HK to conduct full-year population census in 2026

Only around 10% of the population will fill out a long-form questionnaire.

The 2026 Hong Kong Population Census will be held from 1 January to 31 December 2026, the government announced. The Census & Statistics (2026 Population Census) Order was published in the Government Gazette today.

The census will introduce new measures, including a long-form questionnaire for only about 10% of the population.

Administrative data will be used more extensively to reduce the reporting burden on respondents.

A small-scale test survey for the 2026 Population Census will be carried out from April to July this year, with selected households encouraged to complete the census via online questionnaires. Participants may also choose to provide the requested information through telephone interviews.

Census officers will visit households that haven't completed their questionnaires. A notification letter will be sent first, and phone calls will only be made to households that provided a phone number.

The government assured census officers will be identifiable by their uniform vests and government-issued identification.

The department has emphasised that strict data protection procedures will be followed, ensuring that all collected information remains confidential. Statistics released will not identify individual respondents. All completed questionnaires, both paper and electronic, will be destroyed by 31 December 2027.

The order will be tabled for negative vetting at the Legislative Council on February 19.