Population dips 1.6% in H1 2022 amidst persistent low fertility rates

The plunge in birth rate in the last two years was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hong Kong’s population decreased by 1.6% in the first half of 2022 compared to a year ago due to natural decreases and Hong Kong residents leaving the city, according to the Census and Statistics Department.

A natural decrease happens when the death rate exceeds the birth rate.  A natural decrease of 26,500 was recorded during the period, with 35,100 births and 61,600 deaths. Over the same period, a net outflow of 95,000 persons was recorded, with an inflow of 18,300 One-way Permit holders and a net outflow of 113,200 other Hong Kong residents. 

Amongst the total population in mid-2022, 7,181,900 were Usual Residents and 109,700 were Mobile Residents. The revised figure for the year-end population for 2021 was 7,401,500. The number of Usual Residents was revised to 7,289,600 and the number of Mobile Residents to 111,900. The rate of change in population from end-2020 to end-2021 remained at -0.3%.

Fertility rate

Hong Kong’s fertility rate is persistently the lowest amongst its Asia counterparts, a government spokesperson said.

Over the past five years, the number of births declined continually from 59,500 between mid-2016 and mid-2017 to 35,100 between mid-2021 and mid-2022. 

Meanwhile, the plunge in births in the recent two years might also be attributable to the outbreak of COVID-19 since early 2020. On the other hand, the number of deaths edged up gradually from 45,400 to 61,600 over the past five years in tandem with the ageing population.

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