The Hong Kong authorities estimate that by mid-2046, the local population will increase to 8.19 million. By then, people aged 65 or above (excluding foreign domestic helpers) will account for 36% of the total population, and the labor force participation rate will correspondingly drop from last year's 55% to 52%.
According to a Central News Agency report, Hong Kong's Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun, wrote on social media on the 8th to analyze related issues on the local population, labor, and talent import.
He said that at the end of last year, Hong Kong's population was 7.53 million. According to official Census and Statistics Department projections, by mid-2046 the population will reach 8.19 million, and the proportion of those aged 65 and above will rise to 36%. That is, one in every three people will be a senior citizen, and by then, the labor force participation rate will also decrease accordingly.
He said that to fill the population gap and to provide the manpower needed for Hong Kong's long-term development, the top priority is to promote healthy population growth. To cope with the manpower challenges brought about by an aging population, since the end of 2022, the government has launched a series of ‘talent admission’ measures, including the ‘Top Talent Pass Scheme’ (TTPS).
According to announcements, by the end of July 2025, these talent admission measures had received 510,000 applications, of which 340,000 were approved, and more than 220,000 “talents” had already arrived in Hong Kong.
Chris Sun added that after this series of talent admission measures was launched, foreign “talents” have gradually arrived in Hong Kong, with some bringing their families to settle in the city. Taking TTPS as an example, from early 2023 to the end of June 2025, more than 100,000 dependents (talent family members) had arrived in Hong Kong.
He said that these new blood settling in Hong Kong has reversed the decline in the local labor force during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, their arrival has brought considerable economic contribution to Hong Kong. Most have already secured jobs in the city, mainly engaged in finance, innovation and information technology, and commerce and trade—key industries in Hong Kong.
According to another report released by the Hong Kong Government at the end of last month, most of those who came to Hong Kong via various talent admission schemes since early 2023 are from mainland China.