Census and Statistics Department - Key Statistics of the 2001 Population Census

A population census was conducted in Hong Kong in March 2001. This article presents some key statistics of the 2001 Population Census, to broadly highlight the salient features of the population in the whole territory, and also some selected characteristics of District Council districts. Those who are interested in further details of the 2001 Population Census, they should refer to the publication "Hong Kong 2001 Population Census Summary Results".

Introduction

1.1

It is established practice from 1961 for Hong Kong to conduct a population census once every ten years and a by-census in the middle of the intercensal period. Following this practice, the 2001 Population Census was conducted in the thirteen-day period from 15 to 27 March 2001. It comprised a simple enumeration on six-sevenths of households to provide basic information like age and sex of household members and a detailed enquiry to the remaining one-seventh on a broad range of demographic and socio-economic characteristics of household members.

1.2

Summary findings of the 2001 Population Census have been released in October 2001 and published in the report entitled "Hong Kong 2001 Population Census Summary Results". This article has extracted some key findings.

1.3

The article is organized into 2 parts. The first part highlights the salient features of the population in the whole territory, whilst the second part outlines selected characteristics of District Council districts. Key statistics of the population for the whole territory and selected characteristics of the District Council districts are presented in Table 1 and Table 2 placed at the end of this article. For those interested in further details of the 2001 Population Census, they may refer to the "Summary Results" report.

1.4

Concurrent with the publication of the "Summary Results" report, selected data on the 2001 Population Census are also posted on the website of the Census and Statistics Department. Detailed reports and CD-ROMs on the results of the 2001 Population Census will be produced and released in stages. Users in the community may also approach the Department for service in preparing tabulations which are not readily available but have to be specially compiled.

1.5

The results of the 2001 Population Census refer to the Hong Kong Resident Population enumerated under the "resident population" approach. The Hong Kong Resident Population at the census moment covers "Usual Residents" and "Mobile Residents". "Usual Residents" refer to two categories of people: (1) Hong Kong Permanent Residents who had stayed in Hong Kong for at least three months during the six months before or for at least three months during the six months after the census moment, regardless of whether they were in Hong Kong or not at the census moment; and (2) Hong Kong Non-permanent Residents who were in Hong Kong at the census moment. As for "Mobile Residents", they are Hong Kong Permanent Residents who had stayed in Hong Kong for at least one month but less than three months during the six months before or for at least one month but less than three months during the six months after the census moment, regardless of whether they were in Hong Kong or not at the census moment. Results of the 1991 Population Census and the 1996 Population By-census refer to the residents present in Hong Kong enumerated under the de facto enumeration approach and the resident population enumerated under the de jure enumeration approach respectively. Caution is required in making comparison. Notwithstanding the change, the 2001 Population Census figures are broadly comparable with those of the 1991 Population Census and the 1996 Population By-census.

Salient Features of the Population

Population Size

2.1

The 2001 Population Census shows that the Hong Kong Resident Population in mid-March 2001 was 6 708 389. Among them, 6 523 851 were Usual Residents and 184 538 were Mobile Residents.

2.2

During 1996-2001, population growth slowed down with an average annual growth rate of 0.9%, as compared with 1.8% during 1991-1996. (Chart 1)

Age and Sex Structure

2.3

The population continued to dejuvenate and to grow old in the past 10 years. The number and proportion of population aged under 15 have fallen markedly, reflecting the sustained drop in fertility rates. On the contrary, the proportion of those aged 65 and over showed a relatively greater increase, which was a result of mortality improvement. These phenomena were also observed from the shrinking base and widening tip of the population pyramids. (Chart 2)

2.4

The combined effects of the decrease in the number of young persons and the increase in the number of elderly persons are also reflected in the increase of the median age of the population. The median age of the population rose from 31 in 1991 to 36 in 2001.

2.5

Sex ratio (i.e. number of males per 1 000 females) of the population has fallen below parity. From 1 038 in 1991, the ratio dropped to 960 in 2001, indicating that there were more females than males.

Marital Status

2.6

The proportion of the male population aged 15 and over being never married decreased from 36.5% in 1991 to 33.9% in 2001. On the contrary, the proportion of never married female population increased slightly from 29.0% in 1991 to 30.1% in 2001. Significant increase was observed on the proportion of persons who were divorced/separated in relative terms over the last five years. For males, it increased from 1.6% in 1996 to 2.1% in 2001 and for females, from 2.2% to 3.3%.

Education

2.7

There was improvement in the educational attainment of the population. The proportion of the population aged 15 and over having attended secondary or higher education increased from 62.1% in 1991 to 71.1% in 2001. For those persons in the school age 6-18, nearly 95% were studying, distinctly higher than that of 91% in 1991.

2.8

With the rapid expansion of tertiary education in Hong Kong, the proportion of non-student population aged 20 and over having attained tertiary education increased significantly from 10.7% in 1991 to 15.9% in 2001.

Labour Force Participation Rate

2.9

The labour force recorded a 22.3% increase from 2 811 002 in 1991 to 3 437 992 in 2001. The overall labour force participation rate dropped from 64.3% in 1991 to 61.4% in 2001.

2.10

There were proportionately fewer males in the labour force in 2001 than 10 years ago. The male labour force participation rate dropped from 78.7% in 1991 to 71.9% in 2001. In contrast, more females entered the labour market. The female labour force participation rate increased from 49.5% in 1991 to 51.6% in 2001.

2.11

The median monthly income from main employment of the working population increased from $5,170 to $10,000 over the past ten years, constituting an increase of 93.4%. In the same period, prices increased by 53%, as measured by the Composite Consumer Price Index. This indicates that there was increase in main employment earning in real terms.

Number of Domestic Households and Household Size

2.12

The number of domestic households increased by 29.8% from 1 582 215 in 1991 to 2 053 412 in 2001. The rate of growth was higher in the first half of the period, averaging 3.2% per annum. The growth rate slowed down to 2.0% per annum in the second half of the period. (Chart 3)

2.13

The trend towards smaller household intensified in the last five years. The average household size decreased from 3.4 in 1991 to 3.3 in 1996 and 3.1 in 2001.

Household Income

2.14

In line with the greater earning power of the working population, the median monthly household income grew from $9,964 in 1991 to $18,705 in 2001. This represents an increase of 87.7% over that of 1991.

2.15

The Gini coefficient, which takes a value between zero and one, is often used as an indicator of variability in the household income. A value of 'zero' indicates absolute equality in the household income distribution, or every household has an equal share of the total household income. A value of 'one' means complete disparity when one household earns the total household income and the remaining households earn nothing. The Gini coefficient of household income distribution in 2001 was 0.525, which was slightly higher than that of 0.518 in 1996. The corresponding figure for 1991 was 0.476.

Housing

2.16

Over 969 783 domestic households rented the accommodation they occupied in 2001, representing 47.3% of all domestic households. For the 1 042 605 domestic households living in owner-occupier accommodation, 51.5% were with mortgage payment or loan repayment and 48.5% were without mortgage payment and loan repayment. (Chart 4)

2.17

Households renting their accommodation paid a median monthly rent of $1,500 and had a median rent to income ratio of 13.9%. Meanwhile, Owner-occupiers with mortgage payment or loan repayment incurred a median monthly payment of $8,500, and the median mortgage payment and loan repayment to income ratio was 28.1%. (Chart 4)

2.18

The degree of sharing has been constantly improving. The average number of domestic households per unit of quarters decreased from 1.06 in 1991 to 1.05 in 1996 and further to 1.02 in 2001.

Geographical Characteristics

3.1

There was a substantial redistribution of the population during the last ten years. The New Territories had the largest share of the population in 2001. While ten years ago, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories had respectively 22.0%, 35.8% and 41.9% of the population, by 2001 the respective proportions were 19.9%, 30.2% and 49.8%.

3.2

Many districts in the New Territories like Sai Kung, Yuen Long and Islands recorded a marked population growth because of new towns development, whereas districts like Wan Chai, Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City experienced population decrease.

3.3

The most densely populated district was Kwun Tong, with a density of 49 861 persons per square kilometer in 2001. The population densities in districts in the New Territories were generally lower than those in districts on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon.

3.4

Among the District Council districts, Yuen Long had the largest proportion of young people aged below 15 in its population; whilst Wong Tai Sin and Sham Shui Po had the largest proportion of people aged 65 and over.

3.5

There were 187 222 domestic households residing in Eastern in 2001, which was the highest among all districts. The number of domestic households in Sai Kung increased most significantly by 184% from 33 746 in 1991 to 95 937 in 2001. The average household size was only 2.7 in Wan Chai, Yau Tsim Mong and Islands in 2001, substantially lower than the territory's average of 3.1.

Chart 1 Population Size and Growth

Notes:	(1)	The figure refers to residents present in Hong Kong at the census/by-census moment, including those who were temporarily this basis at the 1996 Population By-census was 6 217 556.
	(2)	The figure is compiled based on the Hong Kong Resident Population.

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Chart 2 Population Pyramids, 1991, 1996 and 2001

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Chart 3 Number and Growth of Domestic Households

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Chart 4 Schematic Diagram Presenting the Housing Statistics, 2001

Notes:	(1)	Exclude domestic households living on board vessels.
	(2)	Households with zero income and/or zero mortgage payment and loan repayment by household members (i.e. with mortgage payment and loan repayment by non-household members only) are excluded in the calculation.
	(3)	Households with zero income and/or zero rent are excluded in the calculation.

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