HK's population drops for 3rd consecutive year with net outflow of 60,000 residents in 2022

Hong Kong’s population has dropped 0.9% from the year before to 7.3 million at the end of last year as 60,000 residents left the city and the number of births fell to a record low. 

According to the latest figures released by the Census and Statistics Department, the provisional estimate of the Hong Kong population dropped from 7,401,500 in 2021 to 7,333,200 in 2022, a third annual decline in a row. 

The population decrease between end-2021 and end-2022 comprised a natural decrease (deaths surpassing births) and a net outflow of Hong Kong residents (inflow less than outflow). A natural decrease of 29,500 was recorded during the period, with 32,500 births and 62,100 deaths. Over the same period, a net outflow of 38,800 persons was recorded, with an inflow of 21,200 one-way permit holders and a net outflow of 60,000 other Hong Kong residents. 

Compared to the previous years, the city's population has recorded a decrease three years in a row, with the population in 2020 dipped 1.2% and that of 2021 dropped 0.3%. 

A government spokesperson pointed out that natural decrease has widened in 2022. Hong Kong's fertility rate is persistently among the lowest in Asian economies. The number of births dropped significantly from 52,900 in 2019 to 32,500 in 2022. On the other hand, the number of deaths edged up from 49,000 to 62,100 over the same period under the fifth wave of the epidemic in 2022 and in tandem with the ageing trend of the population.

 "Amidst the continued impact of COVID-19, cross-boundary travel has been interrupted. It is observed that the inflow of people into Hong Kong has remained at a low level for most of the time in 2022 before seeing a slight rebound near the end of 2022, subsequent to the gradual relaxation of anti-epidemic control measures," the spokesperson said.

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Given the amount of outflow of Hong Kong residents, the spokesperson said it is believed that the epidemic would have impacted talent inflow, especially those on short-term employment visas or entry permits. "Amidst the continued impact of COVID-19, cross-boundary travel has been interrupted. It is observed that the inflow of people into Hong Kong has remained at a low level for most of the time in 2022 before seeing a slight rebound near the end of 2022, subsequent to the gradual relaxation of anti-epidemic control measures," the spokesperson said. 

"We noticed that the population decrease in the second half of 2022 has narrowed when compared to that in the first half, reflecting that movement of the Hong Kong population has begun to resume normal gradually. Relevant factors which had affected talent inflow would dissipate gradually when the society and economy of Hong Kong further return to normalcy amidst Hong Kong's resumption of normal travel with the mainland and other places around the world,” the spokesperson said.

In terms of pooling of talents, the Hong Kong government has announced in the 2022 Policy Address various talent attraction measures and set performance indicator on trawling for outside talents, with the aim to admit at least 35,000 talents annually with an intended duration of stay of at least 12 months through the talent admissions schemes from 2023 to 2025.

Recently, Hong Kong government has announced that it will expand the pilot scheme on immigration for visitors participating in short-term activities in designated sectors, allowing more non-local talents to participate in specified short-term activities as visitors, without the need to apply for employment visas or entry permits. 
 

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