The provisional estimate of Hong Kong's population was 7,403,100 at end-2021, down 0.3% from 2020, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

The year-on-year population decrease narrowed as compared to the 1.2% drop in 2020.

There were 37,000 births and 51,200 deaths between end-2020 and end-2021, resulting in a natural population decrease of 14,200.

Over the same period, there was also a net outflow of 9,400 people, with an inflow of 17,900 one-way permit holders and a net outflow of 27,300 other Hong Kong residents.

The number of usual residents was 7,301,300 while there were 101,800 mobile residents.

The Government noted that the inflow of people to Hong Kong, including one-way permit holders, foreign domestic helpers and those coming to work or study under various admission schemes has remained at a low level.

This was due to the stringent border control and quarantine measures put in place in the city, the Mainland and other places around the world amidst the continued impact of COVID-19, resulting in a severe interruption of cross-boundary travel.

Among others, the flight boarding restrictions imposed on arrivals from certain places from time to time in 2021 due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation had interrupted population inflow.

Although the number of one-way permit holders arriving in Hong Kong in 2021 rebounded somewhat as compared to 2020, it was still visibly lower than the pre-pandemic level.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong residents who had left Hong Kong before the pandemic may have chosen to reside in other places temporarily or were unable to return to the city.

The Government said these might have contributed to the net outflow of Hong Kong residents, adding that implying an emigration tide solely from the increase in net residents’ outflow is a sweeping generalisation.