033,00016,00017,00033.016.017.0 -2.614.9719391,115,27836,80416,82919,97533.015.117.92.674.9319401,241,66640,98617,65323,33333.014.218.82.704.8919411,640,00049,20022,96026,24030.014.016.01.774.8519421,335,91535,67625,58110,09526.719.27.6 -12.094.8219431,056,30331,94023,3328,60830.222.18.1 -1.414.781944818,29921,91527,280 −5,36526.833.4 −6.6 -17.084.741945600,00015,00019,800 −4,80025.033.0 −8.00.944.701946795,07220,87122,262 −1,39126.228.0 −1.84.294.6619471,053,56528,97324,2324,74127.523.04.55.824.6219481,396,10040,13825,13015,00828.818.010.87.354.5919491,850,00055,50024,05031,45030.013.017.08.894.5519501,974,00060,60018,46542,13530.79.421.3 5.414.4719512,044,00068,50020,58047,92034.010.223.8 2.834.4419522,141,00071,97619,45952,51733.99.224.7 2.154.4119532,253,00075,54418,30057,24433.78.225.5 2.104.4219542,371,00083,31719,28364,03435.28.227.1 2.864.4619552,490,00090,51119,08071,43136.37.728.7 2.974.5419562,607,00096,74619,29577,45137.07.429.6 2.314.6419572,721,00097,83419,36578,46935.87.128.7 0.374.7519582,834,000106,62420,55486,070 37.47.230.2 2.684.8619592,951,000104,57920,25084,32935.26.828.4 -0.594.9619603,075,000110,66719,14691,52136.16.229.9 2.345.01419613,207,000108,72618,73889,98834.35.928.4 -0.485.03019623,344,000119,16620,93398,23336.16.329.7 2.474.98019633,477,000118,41320,34098,07334.65.928.7 -0.054.85719643,596,000111,43618,65792,77931.85.326.5 -1.474.66519653,692,000106,36218,16088,20229.65.024.5 -1.244.42219663,763,00096,43619,26177,17526.65.321.3 -2.934.15219673,812,00094,36820,23474,13425.35.419.9 -0.803.88719683,850,00083,64119,44464,19722.05.116.9 -2.583.64919693,889,00082,48219,25663,22621.35.016.4 -0.253.44819703,942,00079,13219,99659,13620.05.114.9 -1.043.28419714,009,00079,78920,37459,41519.75.014.7 0.073.45919724,088,00080,34421,39758,94719.55.214.3 -0.113.31519734,180,00082,25221,25161,00119.55.014.5 0.493.17719744,283,00083,58921,87961,71019.35.114.3 0.172.96719754,396,00079,79021,59158,16817.94.913.0 -0.812.66619764,519,00078,51122,62855,88317.45.112.3 -0.512.48019774,652,00080,02223,33156,69117.55.112.4 0.172.37619784,788,00080,95723,81657,14117.35.112.2 0.092.27219794,919,00081,97525,11056,86516.85.111.7 -0.062.12019805,039,00085,29024,99560,29517.04.912.1 0.702.04719815,145,00086,75124,82261,92916.84.812.0 0.321.93319825,239,00086,12025,38460,73616.44.811.5 -0.231.86019835,322,00083,29326,51256,78115.65.010.6 -0.741.72219845,394,00077,29725,51051,78714.44.79.7 -0.921.55919855,456,00076,12625,24850,87814.04.69.3 -0.171.49119865,508,00071,62025,90245,71813.04.78.3 -0.941.36719875,551,00069,95826,91643,04212.64.87.8 -0.481.31119885,592,00075,41227,65947,75313.44.98.5 0.841.40019895,641,00069,62128,74540,87612.35.17.2 -1.221.29619905,704,00067,73129,13638,59512.05.16.9 -0.401.27219915,786,00068,28128,42939,85212.04.97.1 0.221.28119925,884,00070,94930,55040,39912.35.27.1 0.091.34719935,992,00070,45130,57139,88012.05.16.9 -0.091.34219946,101,00071,64629,90541,74111.94.97.0 0.311.35519956,206,00068,63731,46837,16911.25.16.1 -0.741.29519966,304,00063,29132,17631,1159.95.14.8 -0.961.19119976,492,00059,25031,73827,5129.14.94.2 -0.561.12719986,550,00052,97732,84720,1308.15.03.1 -1.131.01619996,611,00051,28133,25518,0267.85.02.7 -0.320.98120006,675,00054,13433,75820,3768.15.13.1 0.351.03220016,721,00048,21933,37814,8417.25.02.2 -0.820.93120026,728,00048,20934,26713,9427.15.12.0 -0.130.94120036,745,00046,96536,9719,9947.05.51.5 -0.590.90120046,781,00049,79636,91812,8787.35.41.9 0.430.92220056,818,00057,09838,83018,2688.45.72.7 0.790.95920066,871,00065,62637,45728,1699.65.54.1 1.440.98420076,921,00070,87539,47631,39910.25.74.5 0.471.02820086,951,00078,82241,79637,02611.36.05.3 0.811.06420096,980,00082,09541,17540,92011.85.95.9 0.561.05520107,024,00088,58442,19446,39012.66.06.6 0.781.12720117,072,00095,45142,34653,10513.55.97.6 0.951.20420127,155,00091,55843,91747,64112.86.16.7 -0.761.28520137,187,00057,08443,39713,6877.96.01.9 -4.721.12520147,242,00062,30545,08717,2188.66.22.4 0.491.23520157,306,00059,87846,10813,7708.26.31.9 -0.471.19620167,337,00060,85646,90513,9518.36.41.9 0.021.20520177,410,00056,54846,8299,7197.76.31.4 -0.571.12520187,451,00053,71647,4006,3167.26.30.9 -0.461.08020197,507,40052,85648,9573,8997.06.50.5 -0.321.06420207,481,80043,03150,666−7,6355.86.8−1.0 -1.540.88320217,413,10036,95351,354 −14,4015.06.9−1.9 -0.910.77220227,346,10032,51262,100 −29,488 4.4 8.4−4.0 -2.050.70120237,498,10033,28856,776−23,4884.47.6−3.2 0.800.75120247,534,20036,76752,366−15,5994.96.8−1.9 1.050.84120257,527,50031,10050,000−18,900 -0.440.713
Death rates by leading causes of death