# International rankings of Hong Kong

    The following are international rankings of Hong Kong by categories.
Note: For rankings with negative connotations, the orders are inverted such that the best country/regions are always ranked "1st".

## Overall

Overall Rankings :
| Name | Year | Place | Out of # | Reference | Remarks |
| United Nations - Human Development Index | 2019 | &4 | 189 | Archived 2020-04-29 at the Wayback Machine | Norway 1, Singapore 9, S.Korea 22, Japan 19, M.China 85 |
| EIU – Global Liveability Ranking | 2019 | &38 | &140 | | Vienna 1, Osaka 4, Tokyo 7, Singapore 40 |
| Mercer – Quality of Living Survey | 2019 | &71 | &231 | | Vienna 1, Singapore 25, Tokyo 49, Seoul 77, Shanghai 103 |
| Monocle – Quality of Life Survey | 2016 | &18 | &25+ | | Tokyo 1, Singapore 20 |
| The Economist - Where-to-be-born Index | 2013 | &10 | 80 | | Singapore 6, S.Korea 19, Japan 25, M.China 49 |
| Legatum Prosperity Index | 2019 | &15 | &167 | | Denmark 1, Singapore 16, Japan 19, China 57 |
| Arcadis - Sustainable Cities Index | 2019 | &9 | &100 | | Singapore 4, Seoul 13, Tokyo 33, Shanghai 76 |
| IESE - Cities in Motion Index | 2019 | &11 | &174 | | Tokyo 6, Singapore 7, Seoul 12, Shanghai 59 |

## Economy

Economic Rankings :
| Name | Year | Place | Out of # | Reference | Remarks |
| International Labour Organization – Average monthly earnings (PPP) | 2012 | &30 | &72 | Archived 2018-09-09 at the Wayback Machine | Singapore 14, S.Korea 10, Japan 17, M.China 57 |
| International Finance Corporation/World Bank – Ease of Doing Business Index | 2020 | &3 | &189 | | Singapore 2, S.Korea 5, Taiwan 15, China 31 |
| CIA The World Factbook – Exports | 2017 | &10 | 225 | | |
| CIA The World Factbook – Imports | 2013 | &8 | 222 | | |
| World Bank - GDP per Capita (current US$) | 2012 | &27 | 214 | | |
| World Bank - GNI per Capita, PPP (current Intl$) | 2012 | &12 | 184 | | |
| IMF – Official Reserve Assets | 2014 Jan | &6 | &75 | | |
| WEF – Global Competitiveness Index | 2015-2016 | &7 | 140 | | Singapore 2, S.Korea 26, Japan 6, M.China 28 |
| WEF – Global Enabling Trade Index | 2014 | &2 | 138 | | |
| IMD – World Competitiveness Yearbook | 2020 | 5 | 63 | | Singapore 1, S.Korea 23, Japan 34, M.China 20 |
| Wall Street Journal / The Heritage Foundation – Index of Economic Freedom | 2016 | &1 | &178 | | Singapore 2, S.Korea 27, Japan 22, M.China 144 |
| MIT - Economic Complexity Index | 2014 | &40 | &144 | | Singapore 8, S.Korea 6, Japan 1, M.China 37 |
| PwC/World Bank - Overall Paying Taxes | 2014 | &4 | &189 | | |
| Grant Thornton - Global Dynamism Index | 2013 | &16 | &60 | | |
| FedEx Opportunity Index - Access Index® Rank | 2008 | &1 | &109 | | |
| McKinsey - Connectedness Index | 2012 | &2 | 131 | Archived 2016-01-23 at the Wayback Machine | |
| EIU - Digital economy rankings | 2010 | &7 | 70 | | |

## Business and Industry

Business and Industry Rankings :
| Name | Year | Place | Out of # | Remarks |
| EIU – Business Environment Rankings | 2014-2018 | &3 | &82 | Singapore 1, S.Korea 26, Japan 27, M.China 50 |
| Forbes - Best Countries for Business | 2015 | 11 | 145 | Singapore 8, Japan 23, S.Korea 33, M.China 94 |
| World Tourism Organization - World Tourism rankings | 2014 May | &14 | 193 | |
| WEF – Financial Development Index | 2012 | &1 | 62 | |
| WEF - Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report | 2013 | &15 | 140 | |
| EIU – IT industry competitiveness index | 2011 | &19 | &66 | Singapore 3, S.Korea 19, Japan 16, M.China 38 |
| World Bank - Logistics Performance Index | 2014 | &15 | &160 | |

## Education

Education Rankings :
| Name | Year | Place | Out of # | Remark |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Maths |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Maths | 2012 | &3 | 65 | Singapore 2, S.Korea 5, Japan 7, Shanghai 1 |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Maths | 2009 | &3 | 65 | |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Maths | 2006 | &3 | 57 | |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Reading |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Reading | 2012 | &2 | 65 | Singapore 3, S.Korea 5, Japan 4, Shanghai 1 |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Reading | 2009 | &4 | 65 | |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Reading | 2006 | &3 | 57 | |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Science |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Science | 2012 | &2 | 65 | Singapore 3, S.Korea 7, Japan 4, Shanghai 1 |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Science | 2009 | &3 | 65 | |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Science | 2006 | &3 | 57 | |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Problem Solving |
| OECD Programme for International Student Assessment - Problem Solving | 2012 | &5 | 65 | Singapore 1, S.Korea 2, Japan 3, Shanghai 6 |

## Environment

Environmental Rankings :
| Name | Year | Place | Out of # | Reference | Remarks |
| South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission – Environmental Vulnerability Index | 2004 | &128 | 234 | Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine | |
| New Economics Foundation – Happy Planet Index | 2016 | &123 | 140 | Child care leave application | Singapore n/a, S Korea 80, Japan 58, China 72 |

## Health & Safety

Health & Safety Rankings :
| Name | Year | Place | Out of # | Remarks |
| WHO - Infant mortality (1=lowest) | 2005-2010 | &1 | 193 | |
| WHO - Life expectancy (1=highest) | 2005-2010 | &1 | 193 | |
| UNODC - Intentional homicide rate | 2012 or latest data available | &6 | 219 | |
| The Economist - Safe Cities Index | 2015 | &11 | 50 | Singapore 2, Seoul 24, Tokyo 1, Shanghai 30 |

## Infrastructure

Infrastructure Rankings :
| Name | Year | Place | Out of # | Reference | Remark |
| Mercer - Cities with the best infrastructure | 2014 | &6 | 50 | | |
| Airports Council International, Airport Service Quality Awards - Asia Pacific | 2013 | &below 5 | 75 | | |
| Skytrax, World Airport Award | 2014 | &4 | 410+ | | |
| Skytrax, World Airlines Awards | 2014 | &1 (Cathay Pacific) | 100+ | | |
| The World Factbook – Number of Heliports | 2013 | &24 | 115 | | |
| The World Factbook - Expressway density | 2012 (for HK) | &194 | 222 | | |
| United Nations - ICT Development Index | 2015 | &11 | 167 | | S.Korea 1, Japan 11, Singapore 19, M.China 82 |
| Akamai Technologies – Internet connection speed | 2013 | &4 | 188+ | | |
| Google - Smartphone penetration | 2012 | &8 | 47 | Archived 2018-12-26 at the Wayback Machine | |
| WEF - Networked Readiness Index | 2014 | &8 | 148 | | |

## Innovation

Innovation Rankings :
| Name | Year | Place | Out of # | Reference | Remark |
| Global Open Data Index - Overview | 2016 | &23 | 94 | Archived 2018-09-26 at the Wayback Machine | Singapore 16, Japan 13 |
| World Intellectual Property Indicators - Patents by origin (residents & abroad) | 2014 | &38 | 122 | | Singapore 26, M.China 1, Japan 3, S.Korea 4 |
| World Intellectual Property Indicators - Patents by origin (residents only) | 2014 | &59 | 97 | | Singapore 30, M.China 1, Japan 3, S.Korea 4 |
| World Intellectual Property Indicators - Trademarks by origin (residents & abroad) | 2014 | &22 | 122 | | Singapore 34, M.China 1, Japan 5, S.Korea 10 |
| World Intellectual Property Indicators - Trademarks by origin (residents only) | 2014 | &23 | 95 | | Singapore 49, M.China 1, Japan 7, S.Korea 9 |
| World Intellectual Property Indicators - Designs by origin (residents & abroad) | 2014 | &25 | 125 | | Singapore 33, M.China 1, Japan 7, S.Korea 3 |
| World Intellectual Property Indicators - Designs by origin (residents only) | 2014 | &31 | 93 | | Singapore 44, M.China 1, Japan 6, S.Korea 3 |
| World Intellectual Property Indicators - Resident application design counts per population | 2014 | &15 | 20+ | | Singapore 19, M.China 20+, Japan 16, S.Korea 1 |
| Bloomberg Innovation Index | 2015 | &34 | 50 | | |
| The Boston Consulting Group - International Innovation Index | 2009 | &6 | 110 | Archived 2021-06-16 at the Wayback Machine | |
| World Intellectual Property Organization - Global Innovation Index | 2024 | 18 | 133 | | |
| World Bank - Research and development spending as % of GDP | Most recent value | &44 | 123 | | S.Korea 2, Japan 3, M.China 16, Singapore 17 |
| HackerRank - Which Country Has the Best Developers | 2016 | &17 | 50 | | M.China 1, Japan 6, Singapore 13, S.Korea 22 |

## Governance

Governance Rankings :
| Name | Year | Place | Out of # | Reference | Remark |
| Transparency International – Bribe Payers Index | 2011 | &15 | 28 | | |
| World Justice Project – Rule of Law Index | 2014 | &16 | 102 | | Singapore 9, M.China 71, Japan 13, S.Korea 11 |
| The Economist Intelligence Unit – Democracy Index | 2015 | &63 | 167 | | |
| Reporters without Borders – World Press Freedom Index | 2014 | &&70 | 180 | | Singapore 153, M.China 176, Japan 61, S.Korea 60 |
| Property Rights Alliance – International Property Rights Index | 2013 | &&14 | 130 | | |
| Transparency International – Corruption Perception Index | 2013 | &&15 | 177 | Archived 2013-12-03 at archive.today | |
| Wasada IAC – Joint E-Government Ranking | 2014 | &&26 | 61 | | Singapore 2, S.Korea 3, Japan 5, M.China 39 |

## Society

Social Rankings :
| Name | Year | Place | Out of # | Reference | Remark |
| The World Factbook - Distribution of Family Income (Gini Index) | 2011 for HK | &129 (1=lowest) | 141 | Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine | Singapore 110, S.Korea 30, Japan 66, M.China 115 |
| Gallup – Potential Net Migration Index (Asia Pacific) | 2010-2012 | &10 (1 meaning highest potential immigration) | &28 | | Singapore 3, S.Korea 18, Japan 15, M.China 12 |
| Walk Free Foundation - Global Slavery Index | 2013 | &22 | &162 | | |
| United Nations - World Happiness Report | 2022 | 81 | &157 | | Singapore 27, Japan 54, S.Korea 59, M.China 72 |
| Charities Aid Foundation - World Giving Index | 2012 | &19 | &145 | | |

## Rankings by Years

The following are international rankings of Hong Kong by years.
| Date | Contest | Host organisation | Ranking | Note |
| 2002 and 2006 | National IQ Rankings | IQ and the Wealth of Nations, the University of Ulster | 1/185 countries | Controversial |
| 2001–05 | World's Best Airports | Skytrax | 1/155 countries | |
| 2006 | 6th Annual Global e-Government Study (Brown University) | Global e-Government | 20/198 countries | |
| 2006 | Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006 | Reporters Without Borders | 59/168 countries | |
| 2006 | Corruption Perceptions Index | Transparency International | 15/163 countries | |
| 2006 | World Competitiveness Yearbook 2006 | IMD International | 2/61 economies | Economies include those of countries and regions |
| 2006 | World City's Skyline/Skyscrapers | Emporis Data Committee (EDC) | 1/100 major cities | Cities ranked by the visual impact of their skylines |
| 2006 | Global Competitiveness Report - Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking | World Economic Forum | 11/125 countries | |
| 2006 | World's Best Airports | Skytrax | 2/165 countries | |
| 2006 | Business Competitiveness Index - BCI | World Economic Forum | 10/121 countries | |
| 2006 | Human Development Index - HDI | United Nations | 22/177 countries | |
| 2006 | Access Index (p.19)] | FedEx: The Power of Access - 2006 Access Index | 1/75 countries | |
| 2007 | Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index | World Economic Forum | 6/124 countries | |
| 2007 | Index of Economic Freedom | The Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal: 2008 | 1/157 countries | Ranked 1st for 14 years in a row |
| 2007 | Leading Centers of Commerce | "MasterCard study". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) | 5/63 countries | rated 63 cities according to their legal and political framework, economic stability, ease of doing business, financial flow, business center status, and knowledge creation and information flow |
| 2007 | World's most expensive cost-of-living | Mercer Human Resource Consulting | 5/143 cities | |
| 2007 | World's Best Airports | Skytrax | 1/155 countries | |
| 2007 | World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007 | IMD International | 3/55 economies | The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007 analyses and ranks the ability of nations to create and maintain an environment that sustains the competitiveness of enterprises |
| 2007 | E-readiness | Economist Intelligence Unit | 4/69 countries | e-Readiness is the ability to use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to develop one's economy and to foster one's welfare |
| 2007 | World's best place for doing business | World Bank | 4/178 countries | Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business, from 1–178, with first place being the best. A high ranking on the ease of doing business index means the regulatory environment is conducive to the operation of business. This index averages the country's percentile rankings on 10 topics, made up of a variety of indicators, giving equal weight to each topic |
| 2007 | Asia's best corporate governance survey | Asian Corporate Governance Association | 1/11 countries | |
| 2007 | Global Financial Centre Index | City of London | 3/10 cities | The GFCI is a ranking of the competitiveness of financial centres based on a number of existing indices in combination with a regular survey of senior industry figures from around the world. Hong Kong ranked third behind New York and London. |
| 2007 | IT industry competitiveness index | Economist Intelligence Unit | 21/64 countries | Index measures a supply of skills, an innovation-friendly culture, world-class technology infrastructure, a legal regime and well-balanced government support, as well as a competition-friendly business environment. Those countries possessing most of these “competitiveness enablers” are also home to high-performance IT industries: all but four of the top 22 countries in the EIU are also among the world's top countries in terms of IT labour productivity |
| 2007 | Asian Cities of the Future 07/08 | Financial Time | 1/38 cities | |
| 2008 | Capital Access Index 2007 | Milken Institute | 1/122 countries |
| 2008 | Location Ranking Survey | ECA International | 15/254 locations | |
| 2008 | World Competitiveness Yearbook | IMD | 3/55 economies | |
| 2008 | Mortalities Due to Air Pollution | WHO | 8th | |