Hong Kong men and women live an average 82.9 years and 88 years respectively by 2020, more than eight years longer than in 1986.
In 1986, the corresponding figures for men and women were 74.1 years and 79.4 years respectively.
The Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics published by the Census and Statistics Department found that the age-sex specific mortality rates for both sexes and all age groups have been decreasing continuously, reflecting that residents tend to live longer along with advancement in healthcare services.
However, because of the aging population, the overall mortality rates and the number of deaths showed an increasing trend. The number of deaths in the city increased from 25,912 in 1986 to 50,666 in 2020.
The crude death rate, which refers to the number of deaths in a given year per thousand people, increased from 4.7 per 1,000 in 1986 to 6.8 in 2020.
However, the standardized death rates calculated by discounting the effect of the age-sex structure reflect more accurately the mortality trend. The rate dropped 43 percent from 10.5 per 1,000 people in 1986 to 6.0 in 2020.
The greatest improvement in mortality rate during this period was amongst infants, with the mortality rates dropping by 71 percent and 81 percent for men and women respectively.
The department also said that neoplasms – an abnormal growth of cells, also known as a tumor, diseases of the respiratory and the circulatory system were the main causes of deaths from 2006 to 2020.
Tumors were the leading cause of death for men during the period. In 2006, diseases of the circulatory system were the leading cause of death for women. It was replaced by tumors in 2016.
In 2020, the percentages of male deaths caused by neoplasms, diseases of the respiratory system and diseases of the circulatory system were 32 percent, 23 percent and 20 percent respectively, and the corresponding percentages of female deaths were 28 percent, 21 percent and 21 percent.
The Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics published by the Census and Statistics Department found that the age-sex specific mortality rates for both sexes and all age groups have been decreasing continuously, reflecting that residents tend to live longer along with advancement in healthcare services.
However, because of the aging population, the overall mortality rates and the number of deaths showed an increasing trend. The number of deaths in the city increased from 25,912 in 1986 to 50,666 in 2020.
The crude death rate, which refers to the number of deaths in a given year per thousand people, increased from 4.7 per 1,000 in 1986 to 6.8 in 2020.
However, the standardized death rates calculated by discounting the effect of the age-sex structure reflect more accurately the mortality trend. The rate dropped 43 percent from 10.5 per 1,000 people in 1986 to 6.0 in 2020.
The greatest improvement in mortality rate during this period was amongst infants, with the mortality rates dropping by 71 percent and 81 percent for men and women respectively.
The department also said that neoplasms – an abnormal growth of cells, also known as a tumor, diseases of the respiratory and the circulatory system were the main causes of deaths from 2006 to 2020.
Tumors were the leading cause of death for men during the period. In 2006, diseases of the circulatory system were the leading cause of death for women. It was replaced by tumors in 2016.
In 2020, the percentages of male deaths caused by neoplasms, diseases of the respiratory system and diseases of the circulatory system were 32 percent, 23 percent and 20 percent respectively, and the corresponding percentages of female deaths were 28 percent, 21 percent and 21 percent.