Hong Kong’s population growth has experienced significant fluctuations over the past several decades. Following rapid increases during the mid-20th century, driven by waves of immigration from mainland China and high birth rates, growth began to slow in the 1980s and 1990s as birth rates declined and emigration increased ahead of the 1997 handover. In the 21st century, population growth has been modest, with net migration and an aging population shaping demographic trends. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong’s population peaked at around 7.5 million in 2019 but saw a slight decline in subsequent years due to emigration and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these recent decreases, Hong Kong remains one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with ongoing challenges related to housing, infrastructure, and social services.
| Year | Population | Population Density Per Square KM |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,237,000 | 2,084.8 |
| 1955 | 2,490,400 | 2,321 |
| 1960 | 3,075,300 | 2,866.1 |
| 1965 | 3,597,900 | 3,353.1 |
| 1970 | 3,959,000 | 3,689.7 |
| 1975 | 4,395,800 | 4,096.7 |
| 1980 | 5,063,100 | 4,718.6 |
| 1985 | 5,456,200 | 5,085 |
| 1990 | 5,687,959 | 5,301 |
| 1995 | 6,222,544 | 5,799.2 |
| 2000 | 6,655,870 | 6,203 |
| 2005 | 6,904,226 | 6,434.5 |
| 2010 | 7,029,211 | 6,551 |
| 2015 | 7,140,437 | 6,654.6 |
| 2020 | 7,248,206 | 6,755.1 |
| 2022 | 7,276,588 | 6,781.5 |
| 2023 | 7,288,167 | 6,792.3 |
| 2024 | 7,297,821 | 6,801.3 |
| 2025 | 7,305,556 | 6,808.5 |
| 2030 | 7,315,166 | 6,817.5 |
| 2035 | 7,271,766 | 6,777 |
| 2040 | 7,178,952 | 6,690.5 |
| 2045 | 7,049,539 | 6,569.9 |
| 2050 | 6,890,901 | 6,422.1 |
| 2055 | 6,705,273 | 6,249.1 |
| 2060 | 6,500,795 | 6,058.5 |
| 2065 | 6,292,163 | 5,864.1 |
| 2070 | 6,091,454 | 5,677 |
| 2075 | 5,906,007 | 5,504.2 |
| 2080 | 5,741,289 | 5,350.7 |
| 2085 | 5,599,766 | 5,218.8 |
| 2090 | 5,482,125 | 5,109.2 |
| 2095 | 5,385,848 | 5,019.4 |
| 2100 | 5,308,526 | 4,947.4 |
Data from US Census International Database