Indicators of economy in Hong Kong

Income and purchasing power

The average monthly income in Hong Kong is 4,756 US Dollar per capita. In the USA, the figure is 6,958 US Dollar. However, the prices of consumer goods are also around 26.0 percent lower than in the USA. If you compare income and price levels, the result is a more expensive life in Hong Kong than in the United States. The bottom line is that the costs do not offset the lower income, and you get about 7.6 percent less.

However, it is also important to remember that this is a purely statistical model. Both the labor output and the type and quality of the goods received always correspond to the national average on both sides of the equation - so they do not necessarily have to match. Here you can also find an international comparison of cost of living and purchasing power.

Economic performance 2024

In the Global Innovation Index, Hong Kong ranked 15th in 2025 with 51.5 points. The index is calculated annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and most recently included 138 countries. The top country was Switzerland with 66.0 points. Out of the 2,000 largest listed companies in the world, 42 originate from Hong Kong. This is determined annually in the Forbes Global 2000 list. The 10 largest companies in the country in 2025 were:

Development of gross domestic product in billions of USD 1960 - 2024

Largest economic sectors

• Trading and logistics
• Financial services
• Professional services
• Tourism
• Cultural and creative
• Clothing and textiles
• Shipping
• Electronics
• Toys
• Clocks and watches

Imports and Exports 2024

Development of imports and exports in billions of USD 1998 - 2024

National debt in Hong Kong

General government gross debt of Hong Kong refers to the debts of the state, their states and municipalities, and also of public sector institutions such as social security funds.

The government debt in the period from 2016 to 2024 was between 187.7 million and 37.6 billion USD. The highest level of the last years at 38 billion US Dollar was reached in 2024.

Based on the number of inhabitants, this is a debt of 4,999 USD per person. For comparison, the average debt per person in the same year in the European Union was 35,697 USD.

Public debt of the last 8 years in billions of USD

Comparison of gross debt per capita with the global average in US dollars

Corruption in Hong Kong

The "Corruption Perceptions Index" for the public sector showed 24 out of 100 points for 2025. With this result Hong Kong ranks 13th. So, compared to other countries, it is better than average. Compared to the previous year, in 2025, the level of corruption decreased a bit. In the long term, it has risen moderately in recent years. You can find the complete country comparison here: International Ranking of Corruption

Corruption in Hong Kong 2003 - 2025

The causes of corruption lie in part in political and cultural reasons. Ineffective law enforcement may further promote it. It is striking that it is regularly lower in democratically governed countries (form of government in Hong Kong: Presidential Limited Democracy). Similarly, higher corruption occurs predominantly in low-income countries. In Hong Kong, per capita income is 57,070 USD annually, which is extremely high. The above-average cost of living also indicates a comparatively prosperous country.

Unemployment rates in percentages 1991 - 2025

The unemployment rates according to the ILOSTAT estimates used here do not always correspond to the official government figures. Instead, they are based on a harmonized procedure to compensate for different unemployment criteria and make them comparable across countries. Further information and an international comparison can be found here.