Inside Hong Kong's "Coffin Homes"

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27 June 2024

In Hong Kong, thousands of people live in extremely small spaces or shoebox-sized apartments called 'coffin homes' or 'cage homes'

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These spaces have limited floor space and shared bathrooms, with some being so tiny that a person cannot even stretch out their legs

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These homes in Hong Kong are smaller than parking spaces and even jails, but cost almost half as much as an average home in the city. Some are often just 15 square feet 

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The room is barely big enough for a bed, with a small and unsanitary bathroom and other furniture that people can manage to squeeze in

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These claustrophobic and squalid cubicles tend to cost renters a few hundred dollars a month

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Government data from 2021 showed that around 215,700 people, or approximately 3 percent of the population, lived in such tiny homes

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These cramped boxes are mainly inhabited by those trapped in poverty, and those who can't afford Hong Kong's high housing costs

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Hong Kong has a population of over 7 million people, but it is the eighth most densely populated city in the world, with 68,400 people per square mile

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It has also one of the most expensive housing markets in the world, and not many are even able to afford a decent rental

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There are no legal guidelines in Hong Kong restricting how small apartments can be, nor any on rent control

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