Hong Kong then and now: 1961 to 2021
- People · 2021
- 7,413,070 · ×2.4
- Vehicles · 2021
- 817,874 · ×15
- Heavy rail · 2021
- 204 km · ×6
- Public rental · 2021
- 847,968 · ×12
1961–2021 census years · C&SD, Transport Department, MTR / KCR
7,413,070
2021 · ×2.4 from 1961
817,874
2021 · ×15 from 1961
204 km
2021 · ×6 from 1961
847,968
2021 · ×12 from 1961
Index · 1961 = 100
| Year | People | Vehicles | Heavy rail | Public rental |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3,129,648 | 54,133 | 34 km | 70,148 |
| 1981 | 5,109,812 | 292,940 | 50 km | 433,662 |
| 2001 | 6,708,389 | 525,376 | 116 km | 697,200 |
| 2021 | 7,413,070 | 817,874 | 204 km | 847,968 |
People are census totals. 1961 is de facto (present). 1981 is resident population, including 123,252 temporarily away. 2001 and 2021 are resident population. Vehicles are licensed at year-end except 1961, which is registered — licensed totals start in 1977. Heavy rail is unique domestic route-km of today’s MTR plus the old KCR, without Light Rail or High Speed Rail. 1961 is the KCR only; urban MTR opens in 1979. Public rental is Housing Authority and Housing Society flats. 1961 is resettlement rooms plus the two HA estates then open; Housing Society stock of that year is not in the same table.
C&SD 2021 Census table 3.1 · Hong Kong Annual Digest 1992 table 2.1 · 1981 Annual Digest table 14.6 · Hong Kong Yearbook 2001 appendix 45 · Hong Kong Statistics 1947–1967 tables 10.7 and 10.9 · TD Annual Traffic Census table 6-1 · MTR annual reports