Net migration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Net migration was 17,863 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Hong Kong, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Hong Kong recorded 17,863 for net migration in 2025.
That represents a change of up 192.7% on the previous year and up 69.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Hong Kong peaked at 1.12 million in 1964 and was at its lowest, -1.25 million, in 1967.
Hong Kong ranks 34th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 20,811 | — |
| 1961 | -244,018 | -1272.5% |
| 1962 | -307,666 | +26.1% |
| 1963 | -294,927 | -4.1% |
| 1964 | 1.12 million | -479.8% |
| 1965 | 131,205 | -88.3% |
| 1966 | -74,393 | -156.7% |
| 1967 | -1.25 million | +1577.8% |
| 1968 | 286,736 | -123.0% |
| 1969 | 300,811 | +4.9% |
| 1970 | 302,462 | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 94,098 | -68.9% |
| 1972 | 47,078 | -50.0% |
| 1973 | 46,428 | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 46,801 | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 49,994 | +6.8% |
| 1976 | 50,619 | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 47,944 | -5.3% |
| 1978 | 45,843 | -4.4% |
| 1979 | 46,903 | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 45,107 | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 31,745 | -29.6% |
| 1982 | 26,361 | -17.0% |
| 1983 | 25,475 | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 25,516 | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 24,606 | -3.6% |
| 1986 | -6,867 | -127.9% |
| 1987 | -16,390 | +138.7% |
| 1988 | -21,649 | +32.1% |
| 1989 | -20,790 | -4.0% |
| 1990 | -26,077 | +25.4% |
| 1991 | 75,664 | -390.2% |
| 1992 | 98,211 | +29.8% |
| 1993 | 95,581 | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 91,059 | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 88,352 | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 81,906 | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 77,293 | -5.6% |
| 1998 | 73,563 | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 65,939 | -10.4% |
| 2000 | 58,755 | -10.9% |
| 2001 | 31,359 | -46.6% |
| 2002 | 20,893 | -33.4% |
| 2003 | 17,753 | -15.0% |
| 2004 | 8,169 | -54.0% |
| 2005 | -1,488 | -118.2% |
| 2006 | 10,045 | -775.1% |
| 2007 | 30,540 | +204.0% |
| 2008 | 25,455 | -16.7% |
| 2009 | 19,080 | -25.0% |
| 2010 | 8,307 | -56.5% |
| 2011 | 21,655 | +160.7% |
| 2012 | 35,557 | +64.2% |
| 2013 | 23,826 | -33.0% |
| 2014 | 20,454 | -14.2% |
| 2015 | 10,547 | -48.4% |
| 2016 | 10,262 | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 7,963 | -22.4% |
| 2018 | -1,225 | -115.4% |
| 2019 | -7,170 | +485.3% |
| 2020 | -1,800 | -74.9% |
| 2021 | -3,427 | +90.4% |
| 2022 | -3,427 | -0.0% |
| 2023 | -3,427 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -19,272 | +462.4% |
| 2025 | 17,863 | -192.7% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 17,863 is above the median for high income countries, which is 843, 21.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 17,863 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -462. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Hong Kong changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | -1577.8% | -74,393 | -1.25 million |
| 1961 | -1272.5% | 20,811 | -244,018 |
| 2006 | +775.1% | -1,488 | 10,045 |
| 1964 | +479.8% | -294,927 | 1.12 million |
| 2019 | -485.3% | -1,225 | -7,170 |
| 2024 | -462.4% | -3,427 | -19,272 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -30,963 | -1.25 million | 1.12 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 77,817 | 45,843 | 302,462 | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,311 | -21,649 | 45,107 | 10 |
| 1990s | 72,149 | -26,077 | 98,211 | 10 |
| 2000s | 22,056 | -1,488 | 58,755 | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,018 | -7,170 | 35,557 | 10 |
| 2020s | -2,248 | -19,272 | 17,863 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More financial sector data for Hong Kong
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), annual growth rate -3.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per unit of GDP 0.7308 SDR per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per capita 41,641 SDR per person (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), annual growth rate -0.454 % change on previous year (2023)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), per capita 42,075 SDR per person (2023)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), annual growth rate -0.4501 % change on previous year (2023)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), per capita 42,088 SDR per person (2023)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), annual growth rate -0.4504 % change on previous year (2023)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), per capita 42,088 SDR per person (2023)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate -0.5027 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Hong Kong?
- Net migration in Hong Kong was 17,863 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 1.12 million in 1964.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.25 million in 1967.
- How does Hong Kong rank for net migration?
- Hong Kong ranks 34th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.