Demographics of Hong Kong | |
---|---|
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 | Hongkongers |
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.
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]
Year | 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]
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]
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 |
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 |
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The following table shows birth rates and mortality rates in Hong Kong between 1950 and 2023. [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]
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 |
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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 |
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]
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:
Married | 3,423,995 | |
Never married | 1,920,522 | |
Divorced | 189,563 | |
Separated | 34,722 |
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.
Ethnic group | 2006 By-census | 2011 Census | 2016 By-census | 2021 Census | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Chinese | 6,522,148 | 6,620,393 | 6,752,202 | 6,793,502 | ||||
Filipino | 112,453 | 133,018 | 184,081 | 201,291 | ||||
Indonesian | 87,840 | 133,377 | 153,299 | 142,065 | ||||
White | 36,384 | 55,236 | 58,209 | 61,582 | ||||
Indian | 20,444 | 28,616 | 36,462 | 42,569 | ||||
Nepalese | 15,950 | 16,518 | 25,472 | 29,701 | ||||
Pakistani | 11,111 | 18,042 | 18,094 | 24,385 | ||||
Thai | 11,900 | 11,213 | 10,215 | 12,972 | ||||
Japanese | 13,189 | 12,580 | 9,976 | 10,291 | ||||
Other Asian | 12,663 | 12,247 | 19,589 | 10,574 | ||||
Others | 20,264 | 30,336 | 68,986 | 70,124 | ||||
Total | 6,864,346 | 7,071,576 | 7,336,585 | 7,413,070 |
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]
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]
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:
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 [12] | 1971 [12] | 1991 [40] | 1996 [41] | 2001 [42] | 2006 [43] | 2011 [43] | 2016 [43] | 2021 [39] | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Cantonese | 2,076,200 | 78.9 | 3,469,200 | 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 | 503,000 | 19.1 | 405,100 | 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 | 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 | 31,800 | 1.2 | 41,100 | 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 | 17,900 | 0.8 | 21,200 | 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 | 2,628,900 | 3,936,600 | 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.
2006 [43] | 2011 [43] | 2016 [43] | 2021 [39] | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | |
Cantonese | ||||
English | ||||
Mandarin | ||||
Hakka | ||||
Hokkien | ||||
Tagalog | ||||
Chiu Chow | ||||
Bahasa Indonesia | ||||
Japanese | ||||
Shanghainese |
Over half of all people (56.1% as of 2010) are not religious. [45] 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. [46] As such, Confucianism is excluded in some studies. [45]
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. [47] The handover of sovereignty from Britain to China has led to a resurgence of Buddhist and Chinese religions. [47]
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 |
Demographics and culture of Hong Kong |
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Demographics |
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Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. With 7.4 million residents of various nationalities in a 1,104-square-kilometre (426 sq mi) territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the world.
Demographic features of the population of Macau include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
The current population of Nepal is 29,164,578 as per the 2021 census. The population growth rate is 0.92% per year.
The People's Republic of China is the second most-populous country in the world and Asia with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, only surpassed by India. Historically, China has always been one of the nation-states with the most population.
As of 2024, the population of Singapore stands at 6.04 million. Of these 6.04 million people, 4.18 million are residents, consisting of 3.64 million citizens and 544,900 permanent residents (PRs). The remaining 1.86 million people living in Singapore are classed as non-residents.
The culture of Hong Kong is primarily a mix of Chinese and Western influences, stemming from Lingnan Cantonese roots and later fusing with British culture due to British colonialism. As an international financial center dubbed "Asia's World City", contemporary Hong Kong has also absorbed many international influences from around the world. Moreover, Hong Kong also has indigenous people and ethnic minorities from South and Southeast Asia, whose cultures all play integral parts in modern-day Hong Kong culture. As a result, after the 1997 transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong has continued to develop a unique identity under the rubric of One Country, Two Systems.
British Chinese, also known as Chinese British or Chinese Britons, are people of Chinese – particularly Han Chinese – ancestry who reside in the United Kingdom, constituting the second-largest group of Overseas Chinese in Western Europe after France.
During the British colonial era, English was the sole official language until 1978. Today, the Basic Law of Hong Kong states that English and Chinese are the two official languages of Hong Kong. All roads and government signs are bilingual, and both languages are used in academia, business and the courts, as well as in most government materials today.
Japanese people in Hong Kong consist primarily of expatriate business people and their families, along with a smaller number of single women. Their numbers are smaller when compared to the sizeable presence of American, British, and Canadian expatriates. As of 2010, 21,518 Japanese people had registered as residents of Hong Kong with the Japanese consulate there. Hong Kong also remains a popular destination for Japanese tourists on their way to Mainland China; in 2004, the Japanese consulate reported the arrival of more than one million Japanese tourists.
Thais in Hong Kong form one of the smaller populations of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, and a minor portion of the worldwide Thai diaspora.
Indonesians in Hong Kong, numbering 102,100, form the second-largest ethnic minority group in the territory, behind Filipinos. Most Indonesians coming to Hong Kong today are those who arrive under limited-term contracts for employment as foreign domestic helpers. The Hong Kong Immigration Department allows the Indonesian consulate to force Indonesian domestic helpers to use employment agencies. Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong comprise 2.4% of all overseas Indonesian workers. Among the Indonesian population is a group of Chinese Indonesians, many of them finding refuge in Hong Kong after the civil persecution of them.
Koreans in Hong Kong formed a population of 13,288 individuals as of 2011, a mid-range size compared to Korean diaspora populations in other cities in China and Southeast Asia.
Emigration from Hong Kong refers to the migration of Hong Kong residents away from Hong Kong. Reasons for migration range from livelihood hardships, such as the high cost of living and educational pressures, to economic opportunities elsewhere, such as expanded opportunities in mainland China following the Reform and Opening-Up, to various political events, such as the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong during the Second World War, the 1967 unrest, uncertainties leading up to the 1997 handover, and the 2019–2020 unrest. The largest community of Hong Kongers living outside of Hong Kong is in Mainland China, followed by the US, Canada and the UK.
Hong Kong is an official bilingual territory. Under article 9 of the Hong Kong Basic Law, and the Official Languages Ordinance, Both Chinese and English are equally official languages of the territory. However, no particular variety of "Chinese" referred to in laws is specified. While Mandarin written in simplified Chinese characters is used as the standard language in mainland China, Cantonese in traditional Chinese characters is the de facto standard in Hong Kong.
Hongkongers, Hong Kongers, Hong Kongese, Hongkongese, Hong Kong citizens and Hong Kong people are demonyms that refer to a resident of Hong Kong, although they may also refer to others who were born and/or raised in the territory.
Regional discrimination in China or regionalism is overt prejudice against people based on their places of origin, ethnicity, sub-ethnicity, language, dialect, or their current provincial zones. China's sheer size and population renders much demographic understanding tied to locality, and there is often little life movement outside of a citizen's province of birth. Historically, internal migration has been tightly controlled, and many barriers to free movement exist today. Treatment of ethnic minorities and Han Chinese regional groups can hinge on preferential assumptions based on places of upbringing, and is often most pronounced towards those born external to urban zones.
There is a moderately medium sized ethnic minority population of Nepalese people in Hong Kong, forming roughly 4% of the total ethnic minorities population. They primarily came to this territory as part of the Gurkha brigade of the British Army in 1960s. After the handover in 1997, their siblings were granted rights of abode in Hong Kong. Hence, majority of the Nepali population of Hong Kong are the children and grandchildren of Gurkha soldiers.
Hong Kong Canadians are Canadians who were born or raised in Hong Kong, hold permanent residency in Hong Kong, or trace their ancestry back to Hong Kong. In Canada, the majority of Hong Kong Canadians reside in the metropolitan areas of Toronto and Vancouver. Many Hong Kong Canadians continue to maintain their status as Hong Kong permanent residents.
Pakistanis in Hong Kong are an ethnic minority in Hong Kong. According to Home Affairs Department, there are 24,385 Pakistani people live in Hong Kong constituting 4% of the population based on the 2021 census. According to the 2016 Official Census this population was then 18,094. In the 2011 census, 17,253 people were Pakistani nationals, and the number decreased to 15,234 in the 2016 census
As of 2020, Shenzhen had a total permanent population of 17,560,000, with 5,874,000 (33.4%) of them hukou holders. As Shenzhen is a young city, senior citizens above 60 years old took up only 5.36 percent of the city's total population. Despite this, the life expectancy in Shenzhen is 81.25 in 2018, ranking among the top twenty cities in China. The male to female ratio in Shenzhen is 130 to 100, making the city having the highest sex disparity in comparison to other cities in Guangdong. Shenzhen also has a high birth rate compared to other Chinese cities with 21.7 babies for every 10,000 of its 13.44 million population in 2019. Based on the population of its total administrative area, Shenzhen is the fifth most populous city proper in China. Shenzhen is part of the Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region, the world's largest urban area according to the World Bank, and has a population of 78 million according to the 2020 Census.
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