Population of Hong Kong 1980-2023

Hong Kong’s population grew from around 5.15 million in 1980 to around 7.5 million at the end of 2023. Despite a slight decrease in population in 2020 and 2021, the population in Hong Kong has continued to increase.

Population development in Hong Kong

The population increase was not only due to natural population growth but also related to a significant inflow of immigrants from mainland China. As most immigrants were comparatively young, they also contributed to a higher birth rate. The total fertility rate in Hong Kong, however, which denotes the average number of children a woman has during her lifetime, already fell below the replacement level of around 2.1 children per woman in 1980. Today, Hong Kong has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world. Nevertheless, the population of Hong Kong is still projected to continue growing due to immigration and reach 8.2 million people in 2046.

Age structure of Hong Kong’s population

Hong Kong has a rapidly aging society. The median age of the population has more than doubled from 19.2 years in 1965 to 44.3 years in 2020, and it is expected to reach nearly 60 years in 2060. Today, around two-thirds of the population is still in their working age, but the share of people aged 65 or older is increasing. Hong Kong has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, reaching around 87 years for women in 2023.