MigrantoImmigrants in Hong Kong
3M foreign-born residents — the #22 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 91% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| China | 2490414 |
| Indonesia | 145244 |
| Philippines | 127244 |
| Macao | 76947 |
| Thailand | 20710 |
| India | 19427 |
| United Kingdom | 19063 |
| Malaysia | 16481 |
| Canada | 15819 |
| Japan | 15307 |
| USA | 14298 |
| Vietnam | 11794 |
| Singapore | 10660 |
| Nepal | 10073 |
| Australia | 9809 |
| Pakistan | 8150 |
| South Korea | 5214 |
| New Zealand | 2425 |
| France | 2367 |
| Germany | 2128 |
| Netherlands | 1099 |
| Sri Lanka | 843 |
| Switzerland | 783 |
| Ireland | 749 |
| Italy | 692 |
| Bangladesh | 478 |
| Spain | 432 |
| Portugal | 117 |
| Russia | 93 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 98%
3M
30.1K
27.5K
12.2K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Hong Kong.
China is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
China accounts for 82% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 5%.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
57% of the population growth of Hong Kong since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
Hong Kong is a primary destination for emigrants from Macao
Hong Kong attracts 52% of all emigrants from Macao, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 2 residents of Hong Kong is foreign-born — 3M out of 7.5M, representing 40.3% of the population.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 2000265 |
| 1995 | 2152873 |
| 2000 | 2305464 |
| 2005 | 2524034 |
| 2010 | 2748711 |
| 2015 | 2809169 |
| 2020 | 2929168 |
| 2024 | 3028860 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | China | Indonesia | Philippines | Macao | Thailand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1659157 | 90186 | 79010 | 57222 | 12860 |
| 1995 | 1772597 | 100652 | 88179 | 58769 | 14353 |
| 2000 | 1886037 | 111117 | 97347 | 60316 | 15845 |
| 2005 | 2070537 | 121316 | 106282 | 64994 | 17299 |
| 2010 | 2260045 | 131809 | 115475 | 69830 | 18795 |
| 2015 | 2309769 | 134708 | 118015 | 71366 | 19208 |
| 2020 | 2408447 | 140463 | 123056 | 74414 | 20028 |
| 2024 | 2490414 | 145244 | 127244 | 76947 | 20710 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Hong Kong as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Hong Kong
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Hong Kong?
Around 3M foreign-born residents live in Hong Kong, making it the #22-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Hong Kong come from?
Most immigrants in Hong Kong come from China, Indonesia and Philippines — these three countries account for about 91% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Hong Kong are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 40% of the population of Hong Kong — that's 3M out of a total population of 7.5M.
How has immigration to Hong Kong changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Hong Kong has grown from 2.8M to 3M people, a growth of about 8%.
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