Hong Kong
22/01/2024
A. Annual series
A.1 Foreign-born population, 1991-2021
(Individuals)
Years Total Population Foreign-born
All foreign-born Born in Portugal
N Change in N % of total Change in N % of total As a % of all foreign-born Change in
2021 7 413 070 -1.1 2 793 450 37.7 -5.7 -- -- -- --
2020 7 496 988 0.8 2 962 492 39.5 0.7 113 0.0 0.0 -19.9
2019 7 436 154 1.0 2 942 254 39.6 3.6 141 0.0 0.0 28.2
2017 7 364 883 0.4 2 838 665 38.6 -1.6 110 0.0 0.0 --
2016 7 336 585 2.1 2 885 092 39.3 1.6 -- -- -- --
2015 7 185 992 1.6 2 841 113 39.5 1.7 109 0.0 0.0 --
2011 7 071 576 1.5 2 793 450 39.5 0.5 -- -- -- --
2010 6 966 324 1.5 2 779 950 39.9 2.0 107 0.0 0.0 1.9
2006 6 864 346 1.4 2 725 502 39.7 0.2 105 0.0 0.0 7.1
2005 6 769 579 0.9 2 721 235 40.2 0.7 98 0.0 0.0 -17.6
2001 6 708 389 1.5 2 703 495 40.3 1.3 119 0.0 0.0 32.2
2000 6 606 328 6.2 2 669 122 40.4 8.1 90 0.0 0.0 -63.7
1996 6 217 556 12.6 2 468 224 39.7 11.0 248 0.0 0.0 131.8
1991 5 522 281 -- 2 222 684 40.2 -- 107 0.0 0.0 --
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 06/dez./2022
Chart
Born in Portugal
Note Under the provisions on the application of the Chinese nationality law, which entered into force in 1997, residents of Hong Kong or mainland China with Chinese descent, even if holders of a British (or Portuguese) passport after the transfer of sovereignty Of Macao), were, as a rule, considered Chinese citizens. For purposes of comparability, the Census and Statistics Department estimated the numbers for 1991 and 1996, if these provisions were in force at the time, and recorded the amounts of 282,707 and 529,372 foreigners (i.e. non-Chinese), respectively. This revision was not carried out for residents of Portuguese nationality, so that the significant drop in their number between 1996 and 2001 could be explained, in large part, by the change of status before the law of Chinese nationality of a large number of bearers of a Portuguese Passport.
Although Hong Kong is not considered a country, it is currently a "Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China" (under British administration until June 30th, 1997); for the variable born abroad, we considered who was born outside the territory of Hong Kong; the number of foreigners corresponds, in pre-1997 years, to the number of non-British citizens, according to the status they had at that time; after 1997, the number of foreigners submitted refers to the number of non-Chinese citizens.
The data from 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 were revised by the UN and amended by OEm on 23/11/2022.
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Census and Statistics Department – The Government of Hong Kong Administrative Region (nascidos em Portugal e nacionalidade portuguesa, informação concedida mediante pedido), Hong Kong 1991 population census: main report (1991), Hong Kong 2011 main tables, demographic carecteristics, Population by Place of Birth, 2001, 2006 and 2011 (A106) and Population by Nationality, 2001, 2006 and 2011 (A105); 2021 Census (population with Portuguese nationality granted upon request); United Nations Statistics Division (2017), United Nations Statistics Division (2019) and United Nations Statistics Division (other data) (the UN figures are estimates).
A.1.1 Residents born in Portugal by sex, 2000-2020
(indivíduos)
Years All foreign-born Female Male
N N % of total N % of total
2020 113 69 61.1 44 38.9
2019 141 86 61.0 55 39.0
2017 110 66 60.0 44 40.0
2015 109 65 59.6 44 40.4
2010 107 61 57.0 46 43.0
2005 98 54 55.1 44 44.9
2000 90 47 52.2 43 47.8
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 23/nov./2022
Chart
Residents born in Portugal by sex
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from United Nations Statistics Division (2017), United Nations Statistics Division (2019) and United Nations Statistics Division (other data) (the UN figures are estimates).
A.2 Foreign population, 1991-2021
(Individuals)
Years Total Population All foreign-born
All foreign-born Foreigners with Portuguese citizenship
N Change in N % of total Change in N % of total As a % of all foreigners Change in
2021 7 413 070 -1.1 485 000 6.6 -- 599 0.0 0.0 --
2020 7 496 988 0.8 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2019 7 436 154 1.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2017 7 364 883 0.4 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2016 7 336 585 2.1 568 395 7.8 -- 328 0.0 0.0 --
2015 7 185 992 1.6 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2011 7 071 576 1.5 485 000 6.9 -- 538 0.0 0.0 --
2010 6 966 324 1.5 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2006 6 864 346 1.4 404 073 5.9 -- 569 0.0 0.0 --
2005 6 769 579 0.9 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2001 6 708 389 1.5 369 627 5.5 -- 347 0.0 0.0 --
2000 6 606 328 6.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
1996 6 217 556 12.6 -- -- -- 20 738 0.3 0.8 12.2
1991 5 522 281 -- 2 159 335 39.1 -- 18 488 0.3 0.8 --
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 06/dez./2022
Chart
Foreigners with Portuguese citizenship
Note Under the provisions on the application of the Chinese nationality law, which entered into force in 1997, residents of Hong Kong or mainland China with Chinese descent, even if holders of a British (or Portuguese) passport after the transfer of sovereignty Of Macao), were, as a rule, considered Chinese citizens. For purposes of comparability, the Census and Statistics Department estimated the numbers for 1991 and 1996, if these provisions were in force at the time, and recorded the amounts of 282,707 and 529,372 foreigners (i.e. non-Chinese), respectively. This revision was not carried out for residents of Portuguese nationality, so that the significant drop in their number between 1996 and 2001 could be explained, in large part, by the change of status before the law of Chinese nationality of a large number of bearers of a Portuguese Passport.
Although Hong Kong is not considered a country, it is currently a "Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China" (under British administration until June 30th, 1997); for the variable born abroad, we considered who was born outside the territory of Hong Kong; the number of foreigners corresponds, in pre-1997 years, to the number of non-British citizens, according to the status they had at that time; after 1997, the number of foreigners submitted refers to the number of non-Chinese citizens.
The data from 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 were revised by the UN and amended by OEm on 23/11/2022.
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Census and Statistics Department – The Government of Hong Kong Administrative Region (nascidos em Portugal e nacionalidade portuguesa, informação concedida mediante pedido), Hong Kong 1991 population census: main report (1991), Hong Kong 2011 main tables, demographic carecteristics, Population by Place of Birth, 2001, 2006 and 2011 (A106) and Population by Nationality, 2001, 2006 and 2011 (A105); 2021 Census (population with Portuguese nationality granted upon request); United Nations Statistics Division (2017), United Nations Statistics Division (2019) and United Nations Statistics Division (other data) (the UN figures are estimates).
A.2.1 Resident population with Portuguese citizenship by sex, 2001-2021
(Individuals)
Years All foreign-born Female Male
N N % of total N % of total
2021 599 248 41.4 351 58.6
2016 328 109 33.2 219 66.8
2011 538 349 64.9 189 35.1
2006 569 274 48.2 295 51.8
2001 347 219 63.1 128 36.9
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 06/dez./2022
Chart
Resident population with Portuguese citizenship by sex
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Census and Statistics Department – The Government of Hong Kong Administrative Region, data granted upon request.
A.4 Foreign inflows , 2006-2022
(Individuals)
Years Total inflows Portuguese inflows
N Change in N % of total Change in
2022 13 495 -2.4 38 0.3 15.2
2021 13 821 -5.4 33 0.2 -43.1
2020 14 617 -64.6 58 0.4 -52.5
2019 41 289 -0.7 122 0.3 1.7
2018 41 592 4.1 120 0.3 -33.7
2017 39 952 11.0 181 0.5 98.9
2016 35 997 4.6 91 0.3 3.4
2015 34 403 8.6 88 0.3 -3.3
2014 31 676 11.6 91 0.3 30.0
2013 28 380 -0.9 70 0.2 11.1
2012 28 625 -6.3 63 0.2 -18.2
2011 30 557 13.7 77 0.3 18.5
2010 26 881 17.8 65 0.2 --
2009 22 815 -13.4 -- -- --
2008 26 344 16.4 -- -- --
2007 22 636 7.4 -- -- --
2006 21 080 -- -- -- --
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 22/jan./2024
Chart
Portuguese inflows
Note Data correspondent to the number of working visas granted to foreigners by the Immigration Department during the fiscal year ended on March 31st of the (civil) year, indicated and inniciated on April 1st of the precious year. 
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionAnnual Report 2007-2008 (data from 2006, 2007 and 2008),  Annual Report 2008-09 (data from 2009), (accessed in 13/10/2011). From 2010 onwards information granted upor request.
A.5 Acquisition of citizenship of the destination country , 2008-2010
(Individuals)
Years Acquisition of citizenship by all foreigners Acquisition of citizenship by Portuguese
N Change in % of total Change in
2010 1 278 -14.5 -- -- --
2009 1 495 -6.0 -- -- --
2008 1 591 -- -- -- --
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 22/jan./2024
Chart
Acquisition of citizenship by Portuguese
Note Data correspondent to the number of applications for naturalization and (Chinese) nationality received (not necessarily granted) by the Immigration Department during the fiscal year ending on March 31st of the (civil) year indicated and inniciated on April 1st of the precious year.
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; "Naturalisation, Renunciation or Restoration of Chinese Nationality" in Annual Report 2007-2008 (data from 2008), in  Annual Report 2008-09 (data from 2009) and in  Annual Report 2009-2010 (data from 2010) (accessed in 13/10/2011).
B. Census

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Instituto Universitário de Lisboa

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F. (+351) 217 940 074

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