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HKFWS released“Hong Kong Family Wellbeing Index”2026 The index has stopped declining and shows signs of recovery, now at an“average” level
(2026-05-05)HKFWS released“Hong Kong Family Wellbeing Index”2026
The index has stopped declining and shows signs of recovery, now at an“average” level
1 in every 5 people is identified as feeling “lonely”in Hong Kong
the figure is more severe than the WHO’s
Approximately 520,000 people are unwilling to
confide in family members, friends or even AI,
remaining in a state of self‑isolation within the household
Hong Kong Family Welfare Society (HKFWS) is committed to enhance the wellbeing of families, announced the first “Hong Kong Family Wellbeing Index” measurement tool in 2020, to raise public awareness of family wellbeing. “Hong Kong Family Wellbeing Index” is the first socially relevant and culturally appropriate measurement tool in Hong Kong to assess the wellbeing of Hong Kong families, providing a significant reference for Hong Kong families, the government and stakeholders in promoting family wellbeing.
The survey was conducted between January and February 2026 by random telephone survey by both fixed network and mobile device. 2,112 Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above who live with their family members were invited to complete the “Hong Kong Family Wellbeing Index” questionnaire. The 26-item questionnaire covers six domains of family wellbeing, including (1) family solidarity, (2) family resources, (3) family health, (4) social connection, (5) social resources, and (6) work-life balance. In addition, to address the public health concern of “Loneliness” highlighted by the World Health Organisation in recent years, this survey incorporated related questions to explore the relationship between family wellbeing, loneliness, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The aim was to identify appropriate support. The survey also collected qualitative responses through online questionnaires, seeking to gain deeper insights into the varying experiences of wellbeing and loneliness across different families.
Today (5 May), the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society released the “Hong Kong Family Wellbeing Index” 2026 with the highlights as follows:
1. It is the fourth release of the “Hong Kong Family Wellbeing Index”. The overall score of 2026 is 6.09 which is at an“average” level.
(Note: Scale points are from 0 to 10. Higher score represents higher level of family wellbeing. According to the sample scores, the research team defines four levels of family wellbeing: 7.5 scores or above as “good”, 6 to <7.5 scores as "average", 5 to <6 scores as "below average", and 5 scores or below as "poor".)
- Since the first survey conducted in 2019, the index declined in 2022 and 2024. This year it rebounded slightly, rising from 6.06 in 2024 to 6.09 in 2026 (+0.03), overall similar to 2024.
2. Domains that concerned the situation within the family score are higher than the domains that concerned the family’s interaction with the society. Across six domains, results are similar to 2024.
- “Family Health” dropped significantly after COVID-19 and has yet to recover. “Social Connection” has risen steadily since 2022. “Work-life Balance” is the only domain with a notable increase this year (+0.19).
3. Persistent gap in family wellbeing index between poor and wealthy families exists.
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Families earning below HK$4,000 per month scored much lower than those earning HK$100,000+, with the gap widening from 0.6 points in 2024 to 1.01 points in 2026.
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The government’s latest released data showed median monthly household income (2025) is HK$30,000. Families earning slightly below the median (HK$25,000–29,999) have seen continuous declines in family wellbeing index since 2019, with their 2026 score (5.96) falling below the overall average (6.09).
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This highlights the impact of income on family wellbeing and suggests weaker resilience among these two income groups. The situation should be monitored.
4. Young adults’ family wellbeing rises for the first time.
The 18–39 age group recorded its first rebound in family wellbeing. By contrast, the 40–49 age group has shown continuous decline since 2019, it may be due to this age group taking on more family responsibilities.
5. According to the UCLA-3 Loneliness Scale, 19.8% of respondents — about one in five — are classified as feeling “lonely”.
- This survey echos with the WHO’s 2025 global report, which found that one in six people experiencing “loneliness” worldwide, with significant impacts on health and wellbeing. According to the UCLA-3 Loneliness Scale, 19.8% of respondents — about one in five — are classified as feeling “lonely”, the figure is more severe than that of WHO’s.
6. Loneliness not only affects individuals, but also undermines their family wellbeing.
- Respondents with higher loneliness scores also report lower family wellbeing.
- Among those identified as “lonely,” over half of the respondents (52.6%) said they “sometimes” or “often” feel overwhelmed by family and wish to escape. In contrast, only about 17.8% of “non-lonely” respondents report the same.
- Survey findings also show that the amount of time spent with family and engaging in conversation each day is positively correlated with family wellbeing. When daily family time increases from less than one hour to two hours, the Family Wellbeing Index rises by 0.26 score, while loneliness scores drop by 0.62 score. Compared with respondents who do not talk with family at all, those who spend at least 15 minutes daily in casual conversation or to confide in family members report an increase of 1.19 score in family wellbeing and a decrease of 0.84 score in loneliness. This demonstrates that family interaction and communication effectively enhance wellbeing and reduce loneliness.
7. Around 520,000 people remain in a state of self-isolation within the household.
Even while living with family, 23.5% of respondents said they are unwilling to confide in family members. Nearly 10% are unwilling to confide in family, friends, or AI, amounting to an estimation of about 520,000 people in Hong Kong experiencing this self-isolation within the household. Since the survey did not include individuals living alone, the situation may be even more concerning.
8. Family and friends remain the preferred confidants.
When asked about preferred confidants, 41% of respondents aged 18–29 expressed willingness to confide in AI chatbots. In terms of priority (excluding those unfamiliar with AI), 71% of this age group preferred confiding in friends over AI. Only 58% preferred confiding in family members over AI — significantly lower than the 78% recorded among respondents aged 30 and above. This indicates that, for now, AI has not replaced humans as the primary choice of confidant.
9. Qualitative online responses reveal perspectives of respondents in a state of self‑isolation within the household.
- When asked, “What issues do you consider important for the family but find difficult to talk about or avoid discussing?” respondents mentioned everyday matters, family responsibilities, and health problems.
- On “Why do you feel lonely within the family?” many reverted “Family members simply aren’t easy to talk to,” or “Everyone is absorbed in their phones or tablets, living in their own world.”
- On “What could those around you do to make you feel less lonely?” respondents hoped for “opportunities to chat, even about trivial daily matters,” or “putting down the phone to talk, turning off the TV, playing board games together, or sharing as a family.”
Based on the above results, HKFWS has the following recommendations:
1. Continue to promote “health is a family matter”
The survey found that the “Family Health” score dropped significantly during the COVID‑19 pandemic and has yet to recover. The Society recommends continuing to promote “health is a family matter”We will also continue to organise activities under the theme “Healthy Families” to strengthen family health. These activities not only improve internal family wellbeing but also foster communication and interaction, thereby enhancing family cohesion and reinforcing “social connection”.
2. “Reducing Loneliness Starts at Home”
Human beings need connection to ease loneliness. Strong family bonds not only reduce the risk of loneliness but also enhance family wellbeing. Based on the survey results, HKFWS recommends spending at least two hours daily with family and engaging in at least 15 minutes of conversation to provide companionship and care. We understand that some families face challenges in effective communication; therefore, the Society provides services to help families build stronger relationships and positive interactions.
If family members show signs of loneliness — such as feeling neglected or lacking companionship — this may develop into anxiety or depression. Families should show concern or seek professional help. To encourage family solidarity, the Society has launched the “Saving Family Wellbeing Programme,” which promotes spending time together and “saving happy moments.”
3. Using AI to Strengthen Relationships
AI chatbot are now very common. Interaction with AI can complement communication with family and friends. We call on the government and organisations to provide more services and training tailored to public needs, helping those less familiar with digital technology to understand and use AI correctly, so that technology truly becomes a tool for connection.
The Society encourages those unfamiliar with AI to actively learn. Through various services, we also help improve digital literacy, ultimately fostering stronger connections with others and enhancing family wellbeing.
If you would like to learn more about the Hong Kong Family Wellbeing Index, please scan the QR code below.
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