International Hong Kong relations

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 27 relations tracked

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China, located on the eastern coast of the country. It was a British colony until 1997, when it was returned to China under the "one country, two systems" principle, which granted Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and allowed it to retain its own legal, economic, and political systems.

Population

7.5M#104 of 203

Land area

1.1K km²#174 of 203

GDP

$427.3B#39 of 197

Global influence

#90Low

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Closest relations Strained relations Hong Kong No data

In recent years, there has been increasing tension between the Hong Kong government and pro-democracy activists, who have protested against what they see as attempts by the Chinese government to exert greater control over the territory. These protests have sometimes turned violent, and have led to clashes with police and arrests.

In June 2019, the Chinese government introduced a controversial national security law for Hong Kong, which critics say undermines the autonomy and freedoms of the territory. The law has been met with widespread opposition and condemnation from the international community, and has led to further protests and arrests.

The situation in Hong Kong remains tense and fluid, and the future of the territory's autonomy and relationship with the Chinese mainland remains uncertain.

Geography & terrain

A hilly, hard peninsula and archipelago of islands wrapped around one of the world's great natural deep-water harbors. Subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and a typhoon season. Fully coastal with no interior to speak of. The steep terrain and harbor made it easy to fortify a small perimeter, but its compact size and total dependence on the sea leave it highly vulnerable to blockade.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, Hong Kong Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Hong Kong (7.5M people, 100.0% of total population)
Population	7.5M (#104 of 203 countries)
Land area	1.1K km² (#174 of 203 countries)
Main religion	Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism
Life expectancy	85 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data (2025)
Currency	Hong Kong Dollar
Main language(s)	Cantonese, English
Government type	Special administrative region
Time zone	UTC+8.0
GDP	$427.3B (#39 of 197 countries)
GDP per capita	$57.0K (#24 of 198 countries)
International calling code	+852
Driving side	Left
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	0
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	Not a member

Shares a land border with 1 country — here is how those relations stand

Hong Kong's relations with its neighbors

1 China Not yet documented See relation →

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Rank #90 Low International Influence

Hong Kong's actions have a very limited effect on the world or on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of Hong Kong by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.