Census and Statistics Department Statistics Databases Portal (C&SD) Hong Kong

Overview

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) is the primary provider of official social and economic statistics for Hong Kong. Established formally in December 1967, it operates under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and serves as the central body for the collection, compilation, and publication of statistical information covering all major aspects of Hong Kong's society and economy. The department's Statistics Databases Portal provides online access to its broad range of published datasets and publications.

History and Founding

The history of statistical activity in Hong Kong can be traced to the 1840s, when early population figures were published in the Hong Kong Government Gazette. Regular population censuses began in that era, with gaps during wartime periods. In 1959, following the decision to hold a population census in 1961, a temporary Census Department was established. After subsequent reorganizations and the influential 1963 recommendations of Commissioner K. M. A. Barnett on improving statistical services, the Census and Statistics Department was formally constituted in December 1967. It absorbed and consolidated statistical functions that had previously been scattered across various government departments and bureaux.

Collections and Holdings

The C&SD Statistics Databases Portal provides access to a wide range of statistical data and publications, including: population census results (conducted every ten years, most recently in 2021); labour force, employment, wages, and earnings surveys; national income and balance of payments statistics; trade and import/export statistics; business performance and industry statistics; price indices and inflation data; demographic and social statistics; and science and technology indicators. The portal serves researchers, businesses, policymakers, and the general public seeking authoritative data on Hong Kong's socio-economic conditions.

Notable Materials

Among the most significant resources available through the portal are the results of the decennial Population Census, which provides detailed demographic and socio-economic data at the district and sub-district level. The 2021 Population Census, conducted using a combination of electronic enumeration and traditional field methods, yielded detailed datasets on household income distribution, one-person households, and geographic distribution of the population. The portal also provides access to trade statistics critical for understanding Hong Kong's role as a major international trading hub.

Access and Usage

The Statistics Databases Portal is freely accessible online at censtatd.gov.hk. Data is available in a variety of formats for download. The C&SD also disseminates datasets through the Hong Kong government's open data platform, DATA.GOV.HK, where it has published over 875 datasets available for free commercial and non-commercial reuse. The department is governed by the Census and Statistics Ordinance, which includes strict provisions on data confidentiality.

Governance

A Statistics Advisory Board, established in 1972, advises the government on statistical matters. The Board is chaired by the Commissioner for Census and Statistics and includes eleven non-official members drawn from business, academia, and the community, alongside three official government members.