Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Singapore produces far more output per person than Hong Kong. But when you look at what the typical adult actually owns, Hong Kong comes out ahead. This video explains why GDP can make a place look richer than its people, and how foreign ownership, state wealth, CPF, public housing, and migrant labour shape Singapore’s economy.
Narrated by: Tom McKay
instagram.com/tmckay715
youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviews
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
Source(s): IMF World Economic Outlook/DataMapper for GDP per capita PPP; UBS Global Wealth Reports 2025 and 2026 for median wealth, average wealth and millionaire counts; Singapore MTI Economic Survey of Singapore 2025 and Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department for GDP, GNI and net income flows; Ireland CSO for the Ireland GDP/GNI comparison; Singapore EDB and NLB for EDB history, industrial policy and investment commitments; SingStat for Singapore population, foreign affiliates, housing, inequality, fertility and ageing data; MOM for foreign workforce and pass salary thresholds; Temasek, GIC, MAS/MOF and Singapore Budget documents for state wealth, reserves and NIRC; CPF Board for CPF rates and balances; HDB/SingStat for public housing and home ownership; HKMA and Hong Kong Housing Bureau for Hong Kong reserves, public housing and home ownership.
Singapore produces far more output per person than Hong Kong. But when you look at what the typical adult actually owns, Hong Kong comes out ahead. This video explains why GDP can make a place look richer than its people, and how foreign ownership, state wealth, CPF, public housing, and migrant labour shape Singapore’s economy.
Narrated by: Tom McKay
instagram.com/tmckay715
youtube.com/@MetalRobotReviews
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
Source(s): IMF World Economic Outlook/DataMapper for GDP per capita PPP; UBS Global Wealth Reports 2025 and 2026 for median wealth, average wealth and millionaire counts; Singapore MTI Economic Survey of Singapore 2025 and Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department for GDP, GNI and net income flows; Ireland CSO for the Ireland GDP/GNI comparison; Singapore EDB and NLB for EDB history, industrial policy and investment commitments; SingStat for Singapore population, foreign affiliates, housing, inequality, fertility and ageing data; MOM for foreign workforce and pass salary thresholds; Temasek, GIC, MAS/MOF and Singapore Budget documents for state wealth, reserves and NIRC; CPF Board for CPF rates and balances; HDB/SingStat for public housing and home ownership; HKMA and Hong Kong Housing Bureau for Hong Kong reserves, public housing and home ownership.
