Hong Kong SAR, China — Population growth
Population Growth (Annual %) for Hong Kong SAR, China, 1961–2025.
Population growth for Hong Kong SAR, China was -0.34% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 65 years, from 1961 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 5.47% in 1979. The lowest was -0.91% in 2021 (about 2.7× the latest value).
Hong Kong SAR, China ranks 192 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 88%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 0.64%, so Hong Kong SAR, China sits below it. It peaked in 1979 and has fallen 106% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 139%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 31 of 37 economies; Tonga (-0.42%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 495% in 2004. That is 201% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1961 level: doubled by 1979.
World ranking. Slipped: 105th of 216 in 1961 → 90th of 216 in 1970 → 69th of 216 in 1980 → 180th of 216 in 1990 → 143rd of 217 in 2000 → 135th of 217 in 2010 → 188th of 217 in 2020 → 192nd of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1961 to 2025
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -0.34% | -0.2 pp |
| 2024 | -0.16% | -2.7 pp |
| 2023 | 2.55% | +3.5 pp |
| 2022 | -0.91% | +0.0 pp |
| 2021 | -0.91% | -0.6 pp |
| 2020 | -0.36% | -1.1 pp |
| 2019 | 0.74% | -0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +0.0 pp |
| 2017 | 0.77% | +0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 0.62% | -0.2 pp |
| 2015 | 0.85% | +0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 0.7% | +0.3 pp |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -0.7 pp |
| 2012 | 1.1% | +0.4 pp |
| 2011 | 0.67% | -0.1 pp |
| 2010 | 0.73% | +0.5 pp |
| 2009 | 0.22% | -0.4 pp |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -0.3 pp |
| 2007 | 0.86% | +0.2 pp |
| 2006 | 0.64% | +0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 0.44% | -0.3 pp |
| 2004 | 0.78% | +1.0 pp |
| 2003 | -0.2% | -0.6 pp |
| 2002 | 0.44% | -0.3 pp |
| 2001 | 0.74% | -0.1 pp |
| 2000 | 0.88% | -0.1 pp |
| 1999 | 0.96% | +0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 0.83% | +0.0 pp |
| 1997 | 0.83% | -3.6 pp |
| 1996 | 4.44% | +2.5 pp |
| 1995 | 1.98% | -0.3 pp |
| 1994 | 2.25% | +0.5 pp |
| 1993 | 1.72% | +0.9 pp |
| 1992 | 0.84% | +0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 0.83% | +0.5 pp |
| 1990 | 0.32% | -0.7 pp |
| 1989 | 1.04% | +0.2 pp |
| 1988 | 0.84% | -0.2 pp |
| 1987 | 1.01% | -0.2 pp |
| 1986 | 1.25% | +0.2 pp |
| 1985 | 1.07% | +0.1 pp |
| 1984 | 0.98% | -0.5 pp |
| 1983 | 1.52% | -0.0 pp |
| 1982 | 1.55% | -0.8 pp |
| 1981 | 2.35% | -0.3 pp |
| 1980 | 2.67% | -2.8 pp |
| 1979 | 5.47% | +3.7 pp |
| 1978 | 1.81% | +0.4 pp |
| 1977 | 1.44% | +0.2 pp |
| 1976 | 1.26% | -0.6 pp |
| 1975 | 1.9% | -1.3 pp |
| 1974 | 3.16% | +0.3 pp |
| 1973 | 2.82% | +0.9 pp |
| 1972 | 1.92% | -0.2 pp |
| 1971 | 2.16% | -0.3 pp |
| 1970 | 2.43% | +0.8 pp |
| 1969 | 1.6% | -0.5 pp |
| 1968 | 2.12% | -0.4 pp |
| 1967 | 2.53% | +1.6 pp |
| 1966 | 0.89% | -1.7 pp |
| 1965 | 2.63% | +0.2 pp |
| 1964 | 2.42% | -1.0 pp |
| 1963 | 3.44% | -0.8 pp |
| 1962 | 4.24% | +1.9 pp |
| 1961 | 2.34% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Hong Kong SAR, China’s Population growth in 1962?
4.24% (1962). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in annual %, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Hong Kong SAR, China’s Population growth growing or shrinking?
Between 1961 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -114.3% in total.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.POP.GROW. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: -0.34%; 2024: -0.16%; 2023: 2.55%; 2022: -0.91%; 2021: -0.91%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.POP.GROW — Population Growth (Annual %). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.