Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 96.4% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Hong Kong, China, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Hong Kong, China stood at 96.4%.
That represents a change of down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Hong Kong, China peaked at 96.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 86.2%, in 1950.
Hong Kong, China ranks 6th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Hong Kong, China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 86.2% | — |
| 1955 | 90.3% | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 91.1% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 88.1% | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 93.8% | +6.4% |
| 1975 | 94.0% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 93.8% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 94.0% | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 94.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 95.6% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 95.9% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 95.8% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 96.4% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 96.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 96.4% | +0.0% |
Hong Kong, China compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong, China's 96.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 32.0%, 3.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong, China's 96.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 30.7%, 3.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 88.2% | 86.2% | 90.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 89.6% | 88.1% | 91.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 93.9% | 93.8% | 94.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 93.9% | 93.8% | 94.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 94.8% | 94.1% | 95.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 95.9% | 95.8% | 95.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 96.4% | 96.3% | 96.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 96.4% | 96.4% | 96.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong, China
More population data for Hong Kong, China
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -2.46 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2044)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -2.46 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3992 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -3.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -2.5% (2100)
- Population density 1,981 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 30,373 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -2.5% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.2539 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Hong Kong, China?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Hong Kong, China was 96.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The highest recorded value was 96.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The lowest recorded value was 86.2% in 1950.
- How does Hong Kong, China rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Hong Kong, China ranks 6th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Hong Kong, China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Hong Kong, China data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.