The population of Hong Kong increased steadily over the last decade of the 1990s, reaching about 7.1 million by 2000. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with an overall density of some 6,300 people per square kilometre. The population density with respect to built-up areas would be even higher, as only a small proportion of land is developed. Despite the population density, Hong Kong is reported to be one of the greenest cities in Asia, with the majority of people living in apartments in high-rise buildings, and most land reserved for open spaces, country parks, and woodland. The vertical placement of the population explains why the general description of Hong Kong as a densely populated, green city is not an oxymoron.

Population

7,500 (census in 1841 est.)

849,800 (census 1931)

750,000 (1945)

6,900,000 (2003, UN)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 676,756; female 602,434)
15-64 years: 71% (male 2,520,473; female 2,563,355)
65 years and over: 11% (male 342,942; female 410,342) (2000 est.)
Average age: 34

Population growth rate: 1.35% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 11.29 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 5.93 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Average marriage age:
male: 30
female: 27

Infant mortality rate: 5.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.54 years
male: 76.85 years
female: 82.41 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Chinese
residents are called Hongkongers

Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, other 5%

Religions

Eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10% . The number of Muslims in Hong Kong is around 70,000.

Every major religion is practiced in Hong Kong; ancestor worship is predominant due to the strong Confucian influence.

See also: Places of worship in Hong Kong

Languages

Both Chinese and English are official languages.

Cantonese is spoken by most of the population. English is widely understood; it is spoken or understood by more than one-third of the population.

Other dialects of Chinese are also spoken in Hong Kong, following Cantonese, there are a sizeable number of Hakka speakers, mostly from rural areas such as the New Territories, and coastal fishermen speak Chiuchowese or related Fujian (Hokkien) dialects like Hoklo. Many immigrants in the 1950s are speakers of Chiuchowese and Wu dialects, such as Shanghainese, and recently there is an influx of Northern dialects speakers.

Education

Main article: Education in Hong Kong

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 92.2%
male: 96%
female: 88.2% (1996 est.)

All children are required by law to be in full-time education between the ages of 6 and 15. Preschool education for most children begins at age 3. Primary school begins normally at the age of 6 and lasts for 6 years. At about age 12, children progress to a 3-year course (Form 1 to Form 3) of junior secondary education. Most stay on for a 2-year (Form 4 and 5) senior secondary course, while others join full-time vocational training. More than 90% of children complete upper secondary education or equivalent vocational education. Those who finished Form 5 education would take a government examination to receive the Certificate of Education. Students who want to pursue post-secondary education need to proceed to Lower 6 and Upper 6 (Form 6 and Form 7). They enter universities only after they passed a matriculation examination.

See also : Hong Kong, Right of abode issue, Hong Kong

External links

• Hong Kong Population History
• Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department — Hong Kong statistics page (eg. see "Hong Kong in Figures")