According to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department today (February 20), the provisional estimate of the Hong Kong population was 7 503 100 at end-2023, representing an increase of 30 500 or 0.4% from 7 472 600 at end-2022.
 
     The population increase between end-2022 and end-2023 was mainly attributable to a net inflow of 51 700 Hong Kong residents (i.e. inflow less outflow) recorded during the period, with an inflow of 40 800 One-way Permit holders and a net inflow of 10 800 other Hong Kong residents. Over the same period, a natural decrease (i.e. deaths surpassing births) of 21 200 was recorded, with 33 200 births and 54 400 deaths. 
 
     Among the total population at end-2023, 7 228 600 were Usual Residents and 274 500 were Mobile Residents. The revised figure for the mid-year population for 2023 was 7 536 100. The number of Usual Residents was revised to 7 253 200 and the number of Mobile Residents to 282 900. The rate of change in population from mid-2022 to mid-2023 was also revised to +2.6%.
 
     Table 1 presents estimated total population as at end-2023, while Table 2 presents population figures from mid-2012 to end-2023. 
 
Commentary
   
     A government spokesperson pointed out that the population registered an increase for the second consecutive year since normalcy resumed in Hong Kong. Many Hong Kong residents who stayed abroad during the epidemic have returned to Hong Kong throughout 2023. In the second half of 2023, there was still considerable inflow of Hong Kong Permanent Residents.  Attributable also to the successive admission of Mainland and overseas persons through various schemes into Hong Kong, the year-end population for 2023 was higher than that for the preceding year.
 
Further information
    
     "Usual Residents" refer to two categories of people: (1) Hong Kong Permanent Residents who have stayed in Hong Kong for at least three months during the six months before or for at least three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point; and (2) Hong Kong Non-permanent Residents who are in Hong Kong at the reference time-point.
 
     For those Hong Kong Permanent Residents who are not "Usual Residents", they are classified as "Mobile Residents" if they have stayed in Hong Kong for at least one month but less than three months during the six months before or for at least one month but less than three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point.
 
     Under the current practice, the latest population estimate is released on a provisional basis in each round. The revised estimate will be released six months later. In other words, while the provisional population estimate for end-2023 is released today, the corresponding revised estimate will be released in August 2024.
 

Ends/Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Issued at HKT 16:30

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