Population7,305,556
Area1,108 km²
GDP per capita$66,200
LanguagesCantonese, English, Putonghua, other Chinese dialects, other, individuals under 5 or mute
CurrencyHong Kong dollars
Life Expectancy84.0 yr
Governmentlimited presidential democracy; recognized as a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
Introduction
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.
Geography
Area
land
1,073 sq km
water
35 sq km
total
1,108 sq km
Climate
characterized by a subtropical monsoon climate; winters are cool and humid, while the period from spring to summer is hot and marked by rainfall, and falls are warm and sunny
Terrain
features a terrain that ranges from hilly to mountainous with steep inclines; the northern region comprises lowlands
Land use
other
96.2% (2022 est.)
forest
0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land
3.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.)
Location
located in Eastern Asia, adjacent to the South China Sea and China
Coastline
733 km
Elevation
lowest point
South China Sea 0 m
highest point
Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Irrigated land
10 sq km (2012)
Map references
Southeast Asia
Land boundaries
total
33 km
regional borders
China 33 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
Natural hazards
prone to occasional typhoons
Geography - note
comprises a mainland region known as the New Territories along with more than 200 islands
Natural resources
boasts an exceptional deepwater harbor and resources such as feldspar
Area - comparative
has an area that is six times greater than that of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
22 15 N, 114 10 E
Population distribution
population is relatively evenly spread across the region
People & Society
Languages
Languages
Cantonese (official) 85.4%, English (official) 4.5%, Putonghua (official) 2.2%, other Chinese dialects 2.8%, other 2%, individuals 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.
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.)
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
total population
0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.86 male(s)/female
Birth rate
7.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
45.3 years
total
47.6 years (2025 est.)
female
48.6 years
Population
male
3,367,222
total
7,305,556 (2025 est.)
female
3,938,334
Nationality
noun
Chinese/Hong Konger
adjective
Chinese/Hong Kong
Urbanization
urban population
100% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
Ethnic groups
Chinese 91.6%, Filipino 2.7%, Indonesian 1.9%, other 3.7% (2021 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
56.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
20.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
2.8 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
35.8 (2025 est.)
Physician density
2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Net migration rate
1.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
4.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: NA
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: NA
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
15.7% national budget (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
2.8 deaths/1,000 live births
total
2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
2.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.09% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.6 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
population is relatively evenly distributed
Life expectancy at birth
male
81.3 years
female
86.8 years
total population
84 years (2024 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
total: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)
Major urban areas - population
7.685 million Hong Kong (2023)
Mother's mean age at first birth
29.8 years (2008 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
49.8% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
17 years (2023 est.)
total
17 years (2023 est.)
female
17 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
subtropical monsoon climate; characterized by cool and humid winters, hot and rainy conditions from spring through summer, and warm, sunny weather in the autumn
Land use
other
96.2% (2022 est.)
forest
0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land
3.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
100% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
5.68 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
34% (2016 est.)
Environmental issues
pollution of air and water resulting from swift urban development; contamination from urban waste; pollution from industrial activities
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
58.433 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
10.045 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
12.935 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
35.453 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Government
Flag
description: the flag is red featuring a stylized white Bauhinia flower with five petals at its center; each petal includes a small five-pointed red star, accompanied by a delicate red line that curves toward the flower's center
meaning: the red hue mirrors that of the Chinese flag, symbolizing the motherland, while the five stars reflect the Chinese flag as well; the Bauhinia flower was cultivated in Hong Kong during the late 19th century and has become emblematic of the region
Suffrage
Individuals must be at least 18 years old to participate in direct elections for 20 out of the 90 Legislative Council seats and all positions in 18 district councils; this right is universal for permanent residents who have resided in Hong Kong for the preceding 7 years
Citizenship
see China
Constitution
history
multiple prior governance documents from the British era; the most recent was drafted from April 1988 to February 1989, approved in March 1990, and came into effect on 1 July 1997 (the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as its constitution)
amendment process
initiated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the State Council of the People's Republic of China, or the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; proposals submitted to the NPC must receive a two-thirds majority vote from the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, approval from two-thirds of Hong Kong's delegates to the NPC, and endorsement by the chief executive of Hong Kong; final approval is required from the NPC
Country name
etymology
probably an imprecise phonetic rendering of the Cantonese name meaning "fragrant harbor"
abbreviation
HK
local long form
Heung Kong Takpit Hangching Ku (Eitel/Dyer-Ball)
local short form
Heung Kong (Eitel/Dyer-Ball)
conventional long form
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
conventional short form
Hong Kong
Independence
none (special administrative region of China)
Legal system
a hybrid legal system that combines common law influenced by the English system and Chinese customary law (pertaining to family and land tenure); the National Security Law imposed by China incorporates elements of Chinese civil law
Government type
limited presidential democracy; recognized as a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Final Appeal (composed of the chief justice, three permanent judges, and twenty non-permanent judges)
subordinate courts
High Court (which includes the Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance); District Courts (which encompass Family and Land Courts); magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals
judge selection and term of office
all judges are appointed by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong based on recommendations from the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, an independent entity comprising the Secretary for Justice, other judges, and legal professionals; permanent judges serve until the standard retirement age of 65, although their term can be extended; non-permanent judges are appointed for renewable terms of three years without an age limit
Executive branch
cabinet
Executive Council or ExCo appointed by the chief executive
chief of state
President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
election results
2022: John LEE was the sole candidate and secured over 99% of the vote from the Election Committee
2017: Carrie LAM was elected; Election Committee voting results - Carrie LAM (non-partisan) received 777 votes, John TSANG (non-partisan) secured 365 votes, WOO Kwok-hing (non-partisan) obtained 21 votes, and 23 ballots were rejected (totaling 1,186 votes cast)
head of government
Chief Executive John LEE Ka-chiu (since 1 July 2022)
most recent election date
president: 10 March 2023
chief executive: 8 May 2022
election/appointment process
the president is indirectly elected by the National People's Congress for a term of five years (eligible for one additional term); the chief executive is indirectly elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the PRC Government for a five-year term (also eligible for a second term)
expected date of next election
president: March 2028
chief executive: 2027
National holiday
National Day (celebrating the Founding of the People's Republic of China) is observed on 1 October (1949)
Dependency status
a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
National color(s)
red, white
Political parties
Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong or BPA
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 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
Legislative branch
number of seats
90
electoral system
20 members directly elected; 70 members indirectly elected
legislature name
Legislative Council or LegCo
scope of elections
full
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
7 December 2025
expected date of next election
December 2029
parties elected and seats per party
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) 20, Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Unions (HKFTU) 8, Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) 7, Liberal (LP) 4, New People's Party (NPP) 3, Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW) 2, Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions (HKFLU) 2, Professional Power (PP) 1, Roundtable (RT) 1, New Territories Association of Societies (NTAS) 1, Kowloon West New Dynamic (KWND) 1, Independents 40
National anthem(s)
title
"Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)
history
the official anthem, reflecting its status as a Special Administrative Region of China
lyrics/music
TIAN Han/NIE Er
National symbol(s)
bauhinia flower
Diplomatic representation in the US
HKETO offices
New York, San Francisco, Washington DC
chief of mission
none (Special Administrative Region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[852] 2845-1598
embassy
26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
telephone
[852] 2523-9011
mailing address
8000 Hong Kong Place, Washington DC 20521-8000
chief of mission
Consul General Julie EADEH (since August 2025); note - also accredited to Macau
email address and website
[email protected]
https://hk.usconsulate.gov/
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
Economy
Budget
revenues
$70.124 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures
$105.849 billion (2020 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$697.583 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$673.738 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$739.915 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$682.881 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$671.492 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$723.397 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
logistics and trading, financial services, professional services, tourism, cultural and creative industries, textiles and clothing, shipping, electronics, toys, clocks and watches
Labor force
3.836 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
0.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
7.757 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
7.773 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
7.831 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
7.83 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
7.804 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
economy predominantly focused on high-income tourism and services; recognized as a global financial center; recent recession caused by COVID-19 and political unrest; ongoing recovery efforts, though unemployment among lower-skilled workers remains elevated; emphasis on investment in job-reskilling initiatives
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
4.4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
2.8% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 22%, Vietnam 12%, South Korea 8%, Netherlands 5%, Switzerland 4% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 40%, Taiwan 10%, Singapore 7%, Japan 5%, South Korea 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$64,000 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$64,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$66,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
-3.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
pork, chicken, spinach, vegetables, pork offal, game meat, beef, fruits, onions, pork fat (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, integrated circuits, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment, jewelry (2023)
Imports - commodities
integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, gold, machine parts, jewelry (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$36.525 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$32.338 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$52.475 billion (2024 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$407.107 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
67.4% (2024 est.)
government consumption
12.8% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
-0.5% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
16.2% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
181.7% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-177.7% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
11.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
1.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.7% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
3.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$470.42 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$485.541 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$497.88 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
10.5% (2024 est.)
total
8.4% (2024 est.)
female
6.3% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$496.867 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$424.03 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$425.554 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
6.3% (2023 est.)
services
91.4% (2023 est.)
agriculture
0% (2023 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
16,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
5.884 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
5.567 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
96 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
233,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
imports
11.593 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
45.54 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
13.3 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
3.684 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
imports
5.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
5.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
116.811 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
99.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
96% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
There are 34 commercial terrestrial television networks, each comprising several stations; various multi-channel satellite and cable television systems are accessible; as of 2019, there are 3 licensed broadcasting entities, including one that is government-supported, which manage approximately 12 radio stations.
Internet country code
.hk
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
3.487 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
47 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
27.1 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
365 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
2.97 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
40 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
1
small
0
medium
0
key ports
Hong Kong
very small
0
total ports
1 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
1
Airports
2 (2025)
Heliports
142 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
2,537 (2023)
by type
bulk carrier 1,047, container vessel 560, general freight 144, petroleum tanker 394, miscellaneous 392
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
B-H
Military & Security
Military and security forces
The Hong Kong Police Force comprises several specialized units such as the Police Counterterrorism Response Unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, the Special Duties Unit, the Airport Security Unit, and the VIP Protection Unit.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison is tasked with defense responsibilities; this garrison consists of components from the PLA Army, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force, all of which operate under the direct authority of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and are administratively overseen by the nearby Southern Theater Command (2025).
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
USG identification
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Trafficking in persons
tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — the authorities did not show significant progress in their efforts to eradicate trafficking when compared to the preceding reporting period, resulting in Hong Kong maintaining its position on the Tier 2 Watch List for a second successive year; for further information, visit: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/hong-kong/
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
260 (2024 est.)
