Hong Kong

Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionHeung Kong Takpit Hangching Ku (Eitel/Dyer-Ball)

presidential limited democracyIndependence none (special administrative region of China)

Hong Kong as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 121 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

Position22 15 N, 114 10 E
Area1,108 sq km
LocationEastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
2025

Every edition of Hong Kong

Populationas each edition published it
7.31 million 2025 est. · 5.76m in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.09% 2025 est. · -0.06% in 1993
Median ageyears
47.6 years 2025 est. · 37.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
84 years 2024 est. · 79.99 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.24 children per woman 2025 est. · 1.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
2.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 2025 est. · 6 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$66,200 2024 est. · $14,600 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.5% 2024 est. · 5.9% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

17 fields

Land useshare of 1,108 sq km

permanent pasture 1% (2023 est.)forest 0% (2022 est.)other 96.2% (2022 est.)agricultural land 3.8% (2023 est.) in all · arable land 1.9% (2023 est.) in all · permanent crops 1% (2023 est.) in all · irrigated 10 sq km (2012)
Area
1,108sq km
land: 1,073 sq kmwater: 35 sq kmsix times the size of Washington, D.C.
Coastline
733km
territorial sea: 12 nm
Highest point
958m
Tai Mo Shanlowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Land boundaries
33km
regional borders (1): China 33 km

Location

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Climate

subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Terrain

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Natural resources

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Population distribution

population fairly evenly distributed

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons

Geography - note

consists of a mainland area (the New Territories) and over 200 islands

People and Society

28 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)

738,878
65 and over21.9%
860,951
2,123,216
15-6464.8%
2,609,102
505,718
0-1413.2%
459,956
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 56.7 (2025 est.) · youth dependency ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.) · elderly dependency ratio: 35.8 (2025 est.) · potential support ratio: 2.8 (2025 est.)
Population
7,305,556
(2025 est.)male: 3,367,222female: 3,938,334growth rate: 0.09% (2025 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)

Birth
7.45Death
8.16Net migration
1.64

Male · female(2023 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy84
81.3 · 86.8Infant mortality2.4
2.8 · 2.2
TotalMale · femaleMedian age47.6
45.3 · 48.6School life expectancy years17
17 · 17
MaleFemale

Ethnic groups(2021 est.)

Chinese 91.6%Filipino 2.7%Indonesian 1.9%other 3.7% (2021 est.)

Religions(2016 est.)

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.)note: many people practice Confucianism, regardless of their religion or not having a religious affiliation
Urban population
100%of total population
(2023)rate of urbanization: 0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)Major urban areas - population: 7.685 million Hong Kong (2023)
Improved drinking water
100%of population
(2022 est.)urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)rural: NAurban: 0% of population (2022 est.)rural: NAtotal: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Improved sanitation
96.5%of population
(2022 est.)urban: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)urban: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)total: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density
2.04physicians/1,000 population
(2020)

Nationality

noun:
Chinese/Hong Konger
adjective:
Chinese/Hong Kong

Languages

Cantonese (official) 85.4%, English (official) 4.5%, Putonghua (official) 2.2%, other Chinese dialects 2.8%, other 2%, persons 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. note: data represent population by usual spoken language

Median age

total:
47.6 years (2025 est.)
male:
45.3 years
female:
48.6 years

Population distribution

population fairly evenly distributed

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
65 years and over:
0.86 male(s)/female
total population:
0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.8 years (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total:
2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male:
2.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
2.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
84 years (2024 est.)
male:
81.3 years
female:
86.8 years

Total fertility rate

1.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Education expenditure

3.8% of GDP (2024 est.) · 15.7% national budget (2024 est.)

Environment

6 fields

Land use(2023 est.)

permanent pasture 1% (2023 est.)forest 0% (2022 est.)other 96.2% (2022 est.)agricultural land 3.8% (2023 est.) in all · arable land 1.9% (2023 est.) in all · permanent crops 1% (2023 est.) in all

Environmental issues

  • air and water pollution from rapid urbanization;
  • urban waste pollution;
  • industrial pollution

Climate

subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Urbanization

urban population:
100% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization:
0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

58.433 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.)
from consumed natural gas:
10.045 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually:
5.68 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
34% (2016 est.)

Government

Presidential limited democracy; President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013); Chief Executive John LEE Ka-chiu (since 1 July 2022)

20 fields

Country name

conventional long form:
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
conventional short form:
Hong Kong
local long form:
Heung Kong Takpit Hangching Ku (Eitel/Dyer-Ball)
local short form:
Heung Kong (Eitel/Dyer-Ball)
abbreviation:
HK
etymology:
probably an imprecise phonetic rendering of the Cantonese name meaning "fragrant harbor"

Government type

presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Dependency status

special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Constitution

history:
  • several previous (governance documents while under British authority);
  • latest drafted April 1988 to February 1989, approved March 1990, effective 1 July 1997 (Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as the constitution)
amendment process:
  • proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, or the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong;
  • submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, approval by two thirds of Hong Kong’s deputies to the NPC, and approval by the Hong Kong chief executive;
  • final passage requires approval by the NPC

note: since 1990, China's National People's Congress has interpreted specific articles of the Basic Law

Citizenship

see China

Suffrage

  • 18 years of age in direct elections for 20 of the 90 Legislative Council seats and all of the seats in 18 district councils;
  • universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past 7 years

note: in indirect elections, suffrage is limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies for the other 70 legislature seats and a 1,500-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad sectoral groupings,

central government bodies, municipal organizations, and elected Hong Kong officials

Executive branch

chief of state:
President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
head of government:
Chief Executive John LEE Ka-chiu (since 1 July 2022)
cabinet:
Executive Council or ExCo appointed by the chief executive
election/appointment process:
  • president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
  • chief executive indirectly elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the PRC Government for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
most recent election date:
president: 10 March 2023
chief executive:
8 May 2022
election results:
2022: John LEE was the only candidate and won with over 99% of the vote by the Election Committee; 2017 : Carrie LAM elected; Election Committee vote - Carrie LAM (non-partisan) 777, John TSANG (non-partisan) 365, WOO Kwok-hing (non-partisan) 21, 23 ballots rejected (1,186 votes cast)
expected date of next election:
president: March 2028
chief executive:
2027

note: electoral changes that Beijing imposed in March 2021 expanded the Election Committee to 1,500 members

Legislative branch

legislature name:
Legislative Council or LegCo
legislative structure:
unicameral
number of seats:
90
electoral system:
20 members directly elected; 70 members indirectly elected
scope of elections:
full
most recent election date:
7 December 2025
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
expected date of next election:
December 2029

note: all political candidates are evaluated by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (CERC), which was established in April 2022; CERC members are all appointed by the chief executive

Judicial branch

highest court(s):
Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges, and 20 non-permanent judges)
judge selection and term of office:
  • all judges appointed by the Hong Kong Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, an independent body consisting of the Secretary for Justice, other judges, and judicial and legal professionals;
  • permanent judges serve until normal retirement at age 65, but term can be extended;
  • non-permanent judges appointed for renewable 3-year terms without age limit
subordinate courts:
  • High Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance);
  • District Courts (includes Family and Land Courts);
  • magistrates' courts;
  • specialized tribunals

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

note 1: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

note 2: by the end of 2021, the leading pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong had been effectively removed from the political arena under the provisions of Beijing's 2021 electoral changes or via charges under the 2020 national security law;

in addition, dozens of pro-democracy organizations, including political parties, unions, churches, civil rights groups, and media organizations have disbanded or closed; as of 2023, nearly all politically active groups were pro-Beijing

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
none (Special Administrative Region of China)
HKETO offices:
New York, San Francisco, Washington DC

note : Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China and does not have a diplomatic presence; the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) carries out normal liaison activities and communication with the US government and other US entities;

the position of the Hong Kong Commissioner to the US Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is vacant; address: 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone: [1] (202) 331-8947; FAX: [1] (202) 331-8958; email: [email protected]; website: https://www.hketowashington.gov.hk/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Consul General Julie EADEH (since August 2025); note - also accredited to Macau
embassy:
26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
mailing address:
8000 Hong Kong Place, Washington DC 20521-8000
telephone:
[852] 2523-9011
FAX:
[852] 2845-1598
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

Independence

none (special administrative region of China)

National holiday

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949) note: 1 July (1997) is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Flag

description:
  • red with a stylized white Bauhinia flower with five petals in the center of the flag;
  • each petal has a tiny five-pointed red star with a fine red line curving toward the center of the flower
meaning:
  • the red color is the same as the Chinese flag and represents the motherland, and the five stars also echo the Chinese flag;
  • the Bauhinia flower was developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century and has come to symbolize the region

National symbol(s)

bauhinia flower

National anthem(s)

title:
"Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)
lyrics/music:
TIAN Han/NIE Er
history:
official anthem, as a Special Administrative Region of China

Economy

27 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$497.88billion
(2024 est.) · $485.541 billion (2023 est.) · $470.42 billion (2022 est.)note: data in 2021 dollarsofficial exchange rate: $407.107 billion (2024 est.)note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP per capita, PPP
$66,200
(2024 est.) · $64,400 (2023 est.) · $64,000 (2022 est.)note: data in 2021 dollars
Real growth rate
2.5%
(2024 est.) · 3.2% (2023 est.) · -3.7% (2022 est.)note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currencyindustrial production growth: 3.4% (2024 est.)note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Inflation, consumer prices
1.7%
(2024 est.) · 2.1% (2023 est.) · 1.9% (2022 est.)note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2023 est.)

agriculture 0% (2023 est.)industry 6.3% (2023 est.)services 91.4% (2023 est.)note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

22%
China
40%
12%
Vietnam
Taiwan
10%
8%
S. Korea
4%
Singapore
7%
5%
Netherlands
Japan
5%
4%
Switzerland
Exports $739.915 billion (2024 est.)Imports $723.397 billion (2024 est.)(2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports · (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

By end use% of GDP · (2024 est.)

Household consumption
67.4%Government consumption
12.8%Fixed capital
16.2%Inventories
-0.5%Exports
181.7%Imports
-177.7%
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Budget(2020 est.)

Revenues
$70.124 billionExpenditures
$105.849 billion

Economic overview

  • high-income tourism- and services-based economy;
  • global financial hub;
  • COVID-19 and political protests fueled recent recession;
  • ongoing recovery but lower-skilled unemployment remains high;
  • investing in job-reskilling programs

Agricultural products

pork, chicken, spinach, vegetables, pork offal, game meat, beef, fruits, onions, pork fat (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

trading and logistics, financial services, professional services, tourism, cultural and creative, clothing and textiles, shipping, electronics, toys, clocks and watches

Labor force

3.836 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

2.8% (2024 est.) · 3% (2023 est.) · 4.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total:
8.4% (2024 est.)
male:
10.5% (2024 est.)
female:
6.3% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Average household expenditures

on food:
11.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco:
0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.1% of GDP (2024 est.) · 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) · 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Public debt

0.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance

$52.475 billion (2024 est.) · $32.338 billion (2023 est.) · $36.525 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

$739.915 billion (2024 est.) · $673.738 billion (2023 est.) · $697.583 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

gold, integrated circuits, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment, jewelry (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$723.397 billion (2024 est.) · $671.492 billion (2023 est.) · $682.881 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, gold, machine parts, jewelry (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$425.554 billion (2023 est.) · $424.03 billion (2022 est.) · $496.867 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Exchange rates

Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar - 7.804 (2024 est.) · 7.83 (2023 est.) · 7.831 (2022 est.) · 7.773 (2021 est.) · 7.757 (2020 est.)

Energy

7 fields

Electrification% of population · (2022 est.)

100%Total

Installed generating capacity, 13.3 million kW(2023 est.)

fossil fuels 99.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)solar 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)biomass and waste 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity consumption
45.54 billion (2023 est.)Electricity imports
11.593 billion (2023 est.)Electricity transmission/distribution losses
3.684 billion (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption:
5.567 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports:
16,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports:
5.884 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production:
96 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption:
233,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption:
5.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports:
5.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

116.811 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

6 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(2023–24 est.)

365Mobile cellular
96%Internet users, % of population
47Fixed lines
40Fixed broadband
Mobile cellular
27.1 million
(2024 est.)
Fixed lines
3.487 million
(2023 est.)
Fixed broadband
2.97 million
(2023 est.) · country code .hk

Broadcast media

  • 34 commercial terrestrial TV networks, each with multiple stations;
  • multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available;
  • 3 licensed broadcasters, one of which is government-funded, operate about 12 radio stations (2019)

Transportation

5 fields

Merchant marine, 2,537 ships by type(2023)

bulk carrier 1,047container ship 560general cargo 144oil tanker 394other 392

Airports

2 (2025)

Heliports

142 (2025)

Ports

total ports:
1 (2024)
large:
1
medium:
0
small:
0
very small:
0
ports with oil terminals:
1
key ports:
Hong Kong

Military and Security

1 field

Military and security forces

Hong Kong Police Force (specialized units include the Police Counterterrorism Response Unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, the Special Duties Unit, the Airport Security Unit, and the VIP Protection Unit)

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison is responsible for defense duties; the garrison includes elements of the PLA Army, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force and are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Southern Theater Command (2025)

Transnational Issues

3 fields

Trafficking in persons

tier rating:
  • Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Hong Kong remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year;
  • for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/hong-kong/

Illicit drugs

USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Hong Kong.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/hong-kong.

How to cite ← 2024 edition