The 2026 Population Census will be held from January 1 to December 31, 2026.

The Census & Statistics (2026 Population Census) Order was published in the Government Gazette today.

To modernise and reform Hong Kong’s approach to censuses, several new initiatives will be implemented in the 2026 Population Census, such that only around one-tenth of the population will be subject to detailed enquiry by long-form questionnaire.

Government administrative data will be used more extensively to supplement survey data with a view to reducing the reporting burden on respondents.

A small-scale test survey for the 2026 Population Census will be conducted from April to July this year.

Sampled households are encouraged to participate in the census through online questionnaires. They may also choose to provide the requested information by telephone interview.

Census & Statistics Department Census officers will visit households who have not completed their questionnaires to collect the requested information.

Households selected to participate in the census will receive a household notification letter issued by the department. If households have not provided telephone numbers to the department, it will not initiate phone calls to them.

When visiting households, census officers will wear a vest uniform and carry a government or enumerator identity card and a Census Officer Certificate of Identity issued by the department.

The department will implement strict procedures to handle all data collected and will only release statistics that do not reveal the identity of the individuals involved.

All completed questionnaires, in both paper and electronic forms, will be destroyed on or before December 31, 2027.

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