Hong Kong, July 13 (DPA) The number of people in Hong Kong suffering from depression has risen by more than a third as the global economic crisis rocks the wealthy city of 7 million people, a survey released Monday showed.

Twelve percent of the city's adult population now suffer from mild or more severe depression, according to the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, which surveyed more than 2,000 people.

The percentage is the highest in seven years and a sharp rise on the 8.8 percent recorded in 2008 and 8.3 percent recorded in 2007, researchers said.

Hong Kong has been badly hit by the global economic crisis, which has seen unemployment almost double and property and stock prices fluctuate strongly in the past year.