Victoria Harbour
Flag of Hong Kong Territorial tax system

Hong Kong

Region
 
East Asia
Capital
 
—
Currency
 
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
Density
 
7140 / km²
WRI Score 2026
83.6
scale 1–100 · higher is better
Global rank
12th
In Asia
2nd
Ranked
211
Parameter Breakdown · 2026

The nine components behind the score.

Every parameter is scored 1–100, higher is better, equally weighted; their sum normalises to the 0–100 WRI Score.

  • Personal Income Tax · 100 = no income tax Territorial system · top rate 15%· KPMG / EY
    91.0

    Territorial system taxes only locally sourced income.

  • Population Density · 100 = uncrowded 7140 / km²· UN WPP
    1.0

    Among the most densely populated places on the list.

  • GDP per Capita · 100 = highest output per resident $58,999· IMF WEO 2026
    86.6

    Strong output per resident, well above the global median.

  • Life Expectancy · 100 = longest life expectancy 85.3 years· WHO / UN
    100.0

    Among the longest average lifespans globally.

  • Tourism & Lifestyle · 100 = strongest lifestyle appeal 3.5 arrivals per capita· UNWTO
    100.0

    Exceptionally high tourism intensity relative to population.

  • Unemployment · 100 = lowest unemployment 2.8%· ILO / SECO
    96.6

    Among the lowest unemployment rates globally.

  • Warmongering · 100 = least militarised 0% of GDP· SIPRI
    100.0

    Minimal defence spending relative to output.

  • Safety & Rule of Law · 100 = safest Composite· UNODC · WJP · TI
    89.2

    Strong safety and judicial quality.

  • Ideological Neutrality · 100 = most ideologically neutral WRI rubric composite· WRI rubric
    89.5

    Low institutional ideological enforcement.

Where it sits

Among the world's elite tier.

Hong Kong holds 12th of 211 with a WRI Score of 83.60 — ranks just behind the very top tier. The score is driven by near-perfect life expectancy (100) and tourism and lifestyle appeal (100), with population density standing out as its clearest structural constraint.

World Residence Index™ © 2026 · Hong Kong profile · Data: IMF, World Bank, UN, WHO, ILO, UNWTO, SIPRI, UNODC, WJP, TI · Research, not advice.