Number of airline passengers per year in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Number of airline passengers per year was 25.70 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of airline passengers per year in Hong Kong, 1997–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of airline passengers per year in Hong Kong is 25.70 million, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 654.4% on the previous year and down 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of airline passengers per year in Hong Kong peaked at 47.10 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 777,197, in 2021.
Hong Kong ranks 31st of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of airline passengers per year in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 5.96 million | — |
| 1998 | 12.25 million | +105.7% |
| 1999 | 12.59 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 14.38 million | +14.2% |
| 2001 | 14.06 million | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 15.64 million | +11.2% |
| 2003 | 13.02 million | -16.7% |
| 2004 | 17.89 million | +37.4% |
| 2005 | 20.23 million | +13.1% |
| 2006 | 21.80 million | +7.7% |
| 2007 | 24.13 million | +10.7% |
| 2008 | 25.40 million | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 23.97 million | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 28.35 million | +18.2% |
| 2011 | 30.29 million | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 32.25 million | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 34.64 million | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 37.93 million | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 41.87 million | +10.4% |
| 2016 | 43.68 million | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 45.58 million | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 47.10 million | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 46.47 million | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 5.88 million | -87.3% |
| 2021 | 777,197 | -86.8% |
| 2022 | 3.41 million | +338.4% |
| 2023 | 25.70 million | +654.4% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 25.70 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 2.8× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 25.70 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.05 million, 12.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of airline passengers per year in Hong Kong changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +654.4% | 3.41 million | 25.70 million |
| 2022 | +338.4% | 777,197 | 3.41 million |
| 1998 | +105.7% | 5.96 million | 12.25 million |
| 2020 | -87.3% | 46.47 million | 5.88 million |
| 2021 | -86.8% | 5.88 million | 777,197 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.27 million | 5.96 million | 12.59 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 19.05 million | 13.02 million | 25.40 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.82 million | 28.35 million | 47.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.94 million | 777,197 | 25.70 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More reference data data for Hong Kong
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0072 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0 (1990)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0072 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure left on 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0219 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Burning - Crop residues 0 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0041 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of airline passengers per year in Hong Kong?
- Number of airline passengers per year in Hong Kong was 25.70 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of airline passengers per year recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 47.10 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest number of airline passengers per year recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 777,197 in 2021.
- How does Hong Kong rank for number of airline passengers per year?
- Hong Kong ranks 31st out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of airline passengers per year rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of airline passengers per year. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This represents the total rather than unique passenger activity: this means a person who makes multiple trips is counted multiple times.