Who moves to Hong Kong
3M people have chosen Hong Kong for relocation — #22 most popular destination worldwide
Considering a move to Hong Kong? — See where people come from, regional patterns, and how it's changed since 1990.
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 |
| United States | 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
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