Hong Kong
Hong Kong claims the 3rd spot worldwide for life expectancy. That 85.2 years figure is hard to beat. How well do you really know Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is a country in Asia with a population of 7.31M and an area of 1,104 km². Life expectancy is 85.2 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Life Expectancy
85.5 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Life Expectancy
85.2 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Population Density
7.2KHow many people live in each square kilometer of land.
University Enrollment Rate
120.1%Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Human Development Index
0.95The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
GDP Per Capita
$66.2KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
👥Population Density
7.2KHow many people live in each square kilometer of land.
📡Mobile Subscriptions (%)
365The number of mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people.
❤️Life Expectancy
85.2 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
💰High-Tech Exports (%)
75.6%High-tech products (like computers, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace) as a percentage of total manufactured exports.
🚀University Enrollment Rate
120.1%Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Only ranks #215 in youth population (%)
Youth Population (%): 10.5%
The percentage of the population aged 0 to 14.
World Bank 2023Ranks #3 globally in mobile subscriptions (%)
Mobile Subscriptions (%): 365
The number of mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people.
World Bank 2023Ranks #3 globally in life expectancy
Life Expectancy: 85.2 years
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Ranks #3 globally in life expectancy
Life Expectancy: 85.5 years
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Our World in Data 2023Ranks #3 globally in high-tech exports (%)
High-Tech Exports (%): 75.6%
High-tech products (like computers, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace) as a percentage of total manufactured exports.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Hong Kong Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Hong Kong
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.
- Location
- Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
- 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
- Natural Hazards
- occasional typhoons
- Size Comparison
- six times the size of Washington, D.C.
- 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.)
- 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.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Chinese 91.6%, Filipino 2.7%, Indonesian 1.9%, other 3.7% (2021 est.)
- Major Cities
- 7.685 million Hong Kong (2023)
- Government Type
- presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
- Official Name
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- Name Origin
- probably an imprecise phonetic rendering of the Cantonese name meaning "fragrant harbor"
- Independence
- none (special administrative region of China)
- National Symbols
- bauhinia flower
- National Anthem
- "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)
- 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
- Industries
- trading and logistics, financial services, professional services, tourism, cultural and creative, clothing and textiles, shipping, electronics, toys, clocks and watches
- Agricultural Products
- pork, chicken, spinach, vegetables, pork offal, game meat, beef, fruits, onions, pork fat (2023)
- Export Partners
- China 22%, Vietnam 12%, S. Korea 8%, Netherlands 5%, Switzerland 4% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- gold, integrated circuits, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment, jewelry (2023)
- Import Partners
- China 40%, Taiwan 10%, Singapore 7%, Japan 5%, S. Korea 4% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, gold, machine parts, jewelry (2023)
- Military 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)
- Energy Mix
- 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.)
- 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)
Deep Dive
51 of 64 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
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BruneiShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Hong Kong!
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a population of 7.31M, ranking #106 globally by population.
Hong Kong is located in Asia. It has an area of 1,104 km².
Life expectancy in Hong Kong is 85.2 years, ranking #3 globally.
Hong Kong's GDP per capita (PPP) is 75.2K, ranking #20 globally.
Hong Kong ranks particularly high in Life Expectancy (#3), Life Expectancy (#3), Population Density (#4).
Hong Kong has an HDI of 0.955, ranking #8 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Hong Kong has a population density of 7177.2 people per km², ranking #4 globally.
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