See how Hong Kong has changed since 1997

Start

About one fifth of households in 2017 earn less than HK$10,000 a month. Let's see how a household lives on just three-quarters of that income.

Start

Today, the median household income is HK$25,200. What was it in 1997? See on the next screen.

Start

To be counted in the top ten per cent of earners means a household income of at least HK$78,900 a month. But in 1997 just HK$64,600 in adjusted monthly income would gain them entry to the clubhouse.

Click a household type to explore their lives in 2017 compared to 1997.

19972017

Income change

Watch how our chosen household’s income compares to their equivalent in 1997 after adjusting for inflation.

Source: Census and Statistics Department

Here’s what our household could afford in 1997 and today in the private rental market, CPI adjusted.

Housing: Most households devote about 1/3rd of their total monthly expenditure to housing.

Hong Kong Island

Kowloon

New Territories

Source: Census and Statistics Department

Household spending

Following on from the last screen, here’s how our household budgeted for their other needs.

Eating out

Groceries

Housing

Utilities

Transport

Clothing and footwear

Source: Census and Statistics Department

Now we can see how life has changed generally since 1997.

Taxi fares

The cost of taking a taxi has also risen, after taking CPI into account.

Source: HK Government

Relationships

Median age at first marriage

M:29.6
F:26.8

M:31.2
F:29.3

Marriages +31.6%

37593

49505

Divorce decrees +91.3%

10492

20075

Source: Census

Population

Source: Census

Number of hot days in the year

Number of cold days in the year

Source: HK Observatory

Mobile phone accounts per capita

0.3

2.3

Source: Office of the Communications Authority

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