One in three HK citizens to be seniors by 2039, signaling senior living demand - report

One in three Hong Kong citizens will be 65 or above by 2039, underscoring urgent demand for new senior-living solutions, according to a report.

The Senior Living in Dense Cities: Building Dignity and Choice report, jointly released by Colliers and architecture and design practice Hassell, is based on market analysis, industry-leading global projects, and first-hand interviews with local communities.

The report unveiled that seniors increasingly prefer independence, which can be supported through integrated urban living, close to services, family and transport. 

A vertical, modular model is well-suited to Hong Kong, stacked residential units paired with shared amenities, outdoor areas and social spaces to reduce isolation and support ageing in place, the report said.

It also suggested updating policy to enable mixed-use floors that combine residential and non-residential functions, paving the way for modern hybrid housing and healthcare models.

"The future of senior living must move beyond the binary of 'home or institution' toward flexible, integrated solutions that enable ageing in place with dignity and choice," said Kathy Lee, head of Research and Retail Consultancy of Colliers.

She added that this is a societal imperative, one that calls for regulatory innovation, adaptive design, and collective action to unlock new models that blend independence, care, and community within Hong Kong's dense urban fabric.