Did you know expats account for 4.6% of the total population in Hong Kong and Indonesia accounts for 26.3% of expats in Hong Kong? Check out our new infographic Hong Kong Expats in Numbers for the latest expat statistics and trends. The e-commerce market in Hong Kong is projected to reach USD 6.55 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 9.40%. Hong Kong ranks high in the business-to-consumer e-commerce sector in the Asia-Pacific region.
Expats in Hong Kong Infographics
Infographic by GO-Globe Web Design Hong Kong
Hong Kong Expats Population & Distribution:
Estimated Hong Kong Population – 7.188 million
%age of Expats by Nationality
Nationality |
%age |
|
|
Indonesia |
26.3% |
Philippines |
18.3% |
China |
14.0% |
France |
4.3% |
South Korea |
3.2% |
India |
2.7% |
UK |
2.7% |
Canada |
2.1% |
Japan |
1.9% |
Pakistan |
1.8% |
Others |
22.7% |
%age of ex-pats by their working roles
Roles |
%age |
|
|
Individual Workers |
75% |
Corporate Transferees |
3% |
Students |
5% |
Retirees |
5% |
Miscellaneous |
11% |
%age of Expats by Age and Occupation
By Gender
Gender |
%age |
|
|
Male |
53% |
Female |
47% |
By Age
Age |
%age |
|
|
18-34 |
38% |
35-54 |
52% |
55+ |
10% |
By Occupation
Occupation |
%age |
|
|
Banking, Insurance, Financial Services |
45% |
Education |
12% |
Marketing, Media, Creative |
8% |
Others |
35% |
|
|
Key Statistics:
- Approximately 690,000 expatriates reside in Hong Kong, representing about 10% of the total population.
- Expats come from various countries, including the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, India, and many European nations.
- Known for its bustling business district, vibrant nightlife, and upscale dining and shopping options.
- Preferred by many expats for its proximity to the Central business district and numerous international schools.
- Popular among families due to spacious housing options and easy access to international schools.
- Offers a suburban lifestyle with plenty of outdoor activities and a strong expat community, ideal for families.
- As a global financial hub, Hong Kong attracts finance professionals from around the world.
- Many international law firms have a presence in Hong Kong, providing opportunities for legal professionals.
- The tech industry is expanding, with numerous startups and established tech companies offering employment opportunities.
- There is a high demand for teachers, particularly in international schools.
- English is widely spoken, especially in business and government settings, easing the integration for expats.
- Expats can engage in various cultural festivals and events such as Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.
- Numerous expat clubs and organizations facilitate networking and socializing among the expatriate community.
- Be prepared for high living costs, especially for housing. Consider sharing accommodation or living further from the city center to save on rent.
- Hong Kong has a high-quality healthcare system. Expats should consider private health insurance for faster access to services.
- The public transport system is efficient and affordable. Using the MTR, buses, and trams can help you navigate the city easily.
- Learning about local customs and etiquette ensures respectful interactions with locals.
Impact of Hong Kong Expats on the World
Let's explore the impact of ex-pats in Hong Kong on eCommerce and various other sectors worldwide.
- In 2013, over 301,000 expatriates were residing in Hong Kong which is about 0.6% of the world's population of expatriates.
- Hong Kong has one of the world's highest percentages of expatriates, at 4.2% of the total population of the region.
- Hong Kong is actually pretty low in number compared to the rest of the globe's expat hubs. The U.S. stands at a staggering 4.79 million, Saudi Arabia, at 8.9 million, and the UAE, at 5.4 million.
- In comparison, Hong Kong has one of the smallest areas in the world, ranking 66th smallest with just 7.1 million in population.
- Although Hong Kong is one of the world's tiniest territories, its proportion of expatriates is among the highest in the world, outranked in Europe only by Switzerland, which has 8% expats in its population.
- Despite its size, Hong Kong's expat proportion is among the highest on the planet only surpassed by Switzerland's 8% expat population in Europe.
- Middle Eastern countries such as Bahrain (50%) Kuwait (35.8%) Oman (32%) and Qatar (71%) have higher percentages of expatriates, but these numbers are influenced by their populations.
- Hong Kong comes in seventh place globally for the proportion of its population being expats.
Here's a breakdown of the expat population by category:
Expat Category |
Percentage |
Individual Workers |
75% |
Students |
5% |
Retirees |
5% |
Corporate Transfers |
3% |
Miscellaneous |
11% |
Hong Kong Immigration Statistics
Since Hong Kong has become the home for expats, now let’s take a view on the immigration history of Hong Kong as well.
Year |
Migrant Population |
% of Total Population |
2022 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2021 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2020 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2019 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2018 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2017 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2016 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2015 |
2,838,665.00 |
38.95 |
2014 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2013 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2012 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2011 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2010 |
2,779,950.00 |
39.75 |
2009 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2008 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2007 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2006 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2005 |
2,721,235.00 |
39.77 |
2004 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2003 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2002 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2001 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2000 |
2,669,122.00 |
39.35 |
1999 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1998 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1997 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1996 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1995 |
2,443,798.00 |
39.77 |
1994 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1993 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1992 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1991 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1990 |
2,218,473.00 |
38.29 |
1989 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1988 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1987 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1986 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1985 |
2,184,333.00 |
0.00 |
1984 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1983 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1982 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1981 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1980 |
2,100,549.00 |
0.00 |
1979 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1978 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1977 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1976 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1975 |
1,884,492.00 |
0.00 |
1974 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1973 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1972 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1971 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1970 |
1,715,474.00 |
0.00 |